Joonas Suotamo Reflects on The Force Awakens at 10 — “My Life Changed Forever”

Ten years after Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought the saga roaring back to the big screen, Joonas Suotamo, the actor who stepped into the towering role of Chewbacca, is looking back with equal parts gratitude, awe, and a few well-earned goosebumps.

In a heartfelt anniversary post, Suotamo shared how walking onto the set of The Force Awakens quite literally changed his life—and how the emotion of that moment still hasn’t faded a decade later.

Stepping Onto the Falcon

According to Suotamo, one moment stands above the rest: meeting Harrison Ford just before stepping into the Millennium Falcon.

For any Star Wars fan, that’s already a “pinch me” scenario. For someone about to help relaunch the entire franchise? That’s history pressing down on your shoulders—in the best possible way.

Suotamo recalls not just the excitement, but the emotion on set. Cast and crew members were deeply aware that they weren’t just making another movie. They were bringing Star Wars back, and doing it in front of the original heroes who helped define it.

Tears, Goosebumps, and the Weight of Legacy

One of the most striking details from Suotamo’s message is his memory of seeing people with tears in their eyes while working on the film.

That’s not marketing hype. That’s what it looks like when a cultural phenomenon means something personal to the people building it.

For The Force Awakens, the stakes were enormous. It had to honor the past, introduce a new generation, and prove that Star Wars still belonged on the big screen. Behind the scenes, that pressure translated into passion—and emotion.

Suotamo’s reflection captures that perfectly.

Becoming Chewbacca

For Suotamo, The Force Awakens wasn’t just another acting job. It was the moment he truly became part of Star Wars history.

Taking on Chewbacca meant carrying forward a character beloved for decades, while also helping guide him into a new era. That responsibility is something Suotamo has always treated with respect, and his anniversary message makes it clear just how seriously he still takes that role.

“I’m so grateful to have been a part of this special saga,” he wrote, adding that he’s excited to see what the future holds.

That sentiment mirrors how many fans feel about The Force Awakens itself.

Ten Years Later, the Impact Still Lingers

Love it or debate it, The Force Awakens undeniably reshaped modern Star Wars. It reintroduced icons, launched new heroes, and reminded audiences why this galaxy mattered in the first place.

A decade on, Joonas Suotamo’s message is a reminder that Star Wars isn’t just about box office numbers or canon discussions. It’s about moments—on set, on screen, and in the hearts of the people involved.

Here’s to ten years of The Force Awakens.
And, as always, to many more adventures in a galaxy far, far away.

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