Summary
Are the events ofStar Warsjust being retold by the ever-present droidC-3PO? In fact, there have been several instances where this has been implied. TheStar Warsmoviesand many surrounding stories begin with “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”, suggesting that they are being told from the future, and about a very distant place.
This opening phrase was chosen by George Lucas to suggest the same kind of feeling as “once upon a time.” It actually did fit into his plans for the saga at one point, when the story was to be told from the journals of ancient beings known as theWhillslong after the events of the movies. One specific comic story from 2004, however, implies that it could have actually been C-3PO telling the story the whole time.
15 Best Droids In Star Wars Ranked
Droids are easily one of the best parts of the Star Wars galaxy, acting as incredible companions or fun standalone characters - & here are 15 ranked.
C-3PO Is The Storyteller Who Saw & Knew The Whole Saga
Star Wars Tales #19 (2004)
Star Wars Tales#19, released in May 2004, included a non-canon short story called “Storyteller” by Jason Hall and Paul Lee that tells audiences just this. “Storyteller” opens on a desolate desert world, with two alien children witnessing the oppression and murder of their kind by another more powerful species known as the Vindar. They retreat into a nearby cave to find a legendary oracle who apparently lives there. In the cave,they find the mangled yet still-conscious remains of C-3PO.
C-3PO’s Story Inspires The Children
The two kids ask for a story, andC-3PO tells them the story of the originalStar Warstrilogy. The kids imagine the stories they’re told with themselves as the protagonists, and their mortal enemies as stormtroopers and Darth Vader, seeing the stories as a source of hope after C-3PO is sadly killed, along with one of the kids, by the Vindar. The other child, having been inspired by thestory of Luke Skywalker, finds a lightsaber hidden inside C-3PO’s parts, and ignites it, ready to be a new hope for his world.
The Golden Protocol Droid Has Seen It All
C-3PO Is The Ever Present Storyteller
C-3PO being the storyteller behind theStar Warssaga actually makes a bit of sense, considering his consistent presence in so many stories. FromStar Wars: Episode I -The Phantom MenacetoStar Wars:The Rise of Skywalker, C-3PO is always present for at least some part of the story. Has this idea that C-3PO is actually telling the story ever actually been implied in any of theStar Warsmovies?
New Star Wars Movies: Every Upcoming Movie & Release Date
Here’s every upcoming Star Wars movie in development - including Rey’s New Jedi Order, the Dawn of the Jedi, and The Mandalorian & Grogu!
Return Of The Jedi Actually Kind Of Did This
C-3PO Tells The Ewoks The Original Trilogy
Interestingly enough, this kind of happened inReturn of the Jediduring the film’s second act. In the Ewok village, during a short time of respite before the big battle,Return of the Jedistops to celebrate how far the trilogy has come, with C-3PO telling the story of the previous two movies to a whole group of Ewoks. The droid even oddly and specifically uses sound effects from the movies as he retells the story to the young Ewoks.
So, if C-3PO was telling the story of theStar Warsmovies to the Ewoks, could he be the storyteller behind the entire saga? Well, according to George Lucas’s original ending plans forStar Wars, it would have been revealed that it was actually R2-D2 dictating to the Whills the entire story ofStar Wars. This idea works perfectly with the what-if story “Storyteller"as well, albeit about a different one of the two most iconic droids inStar Wars. Still, “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” does seem fitting for an ancient droid like C-3PO.
C-3PO
Created by Anakin Skywalker, C-3PO was originally supposed to help Anakin and his mother Shmi during the galactic adventures Anakin dreamed they would have together. Instead, C-3PO became a gift to Anakin’s beloved wife Padmé Amidala, and soon found himself thrust into galactic affairs for decades. Threepio has proved himself a key asset to both the Rebel Alliance and the Resistance.
