Most of the beloved Star Wars characters are walking and talking humanoids, but there have also been various droids who have played prominent roles in a galaxy far, far away. The most famous of these artificial beings, of course, are R2-D2 and C-3PO, while Star Wars: The Force Awakens also included the cute and compact BB-8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story won't shy away from featuring droids, but a new one by the name of C2-B5 was introduced today, and unlike K-2SO, he won't be working with the good guys.
This astromech droid was revealed in the newest episode of The Star Wars Show, and gives us an idea of what R2-D2 might look like if he embraced his proper destiny and became a Sith Lord. Wait, that was never an option for him? Never mind, then. Anyway, no details were provided on how C2-B5 specifically fits into Rogue One's plot, but they did highlight the differences between how the Rebellion and Empire differ in treating their astromech droids. The Empire relies on these droids to maintain their machinery, but unlike the Rebellion, they don't want them to be independent. To that end, they make sure to wipe their memory on a regular basis to "keep them subservient."
Clearly being a droid in the Empire has a huge downside, but this tidbit of information could hold a clue as to how C2-B5 will be used in Rogue One. Remember, this Anthology movie is following a group of Rebels who are trying to steal the Death Star plans, and while we have yet to see whether they'll be successful or another group will finish the mission, those plans will eventually make their way to Princess Leia Organa. She will later pass those schematics to R2-D2 at the start of A New Hope, meaning that other astromech droids can also keep that information. Perhaps the main characters have to find C2-B5 and retrieve either the Death Star plans or another key piece of information from him before the Imperials erase his memory. Since he is subservient to the Imperials, I suspect C2-B5 won't go down without a fight.
Of course, C2-B5 won't be Rogue One's only major droid player. As mentioned earlier, the movie also stars a reprogrammed Imperial enforcer droid named K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk), who will aid Jyn Erso and the other Rebels in the field, while also dishing out a sizable portion of sarcasm and attitude. Beyond those two, however, Rogue One will mostly feature humans and different aliens continuing the battle against the oppressive Empire shortly before the Original Trilogy kicked off.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be released in theaters on December 16.
