Every news bit about the upcoming "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" has been exciting fans all over the world, besides the official trailers shown. One of the things worth noting is the droid K-2SO and all his unique qualities, which will be discussed by special effects supervisor Neal Scanlan.
According to CNet, "Firefly" actor Alan Tudyk will be doing the motion captured performance for K-2SO, which is something to look forward to in the big screen. The droid is an enforcer type that was formerly part of the Empire, but was captured by the Rebels and his memory wiped by Andor. Special effects guy Neal Scanlan describes the robotic character as "full of attitude" and contrasting greatly from the previous C-3PO.
It was also worth mentioning that Scanlan used to be part of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, as well as working on the animatronics for movies like "Babe" and "Labyrinth."
In related news, the special effects supervisor also expressed his admiration about director Gareth Edwards in filming "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."
"What's amazing and exciting about 'Rogue One' is that Gareth Edwards is a young, dynamic guy who was brave enough to throw out the rule book," Scanlan said. "It's very respectful, but he's stamped his own personality on it."
Scanlan also expressed in a related article in Comicbook.com that he would strive to make special effects in the later "Star Wars" films more practical just like how "Force Awakens" was than overly relying on CGI.
"I have a little theory that in all of our hearts, as brilliant and as wonderful as CGI is, and I of course am an absolute fan of it, this is going to make me slightly controversial, but there's something deceitful about it," said the special effects supervisor to Radio 1138 Podcast on Jedi News. "It asks you to believe that it's real, and the better it gets, the more it wants you to believe that it's real and forces you to believe that it's real.
While "Force Awakens" may have introduced us to their version of R2-D2 with the cute and spherical BB-8, K-2SO may be the more badass version of C-3PO.
Other than the enforcer droid, "Rogue One" will be bringing back James Earl Jones voicing the legendary Darth Vader. Fans have already seen scenes of him in the trailers albeit only a few seconds.
"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will be on the big screen on Dec. 16.