Honestly, if you saw Joonas Suotamo walking down the street in Helsinki, you’d probably just think, "Wow, that guy is incredibly tall." You might even ask if he plays basketball. He did, actually. Professionally. But for millions of people around the globe, they don’t see his face; they see the matted fur of a legendary Wookiee or the terrifying gait of a dark fantasy villain.
Finding a niche in Hollywood is hard enough. Doing it while being 6'11" is a whole different ball game. Joonas Suotamo movies and tv shows have become a fascinating case study in how a specialized physical actor can transition from being a "body double" to a franchise cornerstone. Most people only know him as the guy who took over for Peter Mayhew, but the last couple of years have seen him branch out into roles that finally let him flex different, albeit still very tall, muscles.
The Star Wars Era: Stepping Into a Legend’s Fur
It all started with a casting call for a "7-foot-tall man with blue eyes." Suotamo, who was selling insurance at the time while playing basketball in Finland, sent in a video of himself acting like a caveman. It worked.
The transition from Peter Mayhew to Suotamo wasn't an overnight swap. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), he was essentially an apprentice. He shared the role with Mayhew, doing the more physically demanding stunts while the veteran actor handled the close-ups. By the time The Last Jedi (2017) rolled around, Suotamo had fully inherited the bowcaster.
He didn't just play the part; he studied it. He spent hours with Mayhew learning the "Wookiee walk"—that specific, slightly lumbering but powerful stride that makes Chewbacca feel real. He went on to star in:
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
In Solo, we actually got to see him do more "acting" than usual. The chemistry between him and Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo had to be perfect. If that relationship didn't land, the whole movie would have collapsed. Suotamo brought a youthful, more aggressive energy to Chewie that we hadn't seen since the 70s.
Beyond Chewbacca: The Acolyte and the Jedi Wookiee
For a long time, fans wondered if Suotamo was destined to play the same character forever. Then came The Acolyte (2024).
This was a massive shift. Instead of playing the Chewbacca we knew, he was cast as Kelnacca, a Jedi Master during the High Republic era. This was the first time we ever saw a live-action Wookiee wielding a lightsaber. Suotamo had to reinvent how a Wookiee moves when they are a disciplined warrior of the Light Side rather than a rogue smuggler’s co-pilot.
Kelnacca was a standout, even if some fans felt the character deserved more screen time. The "shaved sides" look and the tattoos on his head gave Suotamo a chance to project a different kind of presence—one that was solitary, wise, and deeply troubled.
Breaking Out of the Suit: Wednesday Season 2
If you’ve been keeping up with Netflix’s massive hits, you know Wednesday is basically the center of the cultural universe right now. For Season 2, which is making waves in 2025 and 2026, the show needed a new Lurch.
Replacing George Burcea, Suotamo has taken on the mantle of the Addams family’s iconic butler. It’s a brilliant casting choice. Lurch requires a very specific type of non-verbal communication—groans, eye movements, and a looming physical presence. It’s exactly what Suotamo spent a decade perfecting inside a hot fur suit, but now he gets to do it with his actual face visible.
Watching him interact with Jenna Ortega is a trip. The height difference alone is a comedy goldmine, but Suotamo brings a certain "old world" soulfulness to the character that fits the Tim Burton aesthetic perfectly.
Recent and Upcoming Filmography
| Year | Project | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | Wednesday (Season 2) | Lurch |
| 2024 | The Acolyte | Kelnacca |
| 2022-2023 | Willow (TV Series) | The Scourge |
| 2019 | The Rise of Skywalker | Chewbacca |
The "Willow" Cameo You Probably Missed
Before The Acolyte, Suotamo appeared in the Willow sequel series on Disney+. He played The Scourge, one of the formidable, monstrous villains. It was a brief but intense role. It proved that he wasn't just "the Star Wars guy." He could play monsters, demons, and creatures of nightmare just as easily as he could play a lovable co-pilot.
He’s basically becoming the modern-day Doug Jones. While Jones is the master of skinny, spindly creatures, Suotamo is the go-to guy for the "Gentle Giant" or the "Imposing Force of Nature."
Why His Career Trajectory Matters
It’s easy to dismiss suit acting as "just standing there," but it’s an incredibly demanding discipline. You’re often working in 100-degree heat, blinded by prosthetics, trying to hit marks while wearing stilts or heavy padding.
Suotamo’s success in Joonas Suotamo movies and tv shows is a testament to his background in sports. As a former Penn State basketball player, he has the spatial awareness and endurance that most actors simply don't. He treats his roles like an athlete treats a game—there’s a technical precision to how he moves his head or shifts his weight.
He's also been incredibly smart about his brand. By moving from Star Wars into the Addams Family universe, he’s ensuring that he isn't pigeonholed. He’s moving into the "prestige TV" space, which allows for much more character work.
What to Watch Next
If you want to see the full range of what he can do, don't just stick to the main Star Wars trilogy.
- Check out The Acolyte: Specifically for the fight choreography. Seeing a 7-foot Wookiee move like a martial artist is something we haven't seen before.
- Binge Wednesday Season 2: This is where you actually see him as a human (sort of). His timing as Lurch is impeccable.
- Go back to Solo: Watch it again, but focus specifically on Chewbacca’s body language during the scene where he first meets Han in the mud pit. It’s a masterclass in physical storytelling.
Joonas Suotamo is no longer just "the guy in the suit." He’s a specialized performer who has carved out a very specific, very successful niche in the biggest franchises in the world. Whether he’s growling at a Stormtrooper or looming over Wednesday Addams, he’s one of the most consistent physical actors working today.
Keep an eye on his upcoming projects in late 2026; there are rumors of him joining another major fantasy adaptation, though nothing is set in stone just yet. For now, the best way to appreciate his work is to look past the makeup and the fur and watch the way he commands the space around him.