C-3PO/Legends

"I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations. And this is my counterpart, R2-D2."

- C-3PO

C-3PO (also spelled See-Threepio, called Threepio for short) was a protocol droid&mdash;a droid specifically designed to interact with organics. Threepio's TranLang III Communicator module combined with his AA-1 VerboBrain allowed him to be "fluent in over six million forms of communication." He was also equipped with "over thirty secondary functions". C-3PO was generally seen with his counterpart, R2-D2, a small, wheeled astromech droid. His main function as a protocol droid was to assist with etiquette, customs, and translation so that meetings of different cultures ran smoothly. In his time, C-3PO loyally served over forty masters. He hated adventure and space travel, as they often resulted in him coming out on the wrong end of a fight, losing parts, and having them reattached. His motto was, "We're doomed!".

Construction and Early Years (32 BBY)


C-3PO is sometimes said to have been activated on the Cybot Galactica foundry world of Affa in 112 BBY; but to all intents and purposes, he was born on Tatooine around 32 BBY, built from scrap parts by a prodigal young boy named Anakin Skywalker. Discovering the discarded and gutted chassis of a standard 3PO-series protocol droid in a Mos Espa street, Anakin made the droid functional with scrounged and improvised parts; while Threepio boasts a standard protocol-droid verbobrain and communicator module, it is unknown whether these parts originated with his chassis, or if they were acquired independently by Anakin.

Anakin was very proud of his new droid and hastily dragged his future wife, Padmé Amidala, to see him. Threepio's wiring and construction were sound, but Anakin could not afford even the simplest of droid coverings. C-3PO found this out when his future partner R2-D2 remarked that he was naked. He was extremely embarrassed by this but he was soon given an old set of silver coating when he and Anakin's mother Shmi went to live with his new master Cliegg Lars, so that he may last longer in the sandy enviroment.

Clone Wars (22 BBY-19 BBY)


After Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala's visit to Tatooine, C-3PO left with his old master. He also became an unwilling combatant in the Battle of Geonosis when he went to find Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. He found himself in a droid construction facility and, after being pushed onto one of the platforms by his 'friend' Artoo his head was taken off and temporarily attached to the torso of a B-1 battle droid, while the head of the droid was placed onto Threepio's torso. After being rescued by Artoo and reunited with his body he, with the rest of the Republic, left Geonosis, he became one of the only witnesses to Padmé and Anakin's marriage a while later back on Naboo.

C-3PO was given to Senator Amidala as a gift from her husband, Anakin Skywalker. C-3PO served as Senator Amidala's personal protocol droid for most of the Clone Wars. He was a reluctant participant in many adventures, often chastising the funny yet rude droid, R2-D2, for being reckless. During this time period, his coverings were upgraded from a dull gray to his final shiny bronzium coating. He also, in a meeting of the Loyalist Committee, became the first entity in the Galaxy to address Supreme Chancellor Palpatine as "Your Majesty." He also severely disapproved of combat droids, once demanding to 'have a serious talk with your programmer'.

However, C-3PO became a witness to his makers turn to the dark side when he accompanied Padme to Mustafar. When Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan's duel moved to the interior of the facility on Mustafar, C-3PO and R2-D2 took it upon themselves to get the injured Senator aboard her cruiser. When Obi-Wan returned to the ship, C-3PO piloted it to the asteroid facility of Polis Massa where Padme gave birth to the Skywalker twins and died shortly afterwards. C-3PO and R2-D2 fell into the custody of Bail Organa, who ordered his memory wiped on the Tantive IV in order to protect the twins from the Emperor and their father, Anakin Skywalker, who had become the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader. After his memory was erased, Threepio would state that he had first worked with binary loadlifters.

Even though his memory was wiped, it is possible that he could have regained some knowledge of life before his mind was wiped through R2-D2, as he could communicate with him.

Early Imperial Era (19 BBY–0 BBY)
Though he and R2-D2 were officially part of the droid complement of the Tantive IV for the next 19 years, C-3PO also served Alderaan's royal house, the Organa family on Alderaan on occasion. While accompanying them to the Emperor's Ball, he mistook his maker, now Darth Vader for a new droid, and was reassigned as a preschool teacher for a year as punishment.

