Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew reveals original ‘Star Wars’ script on Twitter

iReport
Henry Hanks
By Henry Hanks, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 12:35 AM EST, Fri February 19, 2016
The original 1977 "Star Wars" starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the swashbuckling Han Solo. Almost 40 years later, Disney has announced that an anthology film about Solo's origins -- a solo Han Solo film, so to speak -- is in the works and will be overseen by "Lego Movie" directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Click through the gallery to see the growth of the "Star Wars" universe.
The original 1977 "Star Wars" starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the swashbuckling Han Solo. Almost 40 years later, Disney has announced that an anthology film about Solo's origins -- a solo Han Solo film, so to speak -- is in the works and will be overseen by "Lego Movie" directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Click through the gallery to see the growth of the "Star Wars" universe.
Lucasfilm/Twentieth Century Fox
Luke attempts to master the lightsaber, from the original "Star Wars." The young Luke was encouraged to "use the Force" to improve his feel with the weapon.
Luke attempts to master the lightsaber, from the original "Star Wars." The young Luke was encouraged to "use the Force" to improve his feel with the weapon.
From Lucasfilm
The Jedi Temple was located on the planet Coruscant and served as the training facility for the Jedi Order. It was later destroyed and rebuilt in cycles indicating the changing politics of the universe.
The Jedi Temple was located on the planet Coruscant and served as the training facility for the Jedi Order. It was later destroyed and rebuilt in cycles indicating the changing politics of the universe.
From Lucasfilm
"Star Wars" was a phenomenon upon release in May 1977, with lines around the block (in the days when theaters were largely located on city blocks). Here, people line up in New York to see the film, which soon became the highest-grossing film of all time -- a record it held until "E.T." took its place five years later.
"Star Wars" was a phenomenon upon release in May 1977, with lines around the block (in the days when theaters were largely located on city blocks). Here, people line up in New York to see the film, which soon became the highest-grossing film of all time -- a record it held until "E.T." took its place five years later.
Paul Slade/Paris Match/Getty Images
Much of the original "Star Wars" played like a throwback to old pulp flicks, with Han Solo and Princess Leia providing the witty repartee. Chewbacca the Wookiee and android C-3PO were along for the ride.
Much of the original "Star Wars" played like a throwback to old pulp flicks, with Han Solo and Princess Leia providing the witty repartee. Chewbacca the Wookiee and android C-3PO were along for the ride.
IMDb
Film editor Marcia Lucas with her then-husband, director George Lucas, editing "Star Wars." The film gave George Lucas the power to call shots in Hollywood -- influence he used to do everything from market video games to produce films for one of his heroes, Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.
Film editor Marcia Lucas with her then-husband, director George Lucas, editing "Star Wars." The film gave George Lucas the power to call shots in Hollywood -- influence he used to do everything from market video games to produce films for one of his heroes, Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.
Julian Wasser/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Myth scholar Joseph Campbell's book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" inspired George Lucas in creating the "Star Wars" universe.
Myth scholar Joseph Campbell's book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" inspired George Lucas in creating the "Star Wars" universe.
AP
Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness in "Star Wars," was the noble warrior who helped guide young Luke Skywalker.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness in "Star Wars," was the noble warrior who helped guide young Luke Skywalker.
From Lucasfilm
Darth Vader, the villain of "Star Wars," and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle in the original film. Vader's life is explored in the second "Star Wars" trilogy, starting with 1999's "The Phantom Menace."
Darth Vader, the villain of "Star Wars," and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle in the original film. Vader's life is explored in the second "Star Wars" trilogy, starting with 1999's "The Phantom Menace."
From Lucasfilm
Yoda, here seen in "The Empire Strikes Back," is a wise and powerful Jedi Master who takes over Luke Skywalker's training. His voice was provided by Muppet great Frank Oz.
Yoda, here seen in "The Empire Strikes Back," is a wise and powerful Jedi Master who takes over Luke Skywalker's training. His voice was provided by Muppet great Frank Oz.
courtesy Lucasfilm
C-3PO, left, and R2-D2 are the loyal droids who serve as companions to various "Star Wars" characters. They're somewhat based on two characters from Kurosawa's film "The Hidden Fortress," a key "Star Wars" influence.
C-3PO, left, and R2-D2 are the loyal droids who serve as companions to various "Star Wars" characters. They're somewhat based on two characters from Kurosawa's film "The Hidden Fortress," a key "Star Wars" influence.
From Lucasfilm
Members of the "Star Wars" fan club celebrate May 4 ("Star Wars Day") in front of the Colosseum in central Rome. Why May 4? It's related to a pun on "May the Force be with you" -- "May the Fourth be with you."
Members of the "Star Wars" fan club celebrate May 4 ("Star Wars Day") in front of the Colosseum in central Rome. Why May 4? It's related to a pun on "May the Force be with you" -- "May the Fourth be with you."
TIZIANA FABITIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images
"Star Wars" creator and filmmaker George Lucas at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Lucas sold his Lucasfilm empire to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion.
"Star Wars" creator and filmmaker George Lucas at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Lucas sold his Lucasfilm empire to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion.
Getty Images
The newest "Star Wars" film -- "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" -- is due at the end of 2015.
The newest "Star Wars" film -- "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" -- is due at the end of 2015.
Walt Disney Pictures
Both Harrison Ford, as Han Solo, and Peter Mayhew, as Chewbacca, are returning for "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."
Both Harrison Ford, as Han Solo, and Peter Mayhew, as Chewbacca, are returning for "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."
disney/lucasfilm
"The Force Awakens" cast, along with droids, executive producer Kathleen Kennedy and director J.J. Abrams, appeared at the Star Wars Celebration fan convention in April.
"The Force Awakens" cast, along with droids, executive producer Kathleen Kennedy and director J.J. Abrams, appeared at the Star Wars Celebration fan convention in April.
Disney/Lucasfilm
Fans gathered at the official Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, California, in April.
Fans gathered at the official Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, California, in April.
Kevork Djansezian/getty images
'Star Wars': An epic is born

