Diehard fans remember being introduced to R2-D2 in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, thinking there would never be a more beloved android in the series. Little did we know that, with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a big round funball droid would roll into our lives to supersede R2’s almost 40-year reign, named BB-8. Now, that said, the two do make a great team. I mean, after all, they did combine for completing a map to find Luke Skywalker.
BB-8 actually didn’t have its name until late in production. The folks at LucasFilm, namely Neal Scanlan, recently revealed in an interview with Endor Express the process that went into giving that cute droid its name.
“We work absolutely during the production process with codes for secrecy,” Scanlan said. “We then often have a retrospective phone call and we have a bit of fun playing with ideas and that’s when we get to hear what their real names are.”
He went on to reveal what BB-8 was called during shooting, which was ‘Snow Girl’ or ‘Snow Globe’. He also said it was a very good idea to give it a legit name since it is such an important character. It will be hard for the creators to top a droid in likeability that BB-8 has garnered, but someone will no doubt try, especially with this recent trilogy coming to an end. The Star Wars Universe could be headed in a totally different direction with No. 10 and beyond.
Make sure you go see Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is in theaters now, and check out this exclusive interview with Scanlan about the creatures of Star Wars at Endor Express.