The droid duo's servitude of the Tantive IV was short lived however. During a routine drill - supervized by Chief Petty Officer Corla Metonae - that invloved the launching of the ship's escape pods, Tantive IV was attacked by a pirate group from the Karthakk system. The Corvette was forced to flee, leaving its jettisoned pods behind. It was later discovered that C-3PO and his counterpart were aboard one of the abandoned pods. Bail Organa placed high priority on recovering the droids.

Following this alarming event, C-3PO and R2 found themselves travelling the galaxy serving a series of different masters, including Thall Joben, Wena, Olag Greck, Baron Pitratreez, Zed, Zornethh, Councelor Harthan, Stigrit Krax, Larka Nimondro, Lott Kemp, Jost Ellon, Vik Idd and Nikki Idd, Ambassador Zell, King Gokus, Quist, Prince Jagoda, Tyne, Jann Tosh, Mungo Baobab and Mon Julpa. After a series of adventures, they were returned to the Tantive IV.

Serving the Rebel Alliance, the droids deactivated the defense system during the Battle of Wayland, allowing the Alliance Fleet to land on Fresia.

Early Galactic Civil War (0 BBY–4 ABY)
When the Tantive IV came under attack by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer Devastator, C-3PO and R2-D2 were 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 were captured by Jawas, taken into their Sandcrawler and sold to Owen Lars. While cleaning R2-D2, Owen's nephew, Luke Skywalker, stumbled across a hidden message from Princess Leia, C-3PO claimed he had no idea whom she was and it may have been old data. That night, R2-D2 made a daring escape from the Homestead after Luke had removed his restraining bolt, C-3PO attempted to stop him but was unsuccessful. He would later join Luke in his search through the Jundland Wastes for the search. When they did find R2, they were attacked by Tusken Raiders, resulting in C-3PO to stumble over and have his arm ripped off. Thankfully, Obi-Wan Kenobi had found them and assisted them back to his home, although C-3PO saying that there was no need to risk themselves on his account. Soon after being repaired and R2 showing Obi-Wan the message from Leia, they discovered the ruined Sandcrawler and Jawas who had sold him. Luke had sped off to discover that Owen and Beru Lars had been murdered by Imperial Stormtroopers, leaving C-3PO and R2-D2 in Luke's care. After traveling to Mos Eisley while evading Stormtroopers, C-3PO and R2-D2 escaped on the Millennium Falcon with Luke, Obi-Wan, the ships captain, Han Solo and his first (and only) mate Chewbacca, with which he would assist R2-D2 against in a game of dejarik. After hearing that Wookiees are known to rip peoples arms out of their sockets when they lose, he gave R2-D2 one final piece of advice: let the Wookiee win.

When finally arriving in the Alderann system, they found the planet gone and themselves brought aboard the Empires new weapon, the Death Star. When he and R2 were left in the hanger control center, with the only advice given to lock the doors if they were to be discovered. Of course this almost became the end for C-3POs master when Luke, Han, Chewbacca and the now rescued Princess Leia escaped Stormtroopers by jumping into a trash compacter and the compacter was initialized. C-3PO had left the comm link he had been using to stay in touch with the group out while he and R2 hid from Stormtroopers. Moments after C-3PO had found the comm link, he cursed his metal body that they had been killed. Fortunatly, R2 was able to halt the compacter and unlock the door. Finally, the group was able to make it back to the Falcon and escape after Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificed himself while fighting Darth Vader. Making haste to the Rebel base on Yavin IV, a plan was made to attack the Death Star. Despite being constantly annoyed by R2-D2s recklessness and implusive nature, he would tell R2 that he better make it back or his life would get boring. When the battle was won, R2-D2 made it back. However, he was badly damaged and C-3PO had offered to donate any of his parts that would be helpful in his repair. R2-D2 was repaired and looked good as new. It is unknown if C-3PO donated any of his parts.

Following the Battle of Yavin, C-3PO accompanied Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca and R2-D2 on numerous missions for the Alliance. C-3PO later related many of these events to Mistress Mnemos, an Alliance supercomputer, for historical preservation.

