Not only is he Chewbacca, but in the grand tradition of Lucasfilm ‘big guys’ moving from one franchise to another (remember Pat Roach in multiple roles in the Indiana Jones films played General Kael in the original Willow), Joonas Suotamo has appeared in the new Disney Plus series Willow, which launches today. Here, Joonas discusses his role as the Scourge in the show, and the challenges of wearing such a unique costume.
“Jon messaged me and said, ‘I might have a role for you if you’re interested,’” Suotamo recalls. “And it ended up being a fantastic experience.” Part of the experience included transforming into his character.
“Compared to Chewie, the costume was a lot more to put on,” he says. “I had a team of people following me with different gadgets and gloves and the cage.” Suotamo would spend about two to three hours in the makeup chair every morning, putting on a muscle suit, makeup, and having silicone material glued onto his face. The aesthetics were only half the journey, though.
“It was new territory for me,” he says. “I’d grown accustomed to playing these lovable moments, and all of a sudden, that’s not my job at all.” In the end, Suotamo found a way to play evil. “There were a lot of times I would be in the dark, rehearsing my violent outbursts in the suit,” he says.
Was it a successful way to prepare?
“I think I scared a lot of crew members,” Suotamo says laughing.
Joonas is apearing this weekend at Wales Comic Con, and fingers crossed we’ll get a few moments with him and bring that conversation to Making Tracks next week.