Two Ewoks have taken up residence in a Langley toy store to mark the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Return of the Jedi.
The Ewoks were built by a master prop builder, Elliott Montello, over the course of a week, a process involving a lot of research, said Toy Traders owner and Star Wars megafan Matthew Purdy.
“It takes about a week to do each Ewok,” he said.
The Ewoks are Wicket and Logray, two of the Ewoks who help Leia, Luke, Han Solo, and their allies in the fight against the Empire in the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy, which premiered on May 25, 1983.
“Every single thing is built from scratch,” Purdy noted of the two models.
Montello had to carefully research the kinds of materials used to create each Ewok and their clothing and belongings, including what kind of bones were used in Logray’s staff and headdress, said Purdy.
With many film professionals out of work due to the writer’s strike, Purdy thought it was a good chance to give back by hiring one to create the Ewoks. Film crew members have been frequent customers at Toy Traders over the years, he said.
The Ewoks went up in mid-June, and they are a permanent installation in Toy Traders, Purdy said. They’re directly over the inside of the entrance to the store, which is located on the Langley Bypass.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: May the Fourth be with you – passing Star Wars to new generations
READ ALSO: This May the fourth, Carrie Fisher gets her Walk of Fame star
Have a story tip? Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.