origin of The species

Head of Star Wars creature shop Neal Scanlan talks porgs…

“When Rian Johnson first spoke about porgs, we did so many different designs. Without exaggeration, there must have been a hundred designs that we did based on this blend of: ‘Are they puffin-like? Are they pug-like?’

“Eventually, Jake Lunt, one of our designers, drew this – dare I say it – egg-shaped entity with these little feet on it and these big eyes. In its simplicity, I think it completely touched Rian. So really, from there on, that was the one that he wanted to do, so we then defined it, and tried to look at, ‘How do we make these things feel like they’re real? That they could really exist as a seabird?’

“What would their chicks look like, for instance? I think you’ll get to see what we call porglets, which are little chicks. And one, in particular, befriends Chewie. I won’t spoil it, but there is a definite relationship between these characters in the film. And if you think the ones you’ve seen in the trailer are cute, you have not seen anything yet.

“We went to great lengths to try and sell their inquisitive, mischievous manner, but at the same time there is a real human connection, as well as a wookiee connection. [laughs]

“So I think Rian used them very much – and one in particular – as helping to take a breather for a moment, and to enjoy the other things that dwell within this galaxy.

“Somehow, I think, you might feel like you’ve seen a porg somewhere before – whether it’s a barn owl, a puffin or a penguin; and that will hopefully be the joy, that when you see it, it’s not so fantastical that you think, ‘I can’t relate to it.’ It needs to be close enough for you to kind of go, ‘Oh my God, it’s a guinea pig with wings!’”