C-3PO (pronounced /siːˈθriːpiːoʊ/ , phonetically spelled See-Threepio , and called Threepio for short) is a character from the Star Wars universe, who appears in both the original Star Wars films and the prequel trilogy. He is also a major character in the television show Star Wars: Droids , and appears frequently in the series' "Expanded Universe" of novels, comic books, and video games. C-3PO is one of the four characters to appear in all six of the Star Wars feature films, and one of only two characters portrayed by the same actor in all six installments of the series (the other being Kenny Baker as R2-D2). In all his various appearances, he is portrayed by Anthony Daniels.
C-3PO is a protocol droid designed to serve humans, and boasts that he is fluent "in over six million forms of communication." C-3PO is generally seen with his long-time counterpart, R2-D2, a small, quirky astromech droid. Threepio's main function as a protocol droid is to assist with etiquette, customs, and translation so that meetings of different cultures run smoothly. Along side of the astromech droid R2-D2, Threepio played a vital and pivotal role in the Galaxy's history.
Film appearances
Original trilogy
A New Hope
In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , C-3PO and R2-D2 are aboard the Tantive IV when it is attacked by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer Devastator . C-3PO and R2-D2 are launched in an escape pod on the orders of Princess Leia Organa to deliver a secret message to Obi-Wan Kenobi. On Tatooine, C-3PO and R2-D2 are captured by Jawas, taken into their Sandcrawler, and sold to Owen Lars. In the process of being sold, C-3PO convinces Owen's nephew, Luke Skywalker, to buy R2-D2.
During a conversation with Luke, C-3PO reveals that he and his counterpart are acquainted with the Rebel Alliance and its fight against the Galactic Empire. While cleaning R2-D2, Luke stumbles across the hidden message from Princess Leia, although C-3PO claims he had no idea who she is and that it may be old data. That night, R2-D2 leaves the homestead. C-3PO later joins Luke in his search through the Jundland Wastes. When they find R2, they are attacked by Tusken Raiders, causing C-3PO to stumble over and have his arm ripped off. Obi-Wan Kenobi saves them and assists them back to his home. Soon after being repaired, R2 shows Obi-Wan the message from Leia. Luke goes to discover that Owen and his wife Beru have been murdered by Imperial stormtroopers, leaving C-3PO and R2-D2 in Luke's care. After traveling to Mos Eisley C-3PO and R2-D2 escape on the Millennium Falcon with Luke, Obi-Wan, the ship's captain Han Solo and his first mate, Chewbacca.
C-3PO and his allies end up on the Death Star after it is found that their destination, the planet Alderaan, no longer exists. The droids are left behind in a hangar control center while Luke and Han venture off to rescue the princess and Obi-Wan searches for the panel which shuts down the tractor beam that had pulled the Falcon into the Death Star. Threepio has trouble with the comlink as the trio are endangered by a closing garbage compactor. R2 reverses the compactor, saving their lives, though C-3PO thinks the worst has happened.
When C-3PO realizes that R2-D2 is going with Luke on the Death Star attack, he says that he'd better take care of Luke — and of himself. When R2 returns damaged, C-3PO offers to donate any of his parts that would be helpful in his repair. R2-D2 is repaired and "looks good as new".
The Empire Strikes Back
In The Empire Strikes Back , C-3PO is responsible for identifying the Empire's probe droid, alerting the Rebels to the Empire's awareness of their location on the planet Hoth. Things get worse when Luke Skywalker goes missing on a scouting mission. After failing to pinpoint his exact location, Threepio can do little but wait until Han Solo returns with Luke. Fortunately, Solo has saved Luke. Soon afterward when the Empire attacks, C-3PO escapes with Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia in the Millennium Falcon , while R2 joins Luke in his pursuit of the mysterious Yoda.
During this time, C-3PO and Han develop a strange relationship, with C-3PO quoting odds and Han defying them. Normally, Han would have simply shut C-3PO down but due to the mechanical failures on the Falcon , C-3PO is plugged into the ship and communicated with it to determine the problem. After a chase through the Hoth asteroid field, the Falcon escapes to Cloud City on Bespin.
