George Lucas: R2-D2 Is The 'Narrator' Of The Star Wars Movies

Of all the characters in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, it appears that its creator George Lucas had placed one of the most unlikely at its very centre.

According to Lucas, R2-D2 is the pivot point of the whole saga, the narrator to the keeper of the 'journal of whills’, a text which Lucas invented and which details all the events of the galactic rebellion, the Jedi, the dark side and everything in between.

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This new twist on the mythology of the 'Star Wars’ universe has been unearthed (via io9) from a book called 'How Star Wars Conquered The Universe’ by Chris Taylor, who was told as much by Lucas’s animation director Rob Coleman.

“The entire story of Star Wars is actually being recounted to the keeper of the Journal of the Whills - remember that? - a hundred years after the events of Return of the Jedi by none other than R2-D2,” writes Taylor.

Lucas told Coleman on his first day on set that the droid and the journal were his 'ultimate framing device’ for the movies.

It does make sense too, with Artoo being frequently at the centre of the action, and as a droid and therefore not limited to a normal human’s lifespan, and would be able to recount the events 'hundreds of years’ later.

Also, as R2-D2’s memory isn’t wiped as C-3PO’s is at the end of 'Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’, he’s familiar with all of the events to that point and then beyond, up to 'Return of the Jedi’, explaining perhaps the impetus the droid has in travelling to meet Ben 'Obi Wan’ Kenobi in 'A New Hope’ while C-3PO is reluctant.

It’s also pointed out by Taylor that it all makes further sense when you consider the astromech droid’s general heroism, often saving the lives of main character as well as helping move the plot on.

If this is the case, it’s a lovely angle on how the tale is told, and how it’s not Luke, Anakin, Leia or any of the other key players at the centre of the story, but a more humble character made of blue and white metal.

Image credits: Lucasfilm/Yahoo File/Disney/Rex Features