A not-so long time ago, in a galaxy close to home, Supa-Star Anthony Daniels, aka C-3PO, from the Star Wars Saga attended Supanova in Adelaide and Brisbane. Daniels is the only original cast member of 1977’s Star Wars (later retitled Episode IV – A New Hope) to appear in all nine mainline films. At his Brisnova panel, fans were treated to fascinating stories about himself, C-3PO and, of course, the Star Wars universe.

C-3PO in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Before Daniels took the stage though, fans were shown a brief highlight reel of the many adventures (and misadventures) of Threepio. After the reel ended, the Star Wars theme boomed loudly in the background, as Daniels announced himself and arrived on stage triumphantly. The audience roared with thunderous applause that engulfed the theatre’s ambience.

Daniels began, “It has been nearly 50 years since I first donned my costume. I was a serious Shakespearean actor, so when I got the chance to meet George Lucas about his sci-fi film, I said, ‘No.’ The thing that changed my mind was Ralph Macquarie’s concept design.”

He continued, “After I saw it, I went back the next day to read the script, it was very good. Then the next day after, reality struck. I know it is surprising because for the past 50-something years the costume has existed, and it’s now safely stored in the Smithsonian Museum, but the costume didn’t exist back then, there was nothing.”

They had the man, the design, and the inspiration, but not the costume or even a prototype. C-3PO is instantly recognisable to anyone with even a passing interest in pop culture, his iconic look is synonymous with science fiction itself, but what was the process of creating the suit?

Daniels laughed, “Yes, I took my clothes off, I stood there, and they threw plaster on me, it was disgusting, they made a mould of me. it took months of trying on this and that, and eventually, we were ready to go to [the set of] Tatooine in Tunisia.” He emphasised, “I never got a chance to do a rehearsal.”

Fun fact about the planet Tatooine, it’s named in honour of its real-life filming location, Tataouine, located in the southern region of Tunisia! This is where Daniels donned the costume for the first time ever. Of course there was no way for him to know how momentous this innocuous moment would become for him, and for cinema.

Anthony Daniels on stage at Supanova 2024 – Adelaide. Photo by Nick Blyth

“There was no way to get out of the costume after the last screw was tightened. Then the neck and head were placed onto me, and suddenly, I wasn’t in this room anymore, I wasn’t on the planet, I was alone in this dark space. I had tunnel vision; I couldn’t see a thing.”

Daniels recounted, “I wandered from my tent, into the desert, and the sun was beaming, and I could feel [the crew] looking at me, and they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, awesome, awesome!’”

There are many epic 3PO moments, but which one does Daniels consider his favourite? “You probably remember that 3PO in The Empire Strikes Back had a hard time dealing with Han Solo,” he said.

“And there we are, 3PO, King of the Ewoks, some kind of God [referring to the events of Episode VI – Return of the Jedi]. And there he is, Han Solo tied up over a fire lit by the Ewoks. And 3PO says, ‘I’m rather embarrassed, General Solo, but it appears that you are to be the main course of a banquet in my honour.’” He smiled gleefully, “I love it, 3PO stuck it to Han Solo.”

In hindsight, the success of Star Wars in 1977 seems obvious, but neither the crew nor Daniels was sure about the film’s success prior to its release. He explained, “Nobody knew. It grew exponentially, people took their friends and their families to see it again, and again. It was you, you the families, and you the friends who made it happen, so, thank you.”

Daniels concluded with a 3PO quote from Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker: “Taking one last look, at my friends. May the Force be with you!”

Lead Image: Anthony Daniels on stage at Supanova 2024 – Brisbane. Photo by Issaro Kayunsumrutket.