R2-D2

R2-D2
Star Wars character
First appearance Star Wars (1977)
Created by George Lucas
Portrayed by Kenny Baker (Episodes I-VI and consultant in Episode VII)
Jimmy Vee (Episode VII-IX)
Voiced by Ben Burtt (vocal effects)
Homeworld Naboo
Radio Controlled by John Stears (Episode IV)
Brian Johnson (Episode V)
Kit West (Episode VI)
Grant Imahara/Don Bies (Episodes I-III)
Jolyon Bambridge (Episode I)
Lee Towersey (Episodes VII-VIII, Rogue One)
Oliver Steeples (Episode VII)
Mick Garris (Holiday Special, Muppet Show, Live Appearances)
Information
Nickname(s) R2
Species Robot
Gender Masculine programming
Occupation Astromech droid
Affiliation Galactic Republic
Rebel Alliance/New Republic
Jedi Order
Resistance

R2-D2 (/ˌɑːrtuːˈdiːtuː/), or Artoo-Detoo, is a fictional robot character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. A small astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character and appears in nine out of the ten Star Wars films to date. Throughout the course of the films, R2 is a friend to C-3PO, Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga.

English actor Kenny Baker played R2-D2 in all three original Star Wars films, and received billing credit for the character in the prequel trilogy, where Baker's role was reduced, as R2-D2 was portrayed mainly by radio controlled props and CGI models. In the sequel trilogy, Baker was credited as consultant for The Force Awakens; however, Jimmy Vee also co-performed the character in some scenes. Vee later took over the role beginning in The Last Jedi.[1] R2-D2's sounds and vocal effects were created by Ben Burtt. R2-D2 was designed in artwork by Ralph McQuarrie, co-developed by John Stears and built by Tony Dyson.

Design

George Lucas's creation of R2-D2 was influenced by Akira Kurosawa's 1958 feature film The Hidden Fortress (USA release 1962), particularly Tahei and Matashichi, the two comic relief characters that serve as sidekicks to General Makabe. Lucas and artist Ralph McQuarrie also drew inspiration from the robots Huey, Dewey, and Louie from Douglas Trumbull's 1972 film Silent Running.

The name derives from when Lucas was making one of his earlier films, American Graffiti. Sound editor Walter Murch states that he is responsible for the utterance which sparked the name for the droid. Murch asked for Reel 2, Dialog Track 2, in the abbreviated form "R-2-D-2". Lucas, who was in the room and had dozed off while working on the script for Star Wars, momentarily woke when he heard the request and, after asking for clarification, stated that it was a "great name" before going back to writing his script.[2][3]

R2-D2 stands for Second Generation Robotic Droid Series-2, according to a Star Wars encyclopedia published after the release of the film Star Wars.[4] Tony Dyson, owner of the special effects studio The White Horse Toy Company, was commissioned to fabricate the design, making four units operated by remote control. Two were used by Baker, and two were stunt double models made for the scene where the droid was shot from the swamp onto the shore on Dagobah.

Appearances

Original trilogy

A New Hope

In A New Hope, R2-D2 and C-3PO are both introduced on board the Tantive IV, along with Princess Leia of Alderaan, when they are fired upon by an Imperial Star Destroyer. Leia inserts into R2-D2 an information disc containing the plans for the Death Star battle station, and encodes a distress message on the droid's holographic projector. The droids then escape in a pod that crashes on Tatooine near Obi-Wan Kenobi's desert abode.

R2-D2 and C-3PO are then abducted by Jawas and bought by Owen Lars, step-uncle of Luke Skywalker. While Luke cleans the sand out of R2-D2's gears, he discovers a fragment of Leia's message, and removes the droid's restraining bolt to see more; once free of the bolt, R2 claims to have no knowledge of the message. That night, R2-D2 leaves the farm to seek out Obi-Wan. Soon, by way of fate, Luke is forced to leave Tatooine with Obi-Wan, Han Solo, and Chewbacca onboard the Millennium Falcon to deliver R2-D2 to the Rebel Alliance. On arrival at Alderaan's co-ordinates, they are pulled in by the Death Star's tractor beam and are forced to land, but eventually rescue Princess Leia and eventually minus Kenobi, they escape and deliver the Death Star plans to the Rebel Alliance. R2 later serves as Luke's droid during the attack on the station. R2-D2 is severely damaged during the battle, but is repaired before the ceremony at the end of the film.

