The late director Richard Marquand expressed how the filming of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” was considerably smooth when Kenny Baker operated R2-D2. However, the remote-controlled version of the iconic droid brought a host of problems. Marquand disliked the fact that the audience wouldn’t hear R2-D2’s voice until after post-production, making the performance interactions during filming less natural. He elaborated:
“R2-D2 was the worst. He’s a pain. When there’s a man in it, it’s great. […] There you are, trusting what you’re going to do in post-production. Post-production on R2-D2 is very important, because Ben Burtt adds all those signals and sounds. So you know you’re going for some kind of comedy thing, but you’re not quite sure exactly how it’s going to be.”
Marquand analogized the temperamental electronics of R2 as being akin to an unruly actor, commenting humorously on the droid’s “behavior”:
“When R2-D2 is running just on his electronics, he’s a beast. He’s the most rude and ill-behaved actor you’ve ever worked with in your whole life. He would just turn around and walk out of the door. I love him, though, because he’s so good in the end.”
Kenny Baker, who sadly passed away in 2016, wasn’t just iconic in “Star Wars,” but also brought R2-D2 to life in multiple features, on “The Muppet Show,” and in “Star Tours” at Disneyland. His performance was greatly appreciated for its human touch, which was clearly missing with the mechanical version.
FAQ about R2-D2 and Return of the Jedi
- Who operated R2-D2 in “Return of the Jedi”?
Kenny Baker operated R2-D2 when the droid wasn’t remote-controlled.
- Why was remote-controlled R2-D2 difficult to work with?
The mechanical devices often malfunctioned, making it tough for the droid to perform as directed.
- Was Kenny Baker’s performance as R2-D2 valued?
Yes, his human touch was highly valued, as opposed to the mechanical version.
- How were R2-D2’s sounds added in the film?
Ben Burtt added R2-D2’s beeps and whistles in post-production, which was a critical process according to Marquand.