Star Wars: Why R2-D2 and C-3PO Secretly Hate Each Other

Only two actors have appeared in all six ‘Star Wars’ films: Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker.

The pair have played the mismatched Laurel and Hardy-esque droids C-3PO and R2-D2 for over 35 years, and are set to reprise their parts in ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ and, perhaps, beyond.

Unfortunately for fans, the two actors inside the droids aren’t as good pals as their robotic counterparts. In fact, the pair have a long-running feud that borders on hatred.

"I could have hit him. If I’d have been as big as you, I’d have hit him.” Baker told Justin Lee Collins about his last encounter with Daniels on ‘Bring Back Star Wars’, a Channel 4 documentary about George Lucas’ hit franchise.

"I was furious. I was shaking with rage, I really was, and I’m not easily upset.”

Daniels is equally as withering when quizzed about his Droid counterpart, telling the Mirror, "He might as well be a bucket.”

But why do the pair hate each other? And could their frosty relationship cause problems on ‘Star Wars: Episode 7?’

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“No, I don’t like you either."

Anthony Daniels was a classically-trained actor when he landed the role of the uptight protocol droid known as Threepio in 1976.

Kenny Baker on the other hand was a cabaret entertainer. He landed the role of Artoo due to his diminutive 3ft 8in stature, explaining in an interview that George Lucas cast him because he was the “smallest guy they’d seen”.

These two performers were on a collision course by the time they hit the set in Tunisia.

"I remember one day, [Kenny] was in the costume, and I said to him 'when I say the line, can you turn the head to look at me?', but he hadn’t read the script,” Daniels mused on ‘Bring Back Star Wars’.

"I was doing a typical stage actor thing, but he had no idea what I was talking about. So I just stopped, I didn’t bother.”

The prohibitive costumes the pair wore on set contributed to the growing gulf between the two of them as Baker explained to Hollywood.com.

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"By the time Anthony is in his costume I don't see him. I turn up five minutes before filming starts and they pop me into the R2-D2 shell. There's no talking once you're inside.

"He's had 30 minutes getting out at the end and by that time I'm away. We never meet socially--we don't live anywhere near each other.”

Despite sharing many scenes together, being encased in costumes can’t have helped to build their relationship.

"I never saw him," Daniels says. "I mean, R2-D2 doesn't even speak. He might as well be a bucket."

“Impossible man!”

After shooting three films together, the two parted ways following the release of ‘Return of the Jedi’ in 1983. The cult around the franchise began to grow throughout the 80s and 90s, bringing the pair back together on the convention scene.

Baker, who never made much money from ‘Star Wars’ thanks to a poor front-end deal, saw the enduring appeal of the series as an opportunity to rake in some cash. What fan wouldn’t want to see Threepio and Artoo reunited on stage?

Daniels, however, was not so keen.

"He’s been such an awkward person over the years. If he just calmed down and socialised with everyone, we could make a fortune touring around making personal appearances,” Baker told the Metro.

"I’ve asked him four times now but, the last time, he looked down his nose at me like I was a piece of sh*t."

"The last time I spoke to him was in Boston and he was in front of me. I said 'Did you have a nice weekend Tony?' He said 'I’m having a conversation,' and walked away. He wasn’t talking to anybody. I could have hit him.” he added on ‘Bring Back Star Wars’.

The two regularly appear at fan conventions, but never together. On the Channel 4 documentary, Collins asks Baker to appear at a cast reunion. The pint-sized actor agreed, but on one condition.

"It depends. If you invite his lordship, the one with the golden balls. If he comes, I won’t be there."

"Stupid little short-circuit!”

Nowadays, Baker seems a lot more pragmatic about his relationship with the Threepio actor.

"I thought it was just me he didn’t get on with but recently I’ve found out he doesn’t get on with anyone,” Baker told the Metro. "He’s rude to everyone though, including the fans.”

He’s also denounced Justin Lee Collins’ ‘Bring Back Star Wars’ interview as unnecessary fire-stoking in an interview with blogger Josh Gill.

"The so-called ‘feud' has been blown out of all proportion and I absolutely detested the Justin Lee Collins 'Bring back Star Wars' programme where it was clear that Collins was out to sensationalise the situation.

"Daniels has no time for any of the other actors not just me, and none of them have a good word to say about him. However I maintain that I don’t hate Daniels, in fact I don’t hate anyone as it just isn’t in my nature.”

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"I just don’t like [Anthony] and have never understood what his problem is. Other than Daniels thinks he was the greatest gift to George Lucas and I was merely a nobody who operated a robot’s controls and didn’t contribute anything from an acting perspective.”

“Curse my metal body!"

With both actors set to return to the “Galaxy far, far away” for ‘Episode 7’, could we see the two burying the hatchet? Kenny Baker was noticeably absent from first cast photo, showing all the actors reading through the script.

The 79-year-old was a surprising addition to the cast, as his health has been failing in recent years. Former Darth Vader actor David Prowse has cast doubt on the extent of Baker’s involvement, telling Movie Cricket: "Kenny Baker is really ill. How he is going to reprise his role, I do not know.”

"I can't see it. He is in such a terrible state with his terrible chest. I can't honestly see it… though I mean, they could put him in the unit and he doesn't have to do it all.”

Daniels, however, was present in the photo, after all Threepio is a talking role. So will the two share much time together on set? It’s too early to tell, but it would be a shame if there was still tension between the veteran stars after all these years.

Perhaps it’s time for Daniels to admit he’s been a bit rude over the years, and bring peace to the galaxy after all these years, before it’s too late.

‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ is coming to cinemas 18 December, 2015.