This is fantastic news, our favourite droid, the lovable R2-D2 is to return to appear in Star Wars: Episode VII.
R2-D2 is one of the major characters that appeared in all six Star Wars films and rumours were rife last week when a behind-the-scenes photo of director JJ Abrams and the robot was posted on Twitter.
Also featured in the photo were two mystery men at the Pinewood Studies in the UK but they’ve since been revealed as Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples, two Star Wars fans who build droids from the top franchise.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy hired the pair to be part of the creature effects team who will be responsible for operating R2-D2!
”It all started when Kathleen Kennedy toured the R2-D2 Builders area at Celebration Europe this past summer in Germany” Steeples told StarWars.com.
“She posed for pictures with us, looked at all the droids we’d built and was very complimentary. I mentioned that the R2-D2 Builders in the UK were available if required, as a semi-joke. When I was contacted to work on the film by [executive producer] Jason McGatlin, it was on her recommendation.”
”What we do need to do is improve on the mechanics” Towersey revealed while also saying that they were honoured to be part of the production.
”It’s fascinating to see the whole process of filmmaking as ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ grows around us” Towersey said.
“I feel very privileged to be in the working environment I’m in at the moment. It’s something I will never take for granted.”
Steeples added: ”It’s a dream come true and I hope I can live up to the expectations of the thousands of R2-D2 builders around the world, let alone the millions of ‘Star Wars’ fans.”
It’s unconfirmed as to whether Kenny Baker, the man who was inside R2-D2, will return again. Let’s hope C-3PO makes a comeback too!
