20th Century Fox
As if we needed any confirmation: Mr. Tall, Gold, and Shiny himself, C-3PO, will apparently be involved in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII.
At New York Comic Con, Anthony Daniels, the actor that has played the droid in every Star Wars movie to date, let slip some clandestine knowledge about the upcoming sequel. When asked about how important it is to be the only actor to appear in all six films, Daniels replied, “Yes, I am the only actor to be in all seven because I feel… six whatever.” Daniel’s betraying tongue gives us enough info to suggest that C-3PO will most likely be in the new film, and if C-3PO is there then you can bet your blaster that R2-D2 will be in tow. You can’t ever separate the dynamic droid duo. But why is it important that these two characters remain such a big part of the franchise?
In a galaxy far, far away, even as the debris of Alderaan washes across space, and as the mighty empire buckles under the weight of the rebel forces, C-3PO and R2-D2 have remained the steady constants in an ever-changing Star Wars universe. The two droids simultaneously remain a part of the ongoing plot of the series, but also function as outsiders looking in. They do participate in a lot of the action, but they also have fewer, or at least removed, stakes in the series. Star Wars has always been the Skywalkers’ story — Anakin’s, then Luke’s (chronologically) — so when those stories come to their natural conclusions, the two droids can still serve as the link that chains together every era of the series. Even as the faces of Star Wars age and change, R2-D2 and C-3PO will always be symbols that automatically trigger thoughts of lightsabers, X-Wings, and John Williams’ sweeping score in the minds of fans.
