20 Little Known Star Wars Facts
3. Wookiees Have a Past
Lucas has gained such fame for “Star Wars,” many tend to forget it was not his first film. That was “THX 1138,” made in 1971.
This is a dark vision of a future where people are kept drugged to ensure their cooperation with the tyrannical government.
Robert Duvall plays a misfit who stops taking his drugs and eventually escapes from the prison-like city.
The film was unsuccessful at the time, but garnered some good reviews from the counterculture press because of its grim, anti-establishment attitude. It has gained more appreciation in later years and is now a cult gem.
In a scene from “THX 1138,” someone is heard yelling over the radio that they ran over a Wookiee. The name stuck in Lucas’ head, and the rest is history.
From that introduction, Wookiees have matured into detail-rich creatures with all the traits of real beings. They now have a home planet called Kashyyk, a densely forested place where they live in treetop cities. They are known for their loyalty and sense of honor, which make them good allies.