When the Alliance was transfered to the ice world of Hoth, C-3PO continued to work with Princess Leia with Alliance and some personal matters such as drying out her clothes in the frozen environment. C-3PO was responsible  for identifying the Empires probot, alerting the Rebels to the Empires awareness of their location. Soon afterwards in the Battle of Hoth C-3PO escaped with Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon, while his partner joined Luke in his pursuit of the mysterious Yoda. During this time, C-3PO and Han developed 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 was plugged into the ship and communicated with it to determine the problem (which Han took credit for). He would later comment that the Falcon had a most peculiar dialect. After a chase through the Hoth asteroid field, the Falcon escaped to Cloud City on Bespin.

Darth Vader somehow knew that his creation was there and ordered to have its head retrieved because his memory would prove useful, not knowing that hismemory had been wiped. However while exploring a room almost immediately after his arrival C-3PO was blasted by a Stormtrooper. After being gone for far too long Chewbacca headed to the Ugnaught recycling facility where he found the dismembered droid. When Darth Vader revealed his presence to the group, Chewbacca was sent into a holding cell but was permitted to rebuild the droid, which, much to the displeasure of C-3PO, was done poorly. While still being repaired, Chewbacca had carried C-3PO on his back during Han Solo's encasement in carbonite. It was the only instant for years, when, unbeknownst to him, 3PO was found in the same room with his maker, Darth Vader.

With the help of the city's administrator, Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO were able to escape. Although Chewbacca upon instant release attempted to throttle Lando for Han Solo's capture, C-3PO apologized for the enraged Wookiee's behavior, which he feared would be the end of him. Having C-3PO on Chewbacca's back was beneficial: when Boba Fett escaped the city with Han Solo, C-3PO notified them of incoming stormtroopers. Finally, after a chase through the corridors of Cloud City, the group made it to the Millenium Falcon. R2-D2, whom they found after Luke Skywalker arrived to rescue them, unlocked the door to the landing pad under C-3POs command. After sucessfully escaping Vaders flagship, The Executor, C-3PO was fully repaired by R2-D2.

One year after escaping Cloud City, Luke commanded C-3PO and R2-D2 to deliver a message to Jabba the Hutt, who had the encased Han Solo in his palace. Unbeknownst to him, Luke had given the droids to Jabba as a ploy to gain entrance. C-3PO was placed as Jabba's replacement translator while R2-D2 served on his Sail Barge. C-3POs first translation for the crime lord was of Boushh claiming the bounty for Chewbacca, who he had on a chained leash. The meeting became intense when Boushee demanded 50,000 credits and in surprise, Jabba the Hutt smacked C-3PO who then noticed Boushh had a thermal detonator. Fortunately, C-3PO was undamaged and was able to negotiate the deal of 35,000 credits to Boushh (which came as a relief to the paranoid droid).

While Boushh was discovered to be Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker infiltrated the palace and killed Jabba's pet Rancor in a fiece duel. This angered Jabba and he transfered his court to the Sail Barge with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca as food for the Sarlacc, while Leia served as Jabba's slave. Just as Luke Skywalker was pushed off the plank, he bounded back up and R2-D2 tossed him his Lightsaber. In the midst of the battle, C-3PO was attacked by Salacious B. Crumb, yanking one of his sensors out its socket. Salacious was forced off by R2-D2, which gave C-3PO and R2-D2 a chance to escape the Sail Barge. Making their way to the platform, R2-D2 pushed C-3PO off and rolled off himself into the sands of the Dune Sea. As the Sail Barge was burning, the two were quickly rescued and the group headed off planet to the Rebels gathering on Home One. Behind them, the Sail Barge exploded, killing everyone on board that wasn't already eaten by the Sarlacc, (or in Jabba's case, strangled to death by Princess Leia).

C-3PO accompiond the strike force to forest moon of Endor to disable the shield generator, protecting the Death Star II. When he, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca and R2-D2 were captured by the Ewoks, they thought he was a god, thanks to Luke Skywalker, who levitated him above the clamoring crowd. C-3PO then claimed he'd bring down lightning and fire and wrath of his friends were not released (the Ewoks where about to eat them). Later that night, C-3PO acted as a storyteller (ironically, when Luke Skywalker first acquired him, he claimed that he was not a good storyteller), gaining sympathy from the Ewoks and convincing them to help the Rebels at the Battle of Endor.