While exploring a room after his arrival, C-3PO is blasted by a stormtrooper. In search of Threepio, Chewbacca heads to the Ugnaught recycling facility where he finds the dismembered droid. When Darth Vader reveals his presence to the group, Chewbacca is sent into a holding cell, but is permitted to rebuild the droid, which he does poorly. Chewbacca carries the partially-rebuilt C-3PO on his back during Han Solo's encasement in carbonite.
With the help of the city's administrator, Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO are able to escape. Although Chewbacca attempts to choke Lando for his betrayal, C-3PO apologizes for the enraged Wookiee's behavior, which he fears would be the end of him. Having C-3PO on Chewbacca's back is beneficial: when Boba Fett escapes the city with Han Solo, C-3PO notifies them of pursuing stormtroopers. Finally, after a chase through the corridors of Cloud City, the group makes it to the Millennium Falcon . R2-D2, whom they find after Luke Skywalker tries to rescue them, unlocks the door to the landing pad under C-3PO's command. After successfully escaping Vader's flagship, the Executor , C-3PO is fully repaired by R2-D2.
Return of the Jedi
In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi , Luke commands C-3PO and R2-D2 to deliver a message to Jabba the Hutt.Unbeknownst to Threepio, Luke had given the droids to Jabba as a ploy to gain entrance. C-3PO is used as Jabba's replacement translator while R2-D2 serves on his sail barge. C-3PO's first translation for the crime lord is of the bounty hunter Boushh — Leia in disguise — claiming the bounty for Chewbacca. Luke Skywalker infiltrates the palace and kills Jabba's pet rancor in a fierce duel. This angers Jabba, and he transfers his court to the sail barge with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca as food for the Sarlacc, while Leia serves as Jabba's slave. Just as Luke Skywalker is pushed off the plank, he bounds back up and R2-D2 tosses him his lightsaber. In the midst of the battle, C-3PO is attacked by Salacious B. Crumb, yanking one of his sensors out its socket. Salacious is forced off by R2-D2, which gives C-3PO and R2-D2 a chance to escape the sail barge. Making their way to the platform, R2-D2 pushes C-3PO off and rolls off himself into the sands of the Dune Sea. As the sail barge burns, the two are quickly rescued and the group heads off planet to the Rebels' gathering. C-3PO accompanies the strike force to the forest moon of Endor to disable the shield generator protecting the second Death Star. When he, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 are captured by the Ewoks, who think he was a prophesied god known as the "Golden One", the droid is treated as an honored guest worshiped by the tribe. Meanwhile, his companions are brought to the Ewok village as prisoners, intended to be the main course at a banquet honoring "the Golden One."
Despite the droid's reluctance, Luke Skywalker convinces C-3PO at the banquet to demand that the release of the prisoners. C-3PO tells the Ewoks he'd become angry and use his magic if his friends are not released. Luke then levitates the frightened droid using the Force above the clamoring crowd, "proving" to the Ewoks that the droid really does have "magic" powers. Later that night, C-3PO acts as a storyteller, explaining the history and intentions of the Rebels to the tribe. This gains sympathy from the Ewoks and convinces them to help the Rebels at the Battle of Endor.
After the Rebels infiltrate the shield bunker and are captured by Imperial forces, C-3PO begins the Ewoks' assault on the Empire by calling over a group of stormtroopers with a false surrender. Chaos ensues as Ewoks jumps from hiding and attacks the Imperials, allowing for Han Solo and Leia to reach the bunker controls. When R2-D2 is needed in infiltrating the bunker, C-3PO nevertheless follows, evading enemy fire. The battle ends with the Death Star's destruction and the death of the Emperor. C-3PO is present at the celebration afterward.
Prequel trilogy
The Phantom Menace
In the Star Wars series' narrative chronology, C-3PO first appears in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as the creation of Anakin Skywalker, who builds him out of spare parts. (The non-canon story "Thank the Maker!" in Star Wars Tales explains that Anakin found the parts in a junk heap, and guessed that they were very old).
In The Phantom Menace , C-3PO meets his future partner, R2-D2, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo, and Jar Jar Binks. C-3PO and R2-D2 form a fast friendship, working together to perfect Anakin's podracer for the Boonta Eve Classic. The more experienced droid tells Threepio of the danger of space travel, to which Threepio proclaims that
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