Star Wars Episode VII’s Anthony Daniels Confirms Practical C-3PO Suit, Says CG Version From the Prequels Was “Awful”

He added that he didn’t care for the parts in the prequels when the character was CG — bits where he couldn’t perform onscreen or it was too dangerous — going as far as to call it “awful.”

Here’s how he put it:

I will tell you that when [director] J.J. Abrams rang me to ask about filming Episode VII, one of the first things he said after he told me how wonderful I was — and that didn’t take long — but he then said, “Would you be interested in being in the film just doing the voice?” I said, “No,” and he said, “Right!” He knew I’d say that. There’s no way I would just do the voice. I also said that it can’t be the same suit. I will tell you that the team then got together and built a new suit. They made an entirely new look-a-like with changes that you will never notice [on screen] that made my life a lot easier. I can get it on and off very quickly. [During the prequels], the only time [Threepio has] been CG was when it was very dangerous [to act in the scene in a suit] — and it wasn’t very good. In fact, I’m going to say it was awful. One of the difficulties is with a character that you know and love so well is that, as a member of the audience, you go, “Oh no, that’s not right. No, he doesn’t move like that.” With me [in the suit], he’s always going to move the same way and have the same reactions, timing, and so on. With CG, you’re working with some brilliant person on the keyboard who is trying to pretend to be me. The only time that has worked without doubt is Disney’s Star Tours: The Adventures Continue [theme park ride]. There’s an element in the pre-show which is digital and I cannot tell it’s not me. It’s brilliantly done by Disney. In a cartoon series like Rebels, you accept it because it’s not trying to pretend to be reality. It’s an extension, it’s an exaggeration. On that basis, it’s utterly acceptable — providing the characterization is correct.

The actor also related some of his favorite lines, working on Sesame Street as his Star Wars character (“We’re doomed!”), the experience of working without creator George Lucas for the first time — “he will always be the inspiration” — and seeing how his character appears in Star Wars Rebels. You can check out the full interview here.

Star Wars Episode VII is due in theaters on December 18, 2015.