Shots Fired! Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) Gets Catty About His Star Wars: The Force Awakens Co-Stars
With less than three months until the worldwide theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, news outlets and online magazines have been grasping at any and all information regarding the film, its cast and crew, and the stories from set. Sometimes, as with any franchise as large and as universally loved as Star Wars is, certain actors do not get along with others, and usually that kind of nonsense is swept under the rug until the film has premiered and any damage these gossip-style stories can do, has been minimized. However, as is the case with Anthony Daniels — C-3PO — this particular story is starting to gain some traction.
According to The Week, an online publication in the UK, Daniel had some not-so complimentary remarks about Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and the original R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), although he was all glowing remarks when it came to Harrison Ford.
"“Harrison was just brilliant, he just made me smile – I’m smiling at the memory. He’s 72 but he’s still got the charm, the charisma.”"
I’d imagine the last person on set, that Anthony Daniels would want to be catty about, would be Harrison Ford. At 72, Ford can wither most men’s constitutions with his baleful stare. I don’t think Daniels would pose much of a challenge to the man who literally walked away from a plane crash. As far as Hamill goes, Daniels was less forgiving.
"“Poor Mark. He was a young lovely looking lad when he was first Luke Skywalker and now… well…”"
I mean, to quote C-3PO himself: How rude!
Anthony Daniels wasn’t done, however, and if you thought his comment on Mark Hamill’s looks were bad, you should read what he said about everyone’s favorite astromech, R2-D2…well the man who climbed in the tin-can and portrayed R2. This is actually one of the poorest kept secrets from the Star Wars franchise, as most fans knew that the 83 year old Baker did not get along with Daniels, with Daniels calling Baker the rudest person he’s ever met. Then there’s this:
"“He’s been saying unpleasant things about me. I just don’t comment.”"
And even taking Baker’s involvement in Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the barest of minimums.
"“He’s not actually on the set. I haven’t seen him for years. His name is on the credits as a sort of… I don’t know, a good luck charm, a courtesy. He’s a talisman.”"
Ouch, Anthony Daniels, those are some pretty harsh words for the most beloved droid of all time. Maybe it’s some sort of droid-jealousy that is driving this feud, but whatever it is, I hope it can all be peacefully resolved. Afterall, at age 69, Daniels isn’t exactly a spring chicken, and with Baker at age 83, they don’t have too many years left to smooth things over, before one or both of them go to meet the Maker.
Next: Gwendoline Christie on Playing Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens