GVK: Did
you see The Phantom Menace? And what did
you think of it?
PM: Yes, it was the first chapter of a
book and as such it was an introduction
to the larger story of Star Wars. Parts
of the film were good, but some parts
were not as good.
GVK: How do you think the new films
will compare to the original series and
how do you think they will be compared
in the future?
PM: I do not think they compare at
all. The new films are different stories
and they have a greater emphasis on
effects than the earlier films did. I
think that in the future, the original
series will still be considered good
films.
GVK: What have you been doing of late
and do you have any projects in the
works?
PM: Lately I have been attending many
conventions the world over. It is always
great to be able to meet the fans and be
able to speak about my Star Wars
experiences. I had some theater projects
that I have been looking into as well,
but they are currently on hold and there
is nothing to say about them.
GVK: If you were to be given the
chance to play Chewie again, how would
you like to see the character used.
PM: It would be the same as before as
Han's sidekick.
GVK: When the decision was made to
kill off Chewie in the book series, were
you contacted about this and what were
you thoughts on this?
PM: Yes, I was contacted about this.
I saw that a character needed to be
killed in order to jostle the other
characters and add an element of
freshness and danger to the series and
Chewbacca was the most likely to go, as
they could not kill Luke, Han or Leia.
GVK: If you could change anything
about your portrayal of Chewie, what
would it have been and why?
PM: I would not change anything as I
was happy with the character and my work
bringing him to life.
GVK: Do you keep in touch with the
original cast and do you have fond
memories of the experiences?
PM: Yes, to both questions. The
friends and experiences I made and
encountered were amongst the best in my
life.
GVK: Do you think that Star Wars has
faded in terms of popularity over the
years?
PM: No, it has not faded, in fact,
based on recent happenings such as the
new films and the book series, I would
say that the interest is stronger than
ever.
GVK: What would you attribute the
staying power of the series too?
PM: Having a good story and great
effects as well as characters that are
likeable, interesting and memorable. It
is a fairy tale battle of good vs. evil,
and in that it will always be timeless.
GVK: Are you and Chewie alike and how
much input did George Lucas allow you to
have in the character?
PM: Yes, Chewie and I are alike in
some ways. I would say that the
character and the input are one in the
same. By combining 50% of myself and 50%
of what was given to me for Chewie, I
was able to create the character and
personalize him.