Kenny Baker - R2 Consultant?
- Thread starter Shawnster
- Start date
Yeah sadly that is correct, ultimately he's too frail. Last picture I saw of him he was in a wheel chair.
Peter Mayhew also acted in part as a consultant. He was in the costume for much of the film but a Finnish Basketball player named Joonas Suotamo Played him in many of the action scenes. My guess is he may wind up playing Chewie in the Han Solo movie as well.
Peter Mayhew also acted in part as a consultant. He was in the costume for much of the film but a Finnish Basketball player named Joonas Suotamo Played him in many of the action scenes. My guess is he may wind up playing Chewie in the Han Solo movie as well.
From what I've read, for health reasons, he was unable to perform the character in costume but he was on set to consult.
I might add though that I'm not entirely sure what he was there to consult about. What did he do? Make sure the sheet was draped over Artoo for the whole film just right?
I'm only half joking of course. Kenny Baker is dear member of the franchise and if they wanted to invite him down for a tour of the production and an honorarium in the credits, I say good for him.
I'm only half joking of course. Kenny Baker is dear member of the franchise and if they wanted to invite him down for a tour of the production and an honorarium in the credits, I say good for him.
To be fair, the only reason why Baker was in an R2 "costume" in the OT was because of the technological limitations of the time and budget limitations.
Today, people are making droid replicas all of the time so it's possible, and cheap, to make R2 a functioning prop; like they did with BB8, so there's little need to stuff a man into a trash can and have him wobble around in it and stuff.
I don't recall -and can't be arsed to look it up- if Baker was "in costume" for the PT. I assume so to a point, though back then doing with an actual robot or mechanical components (plus, CGI!) was more possible and Baker was "young" enough to do the role.
But, today, there's no need for him to be stuffed into a tin can when R2 can just be an actual robot.
Today, people are making droid replicas all of the time so it's possible, and cheap, to make R2 a functioning prop; like they did with BB8, so there's little need to stuff a man into a trash can and have him wobble around in it and stuff.
I don't recall -and can't be arsed to look it up- if Baker was "in costume" for the PT. I assume so to a point, though back then doing with an actual robot or mechanical components (plus, CGI!) was more possible and Baker was "young" enough to do the role.
But, today, there's no need for him to be stuffed into a tin can when R2 can just be an actual robot.
Its been rumored that his credit in Revenge of the Sith was just an honorary one given to him by George Lucas. Even though he had a much higher billing than here.
Largely for the same reasons. Baker's health and that they long ago did not need him to play R2. Most of all George Lucas continued to be very generous to the people who worked on the original film. I would not be surprised at all that Kenny Baker got payed for ROTS even though he did no actual work.
Largely for the same reasons. Baker's health and that they long ago did not need him to play R2. Most of all George Lucas continued to be very generous to the people who worked on the original film. I would not be surprised at all that Kenny Baker got payed for ROTS even though he did no actual work.
Yeah, it's a classy move on the part of the filmmakers. Bill Hader and some other guy were listed as BB8 voice consultants. As I understand it they created droid sounds by using their voices and then distorting them with an iPad.
I'm glad that Hader was involved in this. He's a tremendous voice talent, something that I have appreciated since I was a kid.
I'm glad that Hader was involved in this. He's a tremendous voice talent, something that I have appreciated since I was a kid.
Even if it wasn't necessary to have him, it's still cool that they brought him on board. He can provide the difference between knowledge and wisdom and make sure they get R2 right.
I think Baker was "in costume" for the prequels though there was also a working prop used for some of the other R2 units seen in the movies.
Honestly, aside from nostalgia, I can't see the point the point to having someone stuffed inside there anymore. Especially since it's a pretty damn torturous job, it got very hot inside R2.
In the prequels they had problems with the remote R2 from time to time. So I imagine they would want some performance shots with someone inside back then. Now, with a decade or so of people having been building R2 units as a hobby, I think the bugs are getting worked out so a new R2 unit can perform without issues or a man in the suit.
Sadly, Kenny Baker never did get to fly. 
There's still a few things that would be very difficult to do without someone inside. For example, shaking (when Artoo is nervous), or rocking back and forth on his legs, or going down steps. Most of those need the center of mass to be shifted to be performed.
But yes, very cool that he got a consultant credit!
But yes, very cool that he got a consultant credit!
Here is something interesting. A actor named Jimmy Vee who by the way is the same height 3' 8" as Baker will be taking the role of R2 in the next film. It looks like they want to keep a tradition of someone in the costume. I'm not sure if Vee is in all R2 scenes but it looks like they are using him in some for Ep 8. It might be a combination of a man in the R2 suit and a electronic one.
http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/st...aker-as-the-new-r2-d2-in-star-wars-episode-8/
http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/st...aker-as-the-new-r2-d2-in-star-wars-episode-8/
Makes sense. They used stop motion for the chess pieces, so I can see keeping the same methods used originally.
I just want to know the name of the hamster they got to play BB-8.
I read Mark Hamill got paid a million dollars for his part so why not? I wonder if they could get Kenny to operate the remote controls, not quite the same thing but would keep some of the spirit.
Jimmy Vee played a number of small-statured aliens in Doctor Who - nice connection there. Next up, getting Dan Starkey. :P
Mark
Mark
I thought the limping Chewbacca in the freighter was him.
