leias:

From space, the planet of Hoth looked like a pale blue orb due to its dense snow and ice covering. Its surface was covered with glaciers and frozen ice plains. The temperature, although always frigid, was known to drop even further with nightfall. Although devoid of intelligent life, Hoth was home to large gray snow lizards called tauntauns and to a species of towering predators known as wampas.

leias:

I had helped George Lucas audition other actors for the principle parts, and with no expectation or indication that I might be considered for the part of Han, I was quite surprised when I was offered the part. My principle job at the time was carpentry, I had been under contract as an actor at Columbia and Universal. I had a house at the time I wanted to remodel, a bit of the wreck of a house. I’d invest money in tools but wouldn’t have money for materials, so I realized this was another way of putting food on the table. And allowing me to pick and choose from the acting jobs that were being offered at the time. [x]