As a die-hard “Star Wars” enthusiast with a soft spot for the obscure characters that inhabit this galaxy far, far away, I find it utterly fascinating to delve into the lives of these unsung heroes behind the masks and costumes. One such character is Des Webb, the man who brought the fearsome Wampa from “The Empire Strikes Back” to life.
Many “Star Wars” enthusiasts often know detailed information about Chewbacca, played by Peter Mayhew and Joonas Sartamo, including their backstory and what the actors look like beneath the Wookiee mask. However, some characters in the original trilogy are so bizarre that it’s common to think they are purely computer-generated effects, with no real actor contributing to their creation.
Encounter the colossal ice creature known as the Wampa from the planet Hoth, which Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) nearly met his end with at the beginning of “Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back.” This towering alien predator resembles a puppet or special effect, much like the sinister character Jabba the Hutt. However, contrary to expectations, the Wampa was played by an individual named Des Webb. Catching a glimpse of him partly out of costume is an unforgettable visual experience.
During the shooting of #TheEmpireStrikesBack, Des Webb overheated due to the intense heat of his Wampa costume, resulting in a case of heat exhaustion.
— Star Wars (@starwars) June 5, 2016
According to the official Star Wars X account, it appears that the terrifying Wampa creature falls under the category of creatures designed with a person in a costume. Despite giving off an eerie impression, Webb donned the massive, sweat-inducing fur suit for this role. However, the truth about the Wampa is more intricate than just that.
The strange story of bringing the Wampa to life
Des Webb primarily gained his film experience from “The Empire Strikes Back” and his significant Wampa role. He has only two other screen appearances, one of which is a single episode in the Rowan Atkinson comedy series “Blackadder,” which aired in 1983, and another small part in the 1985 comedy “Morons from Outer Space.” Considering the speculation that Mark Hamill’s real-life car accident led to the addition of the Wampa attack in the movie as an explanation for Luke’s facial scars and alterations, it is plausible to think that this scene was a late modification to injure Luke in a way that acknowledged his changed appearance on screen.
In my gaming world, I always love diving into the making-of stories for my favorite movies. For instance, when it came to the Wampa in “The Empire Strikes Back,” the creators had an ambitious plan, but Mother Nature threw a curveball. They wanted the Wampa to be more menacing and towering, so they put Brian Herring (the man behind the costume) on stilts and draped him in this massive suit. However, the thick snow proved to be a formidable adversary, making it challenging for Herring to move around with Luke Skywalker attached. Even the special effects team ran into trouble when they tried to replicate the scene in the special edition. Ultimately, despite being fearsome, the Wampa’s behind-the-scenes struggles led to some mobility issues, which in turn reduced its screen time. It’s fascinating how even the most epic battles can be influenced by factors beyond our control!
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2024-07-31 14:59