As a gamer and a big Star Wars fan, I have to admit that I was initially taken aback when I first saw Lupita Nyong’o in real life and compared her to Maz Kanata. In the movies, Maz is portrayed as an ancient, wrinkled alien with distinct facial features, whereas Lupita is a stunningly beautiful human woman in her mid-30s. It was a shocking contrast that took me out of the immersive Star Wars experience for a moment.
In 2015, when J. J. Abrams unveiled “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” there was immense curiosity about the fresh cast members. Although Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adadam Driver) generated significant buzz, many fans were captivated by Maz Kanata, the enigmatic and sage character portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o. Rumored to be a millennium old, Kanata was presented as a smuggler who ran a bar on Takodana. Having interacted with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), she possesses intimate knowledge of the criminal world and contributes to maintaining order within it.
As a force-wielding confidante of the Rebellion, Kanata bestowed upon Rey the lightsaber that once belonged to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The origin of how she acquired this iconic weapon remains unexplained, despite numerous hints towards her enigmatic past. Kanata is a character shrouded in mystery for devoted “Star Wars” fans. However, what isn’t a secret is the creative process behind her portrayal on screen.
In the early plans for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the creators intended to bring Kanata (later known as Maz) to life through puppetry. However, they eventually shifted gears towards using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and motion capture technology. To give depth and complexity to this enigmatic figure, J.J. Abrams and his team brought in the talented Lupita Nyong’o to portray Maz as a live-action actor. Although Nyong’o continued to provide the character’s voice, Maz’s physical appearance evolved throughout the sequel trilogy. By the time “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” was released, Maz had been transformed into an animatronic puppet, resulting in her distinct visual change in that film.
Lupita Nyong’o looks nothing like Maz Kanata
Lupita Nyong’o had made a name for herself with notable roles in films such as “12 Years a Slave” and “Non-Stop.” Her entry into the “Star Wars” franchise, prior to portraying Maz Kanata, piqued fans’ interest. However, they were taken aback by her character’s appearance, as Nyongo is significantly taller than Maz at 5’5″. Although motion capture technology was employed to create Maz, and there are traces of Nyongo’s facial features in the alien character, they appear quite dissimilar.
As a gamer, I can tell you from my experience, Kanata’s age and wrinkles really brought her character to life in an authentic way. When Lupita Nyong’o took on the role at around 32 years old, she was portraying a character thousands of years old – making Kanata one of the oldest characters in the “Star Wars” universe. For me, as a fan, this added depth and intrigue to her performance.
Nyong’o remained a part of the franchise by featuring in its subsequent sequels. In the animated series “Star Wars: Forces of Destiny,” she provided the voice for her character. Later, she went back to motion capture for the 2016 adaptation of “The Jungle Book.”
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2024-07-13 23:59