Get An Up-Close Look At Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Cutest Creatures, The Porgs

The first teaser for The Last Jedi didn’t show off too many new creatures or locations, focusing instead on characters audiences are familiar with. In the new behind-the-scenes footage shown at the D23 Expo last weekend, audiences were inundated with new characters, environments, and creatures, leaving us wondering how it all comes together and what it could all mean. Of these new creatures, the cuddly creatures known as “porgs” gained tons of social media attention, making them one of the standout stars of the whole weekend.

In hopes of giving fans the details they wanted, Lucasfilm Story Group member Pablo Hidalgo recently spoke with StarWars.com to give more details about the cute creatures.

Detailing the basic information about the creatures, Hidalgo explained, “Porgs are native to Ahch-To, and can be found dwelling along the cliffs of the island where Luke and Rey are. In many ways, they’re the Star Wars version of puffins. They build nests. They can fly. Their babies are called porglets.”

This might have covered their fictional origins, but as far as how these creatures came into existence in the real world, Hidalgo pointed out, “The porgs are realized through a variety of effects, depending on what’s needed. Sometimes they’re puppets, with the puppeteers digitally removed from the shot. Other times, they’re entirely CG.”

Hidalgo might have had many answers about the creatures, but as they’re all new to the Star Wars galaxy, there were some questions even he didn’t have the answer for.

When asked about where the concept of the animals came from, Hidalgo pointed out, “You’d have to ask [director] Rian [Johnson]. He came with that name and the idea of the porgs fully ‘hatched,’ so to speak.”

You can see more about the porgs when The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second film in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy that began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The film will deal with Luke training Rey to become a, and possibly the last, Jedi. Meanwhile, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron and First Order defector Finn, continues to fight against the First Order, led by General Hux, while Supreme Leader Snoke and his Dark Side follower Kylo Ren continue their mysterious plot.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.

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