The Empire Strikes Back

In The Empire Strikes Back, R2-D2 accompanies Luke to Dagobah, and later to Cloud City, where he helps to rescue and repair a heavily damaged C-3PO and to override city security computers. He also manages to reactivate the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive, resulting in a last-minute escape from Imperial forces.

Return of the Jedi

In Return of the Jedi, R2-D2 plays a critical role in rescuing Luke, Leia, and Han from Jabba the Hutt. He later joins the Rebel strike team on Endor. He is badly damaged again during the fight between the Imperial troops and the Rebels, but is repaired in time for the celebration marking the second Death Star's destruction and the fall of the Empire.

Prequel trilogy

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, set 32 years before Star Wars, R2-D2 is portrayed as belonging to the Naboo defense forces, one of four astromech droids deployed for repair duty on Queen Padmé Amidala's starship as it attempts to get past the Trade Federation blockade. The sole survivor of the four, R2-D2 becomes part of Qui-Gon Jinn's party on Tatooine and meets C-3PO and Anakin Skywalker. Later still, he serves as the astromech droid for Anakin's starfighter during the Battle of Naboo.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, set 10 years after The Phantom Menace, R2-D2 still serves Anakin and Obi-Wan. He accompanies Anakin and Padmé to Naboo, and then to Tatooine when Anakin tries to rescue his mother Shmi. Here, he is reunited with C-3PO, and the two get into various misadventures on Geonosis. He and C-3PO are later witnesses to Anakin and Padmé's secret wedding.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, R2-D2 helps Anakin and Obi-Wan in their mission to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from Count Dooku's capital ship, the Invisible Hand. He is attacked by battle droids, but defeats them through ingenious tactics. After Anakin falls to the dark side of the Force and becomes Darth Vader, he takes R2-D2 with him when he goes to assassinate the Separatist council, but tells him to stay with the ship. After the Galactic Empire is established at the end of the film, C-3PO's memory is erased to keep the knowledge of the locations of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia a secret from their father. However, R2-D2's memory isn't wiped; as a result, R2-D2 is the only surviving character at the end of Return of the Jedi who knows the entire story of the Skywalker family. Both R2-D2 and C-3PO end up in the possession of Captain Raymus Antilles on board the Corellian corvette Tantive IV.

Sequel trilogy

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, set approximately 30 years after Return of the Jedi, R2-D2 is revealed to be kept in storage at the Resistance base on the planet D'Qar, having put himself in a low-power mode after Luke Skywalker's disappearance. He later awakens and reveals Luke's location by combining map data stored in his memory with that of the droid BB-8. He then travels with Rey and Chewbacca to the planet highlighted on the map, where they find Luke in self-imposed exile. In the credits, Kenny Baker was credited as 'R2-D2 consultant,' while Jimmy Vee provided an uncredited portrayal in some scenes.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

R2-D2 appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with actor Jimmy Vee taking over the role from Kenny Baker, who retired from the role due to his age and health. Baker died in August 2016.[5][6]

R2-D2 has a brief but pivotal role in the film, reuniting with Luke aboard the Millennium Falcon and showing him Leia's distress message from the first film in a successful attempt to convince Luke to train Rey. He is later shown interfacing with the Falcon's computer while Rey and Chewbacca pilot the ship amid the final confrontation with the evil First Order’s forces.

Episode IX

R2-D2 is slated to return once more in Star Wars: Episode IX, with Jimmy Vee reprising the role again.[7]

Anthology films

Rogue One

R2-D2 makes a cameo appearance in Rogue One alongside C-3PO.[8]

Expanded universe

Canon

  • R2-D2 appears in the 2008 animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and the subsequent TV series of the same name. In the film, he accompanies Anakin and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano on a mission to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta. In the series, he helps them fight the Separatists.
  • R2-D2 appears in Star Wars Rebels in the episodes "Droids in Distress" and "Blood Sisters".
  • R2-D2 appears in Marvel's Star Wars comic series, which is set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. He also appears briefly in the miniseries Star Wars: Shattered Empire.

Legends

With the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced since the originating 1977 film Star Wars were rebranded as Star Wars Legends and declared non-canon to the franchise in April 2014.[9][10][11]

  • R2-D2 and C-3PO had their own animated series, Star Wars: Droids, set before they came into Luke Skywalker's possession.
  • In the various Star Wars novels and comics, the droid duo have played a small but significant role. In the Star Wars Expanded Universe novel The Swarm War, R2-D2 inadvertently helps Luke and Leia come to grips with their heritage when an electronic glitch unearths long-concealed images of Anakin relating his fear of losing Padmé, and of Padmé's death.
  • In issue No. 12 of Star Wars: Legacy, R2-D2 is revealed to have survived the resulting 88 years after his last appearance and has been upgraded to the latest technology. In this series, he now serves another member of the Skywalker family – reluctant Jedi Cade Skywalker.

