STAR WARS EPISODE VII: Anthony Daniels Says "We're All Back," Talks C-3PO's Return, His New Suit and More



Who is the only actor to ever appear in every Star Wars movie? If you guessed Anthony Daniels, you're correct. He's in the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy and now the new (Disney) trilogy starting with Star Wars Episode VII.

Reprising his role as C-3PO, Daniels recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about returning to Star Wars Episode VII.

"It’s a real pleasure. I’m not exactly boasting about it, but I feel very good about having stuck it out [in this role] for nearly 40 years. I’m very happy to say I’m involved in another take on Star Wars."

Daniels then went on to talk about getting the call from writer/director J.J. Abrams, the new droid suit and about how he performs as C-3PO in Episode VII.

"I will tell you that when [director] J.J. Abrams rang me to ask about filming Episode VII, one of the first things he said after he told me how wonderful I was — and that didn’t take long — but he then said, 'Would you be interested in being in the film just doing the voice?' I said, 'No,' and he said, 'Right!' He knew I’d say that. There’s no way I would just do the voice. I also said that it can’t be the same suit. I will tell you that the team then got together and built a new suit. They made an entirely new look-a-like with changes that you will never notice [on screen] that made my life a lot easier. I can get it on and off very quickly. [During the prequels], the only time [Threepio has] been CG was when it was very dangerous [to act in the scene in a suit] — and it wasn’t very good. In fact, I’m going to say it was awful. One of the difficulties is with a character that you know and love so well is that, as a member of the audience, you go, 'Oh no, that’s not right. No, he doesn’t move like that.' With me [in the suit], he’s always going to move the same way and have the same reactions, timing, and so on. With CG, you’re working with some brilliant person on the keyboard who is trying to pretend to be me. The only time that has worked without doubt is Disney’s Star Tours: The Adventures Continue[theme park ride]. There’s an element in the pre-show which is digital and I cannot tell it’s not me. It’s brilliantly done by Disney. In a cartoon series like Rebels, you accept it because it’s not trying to pretend to be reality. It’s an extension, it’s an exaggeration. On that basis, it’s utterly acceptable — providing the characterization is correct.
"Having been in the studio today [shooting Episode VII], I’m actually quite tired because Threepio is an exhausting character — he’s always very tense, he’s always slightly on the edge of panic. That’s why he’s funny, because he’s always in the wrong place. I record each piece three times in a row, so the director can choose without interrupting too much."

Finally, the Threepio actor spoke about the Episode VII connection to the new Disney XD animated series Star Wars: Rebels.

"It’s where we’re going now with Episode VII. We’re all back. And it’s great, actually, that Rebels is set before Episode IV because that film is quintessential basic, 'This is Star Wars.' And you know George always used to say every time I arrived on set, I would always arrive for the first time back on set in costume, and during the prequels George would say when I arrived on set that 'Star Wars has arrived' — because I was the old fashioned link. Rebels is is an old fashion link to the old fashion film, which which we all loved. And you will love Episode VII — I have electrodes strapped to my head to zap me if I say anything more about it."

To read the entire Entertainment Weekly interview with Daniels, click here.

 Star Wars Episode VII releases in theaters on December 18, 2015.



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