Editing R2-D2 (section)

==Production==
[[File:R2-D2 - Genuine Movie Star.jpg|thumb|A fan-made R2-D2]]
Several R2-D2 models were built for the original ''Star Wars'' films; one that was remote controlled and rolled on three wheeled legs, and others which were worn by English actor Kenny Baker and walked on two legs.<ref>{{cite video|title=Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope audio commentary|medium=DVD}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|title=[[Empire of Dreams]]|medium=Documentary|publisher=Star Wars Trilogy box set}}</ref> [[Deep Roy]] served as Baker's double, in both ''Episodes V'' and ''VI''; providing stunts and filling in when Baker was unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therobotsvoice.com/2012/03/the_8_nerdiest_roles_of_deep_roy.php|title=The 8 Nerdiest Roles of Deep Roy|date=6 March 2012|access-date=March 30, 2016|publisher=The Robot's Voice|archive-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414213351/http://www.therobotsvoice.com/2012/03/the_8_nerdiest_roles_of_deep_roy.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deeproyinc.com/bio.html|title=Deep Roy – Alive in the Valley|date=January 1991|access-date=March 30, 2016|first=Alicia|last=Brummer|publisher=Sand to Sea|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329082323/http://www.deeproyinc.com/bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.theballadofsandeep.com/bios.html|title=Deep Roy Biography|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=October 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015091514/http://www.theballadofsandeep.com/bios.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The original props for ''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' were designed by [[John Stears]] and built by Stears' team and Peteric Engineering. The revised fibreglass droids used in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' were built by Tony Dyson and the White Horse Toy Company. The radio controlled R2 was operated by [[John Stears]] in ''A New Hope'', [[Brian Johnson (special effects artist)|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-D2 was portrayed entirely by a radio controlled unit, operated by [[Mick Garris]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Other R2-D2|publisher=[[Star Wars Insider]]|date=April 2008}}</ref> (Lucas' receptionist at the time).<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gorehoundmike.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-master-of-horror-himself-mick.html|title=The Master of Horror Himself Mick Garris! Talks getting his start with Lucas, Working with Stephen King and More!!!|date=April 7, 2014|access-date=March 30, 2016|first=Michael|last=Vaughn|publisher=Gorehound Mike|archive-date=April 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411220701/http://gorehoundmike.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-master-of-horror-himself-mick.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinemaraiders.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/star-wars-holiday-special.html|title=Cinema Raiders- Star Wars Holiday Special|date=20 December 2011|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=11 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411155105/http://cinemaraiders.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/star-wars-holiday-special.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the credits, R2-D2 is credited as playing himself. Garris later went on to operate the radio controlled R2-D2 at various events, including the [[Academy Awards|Oscars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2003/01/13/an-interview-with-mick-garris|title=AN INTERVIEW WITH MICK GARRIS|date=January 13, 2003|access-date=March 30, 2016|first=Ken|last=P|website=IGN|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207092444/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/13/an-interview-with-mick-garris|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 R2-D2s were prone to failure, particularly while shooting the Tatooine scenes in [[Tunisia]].<ref>{{Cite video|title=Bad Karma Droid|publisher=Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (DVD)}}</ref>

Radio-controlled units were extensively utilized 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starwarsinterviews1.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/don-bies-interview-star-wars-droid.html|title=Don Bies Interview|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=April 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411181356/http://starwarsinterviews1.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/don-bies-interview-star-wars-droid.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/content.php?id=448|title=The Man Behind R2-D2|date=September 30, 2015|access-date=March 30, 2016|publisher=New Mexico Museum of Space History|archive-date=April 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410142546/http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/content.php?id=448|url-status=live}}</ref> Jolyon Bambridge<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flyingcamerasystems.com/about-us|title=Flying Camera Systems – About Us|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=March 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318004931/http://flyingcamerasystems.com/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbfb96e05|title=Jolyon Bambridge, BFI Filmography|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418200921/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbfb96e05|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Grant Imahara]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/bios/grant-imahara/|title=Grant Imahara at MythBusters|access-date=March 30, 2016|publisher=Discovery|archive-date=July 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702000858/http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/bios/grant-imahara/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/bios/grant-imahara/|title=Meet Grant Imahara from MythBusters|access-date=March 30, 2016|publisher=mouser.com|archive-date=July 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702000858/http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/bios/grant-imahara/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite video|people=[[Ben Burtt]]|title=Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [[audio commentary]]|medium=DVD}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Anthony Daniels interview|publisher=[[:pt:Revista Set|Set]]|date=April 2008}}</ref> Baker himself has said he probably only appears in footage caught while shooting the previous two movies.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Williams|title=Kenny Baker|date=May 19, 2005|publisher=[[Associated Newspapers]]|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=1217&in_page_id=11|work=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|access-date=2009-01-28|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404193515/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=1217&in_page_id=11|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For ''The Force Awakens'', producer [[Kathleen Kennedy (film producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]] hired two fans, Lee Towersey 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|''Star Wars'' Celebration]] Europe in 2013.<ref>{{Cite video|title=Cast & Crew Highlight at Star Wars Celebration Panel Anaheim|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LnexDhOiS0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211108/_LnexDhOiS0| archive-date=2021-11-08 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Towersey was also one of the two puppeteers, along with Hassan Taj, who operated the droid in ''The Rise of Skywalker''.

[[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.