C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels was originally “insulted” to be offered the role

It’s hard to imagine a Star Wars movie without at least one sassy droid making an appearance at some point, and C-3PO is the OG sassy droid of the franchise. He and R2-D2 have become well-known faces in pop culture, but they weren’t always the big names they are today. As it turns out, C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels initially didn’t even want the role in A New Hope.

Speaking with Digital Spy, Daniels admitted that he was reluctant to accept the part, citing his lack of faith in the film — and in the benefit of playing the part of a robot. “It’s very odd because I didn’t want an interview with George Lucas,” the actor said. “I was insulted to be offered the part, or to discuss the part of a robot in a low budget science fiction film.”

Like many, Daniels didn’t foresee what a huge phenomenon Star Wars would become over the years. And, admittedly, being told you’ll be playing a slightly neurotic robot and won’t get to show your real face isn’t something that will appeal to everyone. (Can we take a moment to marvel at how very C-3PO Daniels’ reaction was, though?)

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 24: Anthony Daniels attends Go Behind The Scenes with Walt Disney Studios during D23 Expo 2019 at Anaheim Convention Center on August 24, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Thankfully, Daniels’ agent convinced him to give Star Wars a chance — and thank heaven, because it’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing the C-3PO we know and love. “My agent made me go, and here I am today,” Daniels said. “I am now a heritage player. I have to get this right, because I keep calling us heirloom players, which I’m told is a type of vegetable, or tomato. It’s Harrison [Ford], Mark Hamill, Billy [Dee Williams] and I — and more.”

Perhaps most impressively, Daniels is among the Star Wars alumni still involved with the films. He’ll be appearing as C-3PO in The Rise of Skywalker in December — and judging by his one line from the recently released trailer, he’s going to be a fairly sentimental C-3PO. But that kind of fits with the actor’s concluding remarks about being a part of the franchise: “It is odd to be the observer, against my will originally, but now with amazement.”

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The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20.

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