The Star Wars franchise features several fan-favorite characters but the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO hold a special place in the fanbase’s hearts. Actor Anthon Daniels played the role of the quirky humanoid protocol droid C-3PO across all three trilogies of the franchise and several spin-off media.
Despite being a recognizable face among the fanbase, Daniels was mostly left out of the fanfare and promotions during the early stages of his tenure as C-3PO. In an interview, Daniels spoke about the struggles, revealing one rule from Lucasfilm, that prevented him from interacting with the fans.
Star Wars Actor Anthony Daniels Admitted He Was Neglected Because of One Lucasfilm Rule
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise with the 1977 original film, which introduced the character of C-3PO. In the film, Anthony Daniels debuted as the humanoid protocol droid and reprised the role numerous times, including in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
In 2019, Daniels spoke about his lengthy tenure in the role with StarWars.com, while also discussing his memoir. During the interview, Daniels revealed that he was initially prohibited from interacting with fans to maintain the illusion of C-3PO being a robot.
I was not allowed to be a part of it and it took me many, many years to begin to feel a part.
Daniels made the above statement, explaining that Lucasfilm wanted to keep the illusion that C-3PO was a droid instead of an actor playing him in a suit.
From Daniels’ words, it is also evident that the actor initially felt neglected because he was kept away from the press and media when promoting the original trilogy. However, Daniels admitted that he felt like a part of the team by the time of the sequel trilogy and was grateful for the same.
Anthony Daniels Talked About the Early Challenges of Filming Star Wars
During the same interview, Daniels also spoke about the challenges of playing C-3PO, especially during the franchise’s early days. The actor explained that he had difficulty getting accustomed to the suit, which was unlike anything that had been created before.
One of the issues of wearing it was to be so isolated from people.
Daniels made the above comment regarding his on-set situation, which limited interactions with other crew members because of the suit. Furthermore, Daniels also implied that wearing the suit was extremely uncomfortable during the earlier stages of filming.
Ultimately, it is safe to assume that the actor had to spend most of his time without the ability to interact with others. Hence, Daniels being neglected and mistreated during the promotional events makes the entire scenario even sadder. Thankfully, Lucasfilm realized Daniels was an important asset and the character’s popularity eventually led to the actor joining the press tours.
The Star Wars movies are streaming on Disney+.
