Despite the release of multiple trailers and teasers, most of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens footage has inspired more questions than answers. Where is Lupita Nyong'o's Maz Kanata? What about Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke? Even more concerning is the absence of certain returning characters. The lack of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in any Star Wars: The Force Awakens footage has caused massive conspiracy theories as to the fate of the hero, and there's also the continued absence of everybody's favorite pair of droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO to consider. As Dec. 18 approaches, fans are wondering, is R2-D2 in The Force Awakens ?
Relax, R2-D2 groupies. If you've seen the second The Force Awakens teaser trailer released in April of 2015, you know that R2-D2 made a brief, but impressive, appearance, and, therefore, will likely be in the film. Admittedly, not every shot shown in a trailer winds up in the film it promotes, but, taking into account the droid's promotional appearances for The Force Awakens — R2-D2 has been touted at official Star Wars conventions alongside new droid BB-8 and will appear on the cover of Time in December — I think saying that R2-D2 will be in The Force Awakens is a pretty safe bet. The real question is, what will he be doing?
In the trailer, R2-D2 appears intact and well-loved, its light blinking from green to red, as a robotic hand rests on him softly. Most fans assume the secretive hand in question belongs to Luke Skywalker, suggesting that, after all these years, R2-D2 is still loyal to the Jedi. That said, there are rumors that Luke might have crossed over into the Dark Side in The Force Awakens, which could be bad news for the fan-favorite R2.
Aside from R2-D2's relationship with Luke, The Force Awakens will hopefully see him forming bonds with other droids. Fans already witnessed R2-D2 interact with BB-8 at the Star Wars Celebration in April, when the two were brought out on stage together. And the two appear alongside C-3PO in a short commercial for the film, though it does not seem to be an actual clip from the The Force Awakens.
Earlier this year at the Star Wars Celebration, it was revealed that two Star Wars superfans, Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples, built R2-D2 for The Force Awakens as well as a whole new set of R2 droids. The new R2 droids appeared only as X-Wing Fighters co-pilots, so only the tops of their heads were on display at the event. There is also a rumor that the R2-KT droid will be in The Force Awakens . If R2-KT does appear, hopefully the sweet, pink version of R2-D2, originally created for young Star Wars fan Katie Johnson, who died in 2005, will have some interaction with R2-D2.
Until The Force Awakens hits theaters on Dec. 18, fans can only speculate as to what to expect from R2-D2 in the newest Star Wars installment. But, there's one thing you can count on: he'll be there.
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