C-3POs part in the Battle of Endor was not yet complete however. After infiltrating the shield bunker and being captured by Imperial forces, C-3PO began the Ewok's assault on the Empire by calling over a group of Stormtroopers with a false surrender. Chaos ensued as Ewoks jumped from hiding and attacked the Imperials, allowing for Han Solo and Leia to reach the bunker controls. When R2-D2 was forced to assist in infiltrating the bunker, C-3PO nevertheless followed, evading enemy fire. The battle ended with the Death Star II's destruction and the death of the Emperor. C-3PO was present at the celebration afterwards.

Late Galactic Civil War (4 ABY–24 ABY)
After the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star, C-3PO continued to travel with his permanent partner, now his friend. C-3PO would assist Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and their allies in the New Republic on many missions, such as Talon Karrde's expedition to the Kathol Sector to find Jorj Car'das.

Yuuzhan Vong War and the Dark Nest Crisis (25 ABY–36 ABY)
With the onset of the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion and the stirring up of much anti-droid frenzy, C-3PO entered a phase of contemplation regarding his own mortality, and his place in a biological society. Evidence indicates that he may have emerged from the Vong war more assertive and less tolerant of abuse from his biological companions - from Captain Solo in particular.

The death of C-3PO
Many years later, C-3PO was found in a cave on an unknown planet, which was home to the Vondar, by two youths by the names of Otalp and Remoh, who had been searching for him due to a vision from their Den-mother. He was missing both the lower half of his body, his arms, and even parts of his faceplate but was still semi-functional. At first, he simple muttered nonsense about "Master Luke" and "Artoo" in Basic but, when the two youths started to talk, he adjusted to their language. The trio had a brief conversation in which 3PO told the youths of his past adventures with Luke Skywalker. Unfortunately 3PO was shot by the Vindar a few moments later, but not before inspiring the two youths to start a revolution against the oppressive Vindar. His last gift to the Galaxy was a green lightsaber found next to his destroyed body.

Behind the scenes


C-3PO was portrayed by Anthony Daniels in all six Star Wars films. Daniels provided the voice for all films, wore the costume and provided the movements from Episodes II to VI. In Episode I, Daniels puppeted the skeletal C-3PO model, and was then digitally removed in post-production.

Daniels wore the suit, and provided the voice, in the live-action segments of The Star Wars Holiday Special, while only voicing the character in the animated portion. He was also the voice of the character in the two Star Wars animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: Droids, as well as in the radio drama adaptations of the three films of the original trilogy.

Daniels made several appearances as 3PO on numerous TV shows and commercials, most notably on a Star Wars-themed episode of The Donny and Marie Show in 1977, and on a Star Wars-themed episode of The Muppet Show in 1980.

Daniels revealed that initially he did not agree to be cast as a robot he imagined to be just a mindless box on legs, as was the stereotypical robots in many of the science fictions of the time. He changed his mind after reading 3PO's part of the script and seeing a concept painting by Ralph McQuarrie, understanding this robot had a personality.

C-3PO gets destroyed in Star Wars Tales Storyteller. However, it is probably not canon.

C-3PO's name is often misspelled (even in official sources) as "C-3P0" (with a zero instead of the letter "O").

In the Italian version of the original trilogy, C-3PO's name is changed to D-3BO. The original name was restored in the new trilogy.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Republic: The New Face of War
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars: Droids
 * ''Droids: The Kalarba Adventures
 * ''Droids: Rebellion
 * ''Droids: Season of Revolt
 * ''Droids: The Protocol Offensive
 * Empire at War
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Super Star Wars
 * Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina
 * "A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale"
 * Marvel Star Wars
 * The Day After the Death Star
 * The Keeper's World
 * Star Wars 3-D
 * Vader's Quest
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Super Empire Strikes Back
 * Shadows of the Empire
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Super Return of the Jedi
 * Tales from Jabba's Palace
 * The Truce at Bakura
 * Shadows of the Empire: Evolution
 * The Glove of Darth Vader
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia
 * Corphelion Interlude
 * Tatooine Ghost
 * Dark Empire
 * The Crystal Star
 * Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy
 * Union
 * Young Jedi Knights
 * Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe
 * Vector Prime
 * Chewbacca
 * Or Die Trying
 * The Joiner King
 * The Unseen Queen
 * The Swarm War
 * Storyteller
 * Return of the Ewok
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game