Story highlights

"Star Wars" actor Peter Mayhew sharing pages from the original script on Twitter

Story differed significantly from the popular 1977 film

CNN  — 

It’s been much discussed in “Star Wars” fan circles, but the world at large has finally gotten a rare look at an original draft of the movie’s script.

It’s no secret that Lucas’ original idea differed in many ways from the story of Han Solo, Obi-Wan and the Skywalkers that launched the biggest movie franchise ever. It’s even been released in comic book form.

Now one of the original actors, Peter Mayhew, who has portrayed Chewbacca in five “Star Wars” movies – including the recent blockbuster “The Force Awakens” – has tweeted images of his script from 1976.

It’s titled “The Adventures of Luke Starkiller as taken from the’Journal of the Whills’ ” in an image of the cover to the script. Mayhew has also tweeted some pages of the script so far and promises to continue tweeting pages to fans every day.

“On the final day of the release of the script, Peter will pair it with a big announcement,” according to a news release.

Mayhew’s announcement is a mystery so far, though it was revealed last month that a second actor, Finnish basketball player Joonas Suotamo, portrayed Chewbacca in the more physical scenes. (71-year-old Mayhew often walks with a cane.)

The pages leaked so far show that the opening minutes of the movie were similar, with text crawling up the screen and R2-D2 and C-3PO being the first characters we see. The big difference, of course, is the name Luke Starkiller, instead of Skywalker. By this point, the story had already gone through a few revisions (at one point, Luke was an older general and Han Solo a lizard-like character).

Two months after the release of “The Force Awakens,” fans have been revisiting the early versions of “Star Wars.” Some have painstakingly edited together their own unauthorized restored version of the now hard-to-find original film as it was seen in 1977.