Chewbacca, nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, and intelligent species from the planet Kashyyyk. During his long life Chewbacca has been many things: engineer, warrior, slave, smuggler and rebel hero. Chewie fought with the Republic on Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars, then befriended Han Solo while in Imperial captivity on Mimban. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and first mate of Han Solo, and serves as co-pilot on Solo's spaceship, the Millennium Falcon; together they helped the Alliance restore freedom to the galaxy. The character communicates with animal sound growls rather than actual verbal speech.

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