NIMOUDIAN OR GUNGAN?
DEC 17 - NIMOUDIAN OR GUNGAN??
DEC 17   

Recently, the official SW website published a picture of a creature under construction. There has been a lot of speculation about this alien. What race is it? What will be the final look of this creature?
T'Bone Fender reported in the prequel section: "One of our latest sources (who wishes to be known as Shug Ninx) gave us this tidbit in reference to the pic that recently emerged at www.starwars.com.: " If you look, closely at the unfinished alien on the table you'll notice what looks to be three tentacles around a mouth, the top of the head is flopped back behind it. It is the Sea Otter/Sea Lion type alien. It has three little beards, they kind of look like small pony tails. The alien on the table will be covered with what looks like soft silver/grey hair. It has no nose but instead has what kind of looks like a bisected blow hole.'' T'Bone added: "Can you say...Gungan? It's a possibility." 

Could this alien be one of the Gungans, aliens who live in the underwater city Otoh Gunga, which is situated in a lake on the planet Naboo?
However, there are also some factors that point in the direction of the alien being a Nimoudian: 
 
  • Nimoudians are tall aliens (six feet, eight inches). The frame used for making the costume is very tall.
  • Reportedly, Nimoudians look similiar to the Duros in that they have large skulls, slightly protrouding low mouths, grayish-green skin, and veiny red eyes. All of the facial movements are realized by animatronics with two radio controlled units. The top of the head of this alien, flopped back behind the rest (to allow easy acces to the animatronics elements?), reminds us of the shape of the skull of the Duros.
  • A spy of Red 5 reported some time ago that some scenes (especially the final celebrations) featured a race of aliens with an 'alligator' look. It's my guess that this spy talked about the Gungans, the submarine people of Otoh Gunga. The alien on the picture doesn't really remind me of an alligator, so this could suggest that it's not a Gungan.
  • Nute Gunray (one of the Nimoudians) reportedly wears long flowing sparkling silver robes. The frame suggests that a similar, robe-like costume is being made.
Here's how I made the actual picture of how the Alien could look like, if he is indeed a Nimoudian: 
I completed the original head with the skull of Admiral Ackbar,
I added eyes like the ones from the Duros in the Mos Eisley cantina.
The alien starts to look like a Nimoudian. I only had to alter the colour of the skin in greyish green...
and finally, I added a robe to match the description of 'Nute Gunray'!
 
> DEC 17 - REACTION 1 
  
S. Cassidi wrote: "The alien looks like a sea otter or seal and isn't green. Read the description carefully. Your guy looks like he's from invaders from mars."
> DEC 17 - REACTION 2 
  
Gary Dowling wrote: "I am almost certain that it is neither. With the pic you made, I believe it to be the Grinch who stole Christmas.  Notice his green skin, small, whit beard, and evil glance.  I think Lucasfilm is trying to trick us into guessing wrong.  George is probably sitting back laughing at us after showing a picture of the live-action Dr. Seuss tale. Maybe I'm wrong, but I could be right!"
> DEC 17 - REACTION 3 
  
The Northlander wrote: "I certainly hope that picture at the official site is just a minor alien.  Imagine that head on top of the frame being assembed by the worker there and it's not a pretty picture.  I would tend to think it's some fat alien, possibly female (Sebulba?  Heh heh...) and it will just be a minor character or background alien.  
  
Nimoudians are supposed to be tall and thin according to all the other reports, looking somewhat like the Duro from the cantina (nice job on your new picture by the way.)  These guys are probably based on the "Whatnots" from the early Empire Strikes Back draft.  
  
Then there are Gungans, which were first supposed to be war droids, now everyone says they're not.  I suppose it's possible the alien in the photo is a Gungan, but my gut tells me it isn't."
> DEC 23 - REACTION 4 
  
Streen Bean wrote: "uh... looks like a Bothan to me. Somewhat reminiscent of the drawing of Fey'lya from SOTP.  Also, just because the frame and the head are in the same room doesn't mean they're from the same critter, maybe someone just walked by and dumped it there.  Maybe Lucas did the whole picture to mix us up... Just because it's in the pantry doesn't mean it's food.