Other films

Along with the Star Wars films, R2-D2 makes non-canon cameo appearances in several other films, such as Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, seen flying in debris, Close Encounters of the Third Kind on the underside of the alien ship, Raiders of the Lost Ark, seen on the wall of the room containing the Ark, and in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, seen flying among rubble and debris in the sky. R2-D2 will appear in the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.

In an early script to 2014's The Lego Movie, R2-D2 was set to be one of the main characters, but was written out due to the directors failing to obtain the rights to the character.[12][13]

Production

R2-D2 costume from Episode IV

In the original Star Wars films, there were two R2-D2 models, one that was remote controlled and rolled on three wheeled legs, and another which was worn by English actor Kenny Baker and walked on two legs.[14][15] Deep Roy (who also doubled Yoda in several scenes), served as Baker's double, in both Episodes V and VI; providing stunts and filling in when Baker was unavailable.[16][17][18] The radio controlled R2 was operated by John Stears in A New Hope, Brian Johnson in The Empire Strikes Back and by Kit West in Return of the Jedi.

Kenny Baker, who portrayed R2-D2 in costume, was not involved in the Star Wars Holiday Special. R2 was portrayed entirely by a radio controlled unit, operated by Mick Garris[19] (Lucas' receptionist at the time).[18][20][21] In the credits, R2-D2 is credited as playing himself. Garris later went on to operate the radio controlled R2 at various events, including the Oscars.[22]

There were a total of 15 R2-D2s on the set of Attack of the Clones. Eight were radio-controlled; two were worn by Baker; the remainder were stunt models that could be moved by puppet strings or towed by wires. The robotic R2s were prone to failure, particularly while shooting the Tatooine scenes in Tunisia.[23]

Radio controlled units were extensively utilised for the Prequel trilogy, due to advances in technology, though Baker was still used in some scenes. R2-D2 had three principal operators: Don Bies,[24][25] Jolyon Bambridge[26][27] and Grant Imahara.[28][29]

The sound effects for R2-D2's "voice" were created by sound designer Ben Burtt, using an ARP 2600 analog synthesizer, as well as his own vocalizations processed through other effects.[30] Original props of R2-D2 and C-3PO are used as Audio-Animatronics in the queue area of Disneyland's Star Tours–The Adventures Continue attraction.

Although Kenny Baker is credited, Anthony Daniels (who portrays C-3PO) has stated that Baker did not film any scenes in Revenge of the Sith.[31] Baker himself has said he probably only appears in footage caught while shooting the previous two movies.[32]

For The Force Awakens, producer Kathleen Kennedy hired two fans, Lee Towarsey and Oliver Steeples, to build new R2-D2 robots for the film, after being impressed by their working replicas that were brought to Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2013.[33]

Cultural influence

In 2015 All Nippon Airways unveiled a Boeing 787-9 in a special R2-D2 livery, which is colloquially referred to as R2D2JET. This aircraft is seen here at Tokyo International Airport (March 2016).

R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003. The Smithsonian Institution included R2-D2 in its list of 101 Objects that Made America.[34]

Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center called a security robot intended for schools and malls R2-D2's "evil twin"; William Santana Li, who co-founded the company that built the robot, said he wanted people to think of the robot as "a mash-up of 'Batman,' 'Minority Report' and R2-D2".[35]

Ewan McGregor, who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, said in an interview, "As soon as R2-D2 comes on the set, everyone goes a bit silly." He said "there is something about him that makes you feel great affection for him". In the DVD audio commentary for Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas says R2-D2 is his favorite character, and that it is intentional that R2-D2 saves the day at least once in every film.

R2-D2 and C-3PO guest starred in a series of segments of Sesame Street in 1978. The two droids were featured as presenters at the 50th Academy Awards.

R2-D2 is parodied in several episodes of Family Guy; The final scene in "Blind Ambition" where Peter Griffin receives a medal of honor after a blind Peter saves Horace's life parodies the ending in the original 1977 Star Wars. In the episodes parodying the original Star Wars trilogy, Cleveland Brown plays R2-D2's role, while Quagmire plays C-3PO.

