How George Lucas’ Pet Dog Inspired ‘Star Wars’ & ‘Indiana Jones’
Any pet owner can relate to the positive impact that our four-legged friends bring to our lives. Few things compare to a dog running to greet you when you come home or the cat staying by your side as you do chores around the house. Often times these critters exhibit the best traits of friendship, inspiring one to examine how they are demonstrating loyalty, compassion, and encouragement in their own lives. Pets have also had their fair share of inspiration on art, film, and literature. Such is the case with George Lucas and the writing process of the first Star Wars film. Lucas has spoken extensively about his inspirations when it came to writing everybody's favorite space opera. From Flash Gordon, Akira Kurosawa films, and Joseph Campbell's take on mythology, Lucas' muses were numerous and broad. According to the man himself, one of his muses was his dog, Indiana.
George Lucas and Indiana circa 1977
Lucas' faithful companion was an Alaskan Malamute, a large long-haired dog species that were originally bred as sled dogs in the frozen North. A strong, and high-energy breed, the Malamute is valued for its commitment and loyalty to its owner. George Lucas' dog Indiana was clearly no exception. During an interview to promote Star Wars: The Magic of Myth exhibit at the Smithsonian, Lucas described Indiana and the pivotal role she played in inspiring Chewbacca and his relationship with Han Solo, saying in part:
"I had an Alaskan Malamute when I was writing [Star Wars]. A very sweet dog, she would always sit next to me when I was writing. And when I'd drive around, she'd sit in the front seat... Having her with me all the time inspired me to give Han Solo a sidekick who was like a big, furry dog. Not quite like a dog, but intelligent."
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It is easy to see how "man's best friend" inspired the ever loyal and shaggy Chewbacca. Just as Lucas had Indiana by his side at the wheel of his car, Han Solo, portrayed by Harrison Ford, had his faithful Wookiee in the copilot seat onboard the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca routinely displays all the best qualities of friendship and loyalty to Han, Luke, and Leia, the same traits that dogs are valued for, coming through in the clutch on multiple occasions during their battle with the Empire. In Return of the Jedi, we even see Chewbacca rush to greet the recently de-carbonited Han Solo in a very dog-like display of joy and affection. While this does take place in the dungeon of Jabba's Palace and not upon arriving home after a long day of work, the similarities to a dog's reaction and the ensuing positive effect on the blind Solo are undeniable. The Malamute's coat was also clearly an inspiration for the appearance of Chewbacca, shifting him from the dome-headed, bug-eyed, bat-eared creature of the early Ralph McQuarrie concept art, to the furry, walking carpet that we all know and love. While McQuarrie's work is fascinating and creative in its own regard, the inspiration of Indiana certainly improved the early Wookiee concept into a classic and fan-favorite alien species. Thankfully, Rebels was able to take this early Chewbacca concept and add it to Star Wars lore, becoming the template for the Lasat species.
The inspiration drawn from Indiana certainly did not end at Star Wars but extended even further into Lucas' collective works. In 1981, four years after Indiana sat by Lucas' writing desk during the early stages of Star Wars, another Lucas story debuted in theaters. Raiders of the Lost Ark followed a daring and swashbuckling archaeologist across the globe as he searched for the Ark of the Covenant. It is clear to anyone who is a fan of the Indiana Jones films where else George Lucas directed his canine inspiration. The name "Indiana", or "Indie" among his friends, seems to be an odd name for anyone, let alone a titular Harrison Ford character. However, we learn in the third installment of the series, The Last Crusade, that Jones' birth name is actually Henry after his father, portrayed by the late, great Sean Connery, and that "the dog's name was Indiana." It seems that Lucas once again related with a Harrison Ford character, both sharing a dog named Indiana with whom they had "very fond memories."
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Source: Wookieepedia