Suvudu Universe

Hi from the workshop! #StarWarsVII http://t.co/9R7JGSfxlC
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Bad Robot (@bad_robot) November 14, 2013

Remember when the Bad Robot Twitter account shared a photo featuring J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy and R2-D2? Turns out, our favorite astromech has been confirmed to appear in Star Wars: Episode VII. What’s even more intriguing about this news? Star Wars fans and members of the R2-D2 Builders Club, Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples, will officially become part of the Creature Effects team for Star Wars: Episode VII.

I like the fact that the creators behind the sequel trilogy are finding new and exciting ways to include fans in the production of what, I think, is the most anticipated movie. Although I’ve never been to a Star Wars Celebration, I have seen R2-D2 models in person and the work is quite exquisite.

Now, the question is…will R2′s companion and partner-in-crime, C-3PO, be in the film? It’s hard to see one without the other when it comes to the cinematic platform. We’ve seen Artoo and Threepio on their own in The Star Wars: The Clone Wars series. Artoo often went off on his own journeys with Anakin and Threepio remained close to Padme. Last we saw them, the duo were celebrating the end of the Empire in the last moments of Return of the Jedi. Needless to say, Artoo and Threepio are the comic relief!

Here’s what J.J. Abrams had to say about them back in 2007 in History Channel’s Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (at 41:20), “When I first saw Star Wars, it was so hard to relate to what was happening. It was so not where I live, it’s not what I know. As soon as you had those two characters show up, immediately, you’re laughing and you’re comfortable, and you think, ‘Now I know who I am. Now I know I can fit in here. I can live here because they’re like me.” At one point in the documentary, Artoo and Threepio are compared to a Greek chorus, a group of individuals who commented on the scene from the background. They are two sides to a coin, so it would be unusual to see Artoo on his own.

You can watch the rest of the documentary down below:

Disregarding what has happened in the expanded universe, since the sequel trilogy will be based on original material, we can assume that Artoo and Threepio remained under the possession of Luke Skywalker. Or, Luke may have passed them on to Leia. Whatever the case, it’s exciting to know that a familiar face has officially been cast in the first installment of the sequel trilogy.

“Oh my, but–but what about me?”

Don’t worry, Threepio. I’m sure you have a part somewhere. Like the rest of us, you’ll just have to wait and see!

(via StarWars.com)

Image Credit: CGCG, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, Lucasfilm