In the Latin American Spanish dubbing of the Star Wars films, the name R2-D2 is pronounced as "Arturito" (Little Arthur), which sounds similar to the English pronunciation.[36]

In 2015, Hasbro released a Bop It game using the design of R2-D2 on September 4, 2015 for Force Friday. The top part of the unit (his head) becomes the 'Bop It' button, the bottom part of his head becomes the 'Twist It' and his legs are the 'Pull It'. The game is based on the Bop It Micro Series and the voice is replaced with voice recordings from C-3PO. Instead of the game saying "I'm going to sleep." before the unit shuts off, this version says "I'll just switch off for a while."[37]

The 2015 Israeli sci-fi comedy "OMG, I'm a Robot!" features "Robo Joseph" – a "Jewish R2-D2" dubbed by Rob Schneider.

The Phalanx CIWS is nicknamed R2-D2 due to the shape of the radar housing.[38]

See also

Notes

  1. Wallace, Daniel. (2002). Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters. Del Rey. p. 138. ISBN 0-345-44900-2. Note: Canon sources are mixed as to whether R2-D2 has a gender, but Wallace (an official source) indicates that the droid has masculine programming.

References

  1. ↑ McNary, Dave (February 14, 2017). "'Star Wars': R2-D2 Role to Be Filled by Jimmy Vee in 'The Last Jedi'". Variety.
  2. ↑ Bill Chambers (2000). "Film Freak Central Interviews Editor Walter Murch (page 4)". FilmFreakCentral.net. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ Jay Jones, Brian (2016). George Lucas: A Life. Hachette. p. 162. ISBN 9780316257459. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "R2-D2". AI - Artificial Intelligence!.
  5. ↑ Cameron K McEwan (November 16, 2015). "Doctor Who actor Jimmy Vee is the new R2-D2 in Star Wars Episode 8". Metro. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ Jason Ward (September 16, 2015). "LITTLE ACTOR JIMMY VEE IS ARTOO-DETOO IN STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII". Makingstarwars.net. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 27, 2018). "'Star Wars: Episode IX' Announces Cast; Carrie Fisher to Be Featured". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  8. ↑ Fullerton, Huw (December 18, 2016). "11 of the best Star Wars Easter Eggs in Rogue One". radiotimes.com. RadioTimes. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for Star Wars Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Disney and Random House announce relaunch of Star Wars Adult Fiction line". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ Child, Ben (19 November 2014). "The missing piece: Star Wars' R2-D2 originally a key character in The Lego Movie". The Guardian. London, England: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  13. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (November 8, 2014). "R2-D2 Was Almost in 'The Lego Movie', Directors Say". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  14. ↑ Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope audio commentary (DVD).
  15. ↑ Empire of Dreams (Documentary). Star Wars Trilogy box set.
  16. ↑ "The 8 Nerdiest Roles of Deep Roy". The Robot's Voice. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  17. ↑ Brummer, Alicia (January 1991). "Deep Roy – Alive in the Valley". Sand to Sea. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Deep Roy Biography". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Other R2-D2". Star Wars Insider. April 2008.
  20. ↑ Vaughn, Michael (April 7, 2014). "The Master of Horror Himself Mick Garris! Talks getting his start with Lucas,Working with Stephen King and More!!!". Gorehound Mike. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Cinema Raiders- Star Wars Holiday Special". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  22. ↑ P, Ken (January 13, 2003). "AN INTERVIEW WITH MICK GARRIS". IGN. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  23. ↑ Bad Karma Droid. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace DVD.
  24. ↑ "Don Bies Interview". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  25. ↑ "The Man Behind R2-D2". New Mexico Museum of Space History. September 30, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Flying Camera Systems – About Us". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Jolyon Bambridge, BFI Filmography". Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Grant Imahara at MythBusters". Discovery. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Meet Grant Imahara from MythBusters". mouser.com. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  30. ↑ Ben Burtt. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope audio commentary (DVD).
  31. ↑ "Anthony Daniels interview". Set. April 2008.
  32. ↑ Williams, Andrew (May 19, 2005). "Kenny Baker". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  33. ↑ Cast & Crew Highlight at Star Wars Celebration Panel Anaheim. YouTube.
  34. ↑ "R2-D2". 100 Objects that Made America. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  35. ↑ Markoff, John (November 29, 2013). "A Night Watchman With Wheels?". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  36. ↑ "El verdadero nombre de R2-D2". wordpress.com. February 8, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Bop It R2D2 Review". YouTube. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  38. ↑ Sieff, Martin (November 3, 2006). "Phalanx Has a Future". Spacewar.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  • R2-D2 in the StarWars.com Databank
  • R2-D2 on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
  • "Tony Dyson The man behind Star Wars R2-D2". Archived from the original on October 1, 2013.
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