Deploy Folding Table of contents
When Big Budgets Collide with Hollywood’s Gamble
The year was 1995, and Waterworld was unveiled to audiences as what many deemed a colossal financial misfire – a film that many believed would overshadow the career of Kevin Costner. While its budget reached an astronomical $172 million (equivalent to about $344 million today when factoring in inflation), its box office returns of $264 million might not seem so dire compared to certain contemporary flops. In reality, Waterworld ranks as only the nineteenth most expensive film ever, considering inflation, which is far from the heights reached by today’s blockbuster giants such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Breaking Records: The Dawn of a New Era
Fast forward to 2015, and the film industry saw a seismic shift when J.J. Abrams released Episode VII of the Star Wars saga, titled The Force Awakens. This monumental film not only redefined what is possible in terms of budget but also opened doors to a sprawling Star Wars Expanded Universe following the launch of Disney+. The movie arrived a decade after Revenge of the Sith, crafting a legacy that few could rival. Surprisingly, there was a moment when Abrams entertained the idea of permanently altering a beloved character.
A Close Encounter with a Legendary Wookiee
Chewbacca, portrayed by the talent of Peter Mayhew, appeared one last time in The Force Awakens. However, there exists an unseeable moment from the film that could have drastically shifted how audiences perceive him. In a deleted scene, Chewbacca encounters Unkar Plutt, played by Simon Pegg, in a bar where he confronts the character, retrieving the blaster that Plutt had just taken from Rey. The exchange takes a dark turn when Chewbacca rips off Plutt’s arm and throws it across the room. With previous warnings from Han Solo that a Wookiee can be ferocious when provoked, this scene surely pushes boundaries.
The Future of Chewbacca: Unwritten Adventures Ahead
As the role of Chewbacca transitions to Joonas Suotamo, who filled in for Mayhew in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, fans are left wondering if we will see this iconic character grace the big screen once more. The galaxy is vast, after all, and with rumors swirling about a possible Lando Calrissian film featuring Donald Glover, there remains high hopes for future narratives. The Force, alongside the desire for more Chewie adventures, may yet bring our beloved Wookiee back for new escapades in a galaxy far, far away.
