Why Chewbacca Was Not Getting a Medal in “A New Hope”

As Star Wars fans, we are probably familiar with some of the discussions about how Chewbacca did not get a medal in A New Hope. We may think that this was an oversight, but why Chewie did not get one actually has several reasons. 

The Story Focused on Human Characters

We remember the ceremony scene at the end of A New Hope. We center on Luke and Han with Leia in the middle behind them. Chewbacca is in the foreground but did not get a medal. One of the main reasons is that the story focuses on human characters.

Lucas and the creators sought to bring out the human element of the space drama to make it more relatable to audiences. Although Star Wars prides itself on alien beings and cultures, a “humancentrism” can be seen running across the saga. By the end of Episode IV, the film centers on the two primary heroes, Luke and Han, who were directly responsible for destroying the Death Star.

We may even argue that Lucas “structured A New Hope to follow the mythical hero’s journey.” Not only is Luke the main protagonist-hero, but we also focus the most on mythical characters like “the wise old man (Obi-Wan), the Princess (Leia), [and] the rogue (Han).” Of course, R2 and 3PO are around the action, but they did not get medals. 

By his positioning on screen, Chewbacca is recognized but in a supporting way because of his Wookiee background. While this may seem discriminatory, we should remember the character Wedge, who directly helped blow up the Death Star, was not even shown at the ceremony. If we feel that Chewbacca was neglected, he was not the only one.

Chewbacca’s Size and Costume

The size of Chewbacca and his costume also played into why Chewie didn’t get a medal. Played by Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca was a much larger character than Leia, which would have made it difficult for her to place the medal on him. Mayhew and Chewbacca were over 7 feet tall.

Mayhew’s costume was also composed of thick fur, and that too could have been problematic for putting it on him and for it to be visible to audiences. On a related note, this “giant fluffy suit” could be uncomfortable and caught fire with the filming of Return of the Jedi. In this case, Carrie Fisher brought the burning costume to Mayhew’s attention and averted disaster.  

Chewbacca Did Not Want a Medal

From within the Star Wars universe, we can add that Chewbacca did not really want a medal.  Since Wookiees like Chewbacca valued courage and honor over physical rewards, Chewie probably did not care about getting a medal. Supporting his friends and accomplishing the for-the-moment defeat of the Imperials was rewarding enough. 

If anything, Chewbacca would most likely have accepted a holiday for his services, such as Life Day where he could celebrate with family and cherish Wookiee culture. Adding that into the movie would have extended the celebration too much, though. 

Chewie Got a Medal Off-Screen

We can also point out that it’s likely Chewie did get a medal, just off-screen. At least, that is what the Royal Award Ceremony page indicates: “Chewbacca also received a medal privately after the ceremony’s conclusion.” That seems to be backed up by a comic issue too.

In the 1980 comic, Chewie did get his medal in a private ceremony. Moreover, soon after the 1977 release, Lucas reportedly clarified why Chewie did not get a medal. He specified that there was a “feast” Kashyyyk to celebrate their victory instead of a medal.

Putting the two accounts together, Chewie got a holiday celebration and a medal. Of course, he also got Han Solo’s medal at the end of The Rise of Skywalker. So, Chewie garnered multiple medals after all. 

Chewbacca Did Not Get a Medal At First

When A New Hope came out, Chewbacca did not get a medal at the closing ceremony. We have several reasons for why this occurred, including the story, the size of Chewbacca, and how Chewie did not want the metal. While it may have been a mistake, and something that could have been fixed with revisions to the movie, we do have a rationale behind the decision. Ultimately, Chewie got a celebration and a couple of medals.