In efforts to both break new ground while keeping their (Two)boots firmly rooted in the familiar, The Mandalorian and Grogu not only crafted brand new worlds, vehicles and creatures to excite audiences, but cast deep into the lore to bring back creatures and concepts from the earliest days of the franchise. While very well established as a fan favourite character in Star Wars Rebels, and introduced into live action in season three of The Mandalorian, it’s worth remembering that Garazeb ‘Zeb’ Orrelios was based on early Ralph McQuarrie designs for the character that would eventually become Chewbacca (remember, there was a time in the development process when Han Solo was a green lizard man), and director Jon Favreau mentions that in relation to drawing inspiration from the past to craft the present.
“Well, he always thought this, but I think it’s this.” So it becomes a thing where we’re almost voting on it, “Does this look right?” And trying to use techniques of kit bashing other things, trying to draw inspiration from other drawings that were never made. Looking at designs, even Zeb came from early designs for Chewbacca.