While Star Wars has no shortage of characters, the live action films themselves were never too focused on droids in the past, beyond C-3PO and R2-D2. Sure, there would be the occasional mechanical fella showcased, like R5-D4 in A New Hope or that jerk of a droid in Return of the Jedi. The prequels were also filled with battle droids of all shapes and sizes. But as far as well-rounded characters go, The Force Awakens‘ BB-8 was really the first new main droid character since 1977.
Could that finally change this year in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? It’s too early to tell, but Lucasfilm has unleashed a new merch-oriented featurette that shows off an evil droid by the name of BB-9E. Apparently the little dastardly fella is in charge of First Order ship maintenance. One can only hope he’s as prone to tantrums as Kylo Ren, especially since his on-set nickname was apparently “BB-H8”. On the nose? Absolutely, but as a lover of corny jokes, it makes me giggle.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the latest film in the Star Wars franchise. It is written and directed by Rian Johnson. The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. It stars Daisy Ridley as ‘Rey’, Adam Driver as ‘Kylo Ren’, John Boyega as ‘Finn’, Oscar Isaac as ‘Poe Dameron’, Mark Hamill as ‘Luke Skywalker’, Carrie Fisher as ‘General Leia Organa’, Kelly Marie Tran as ‘Rose Tico’, Laura Dern as ‘Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo’, Andy Serkis as ‘Supreme Leader Snoke’, Domhnall Gleeson as ‘General Hux’, Gwendoline Christie as ‘Captain Phasma’, Anthony Daniels as ‘C-3PO’, Jimmy Vee as ‘R2-D2’, Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo as ‘Chewbacca’, Lupita Nyong’o as ‘Maz Kanata’, Veronice Ngo as ‘Paige Tico’, Mike Quinn as ‘Nien Nunb’, Timothy D. Rose as ‘Admiral Ackbar’, Billie Lourd as ‘Lieutenant Connix’, and Simon Pegg as ‘Unkar Plutt’. Benecio Del Toro, Warwick Davis, Justin Theroux, and Noah Segan also appear.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theaters on December 15th, 2017.
