Few franchises are more iconic than Star Wars, and many people involved with Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi seem to recognize that. One such insider who understands the weight of the series is newcomer Kelly Marie Tran, as the actress who playsRose Tico apparently (despite her intense preparation) lost it when she had the chance to meet R2-D2 on the set of the new film. Tran addressed the humorous incident and explained:
[I had] that feeling of just being totally silent and just wanting to be completely present and to experience every feeling to its fullest. I felt like I was about to play the Super Bowl. I knew all the plays. I knew exactly what was going to happen. And then you see R2-D2, and you're like, 'I'm thrown off.'
Even the best of us get starstruck at times, and it sounds like Kelly Marie Tran is no different in that regard. The 28-year-old actress prepared as much and as thoroughly as she could for her role as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but when the time came to share a scene with R2-D2, all of her preparation went out the window. Tran later explained that she was able to re-compose herself in the wake of the Artoo encounter, but that initial sighting stood out as the moment in which what she was about to do really hit her.
Kelly Marie Tran's remarks to Yahoo Entertainment about her experiences on the set of Star Wars: The Last Jedi seem to make sense when we consider how fundamental R2-D2 is to the history of the Star Wars lore. His canonical history dates all the way back to the events of The Phantom Menace, and he has played a fundamental role in almost every Star Wars movie -- even making a brief cameo in last year's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. If you get on the set of a film and see Artoo, you know that you're in a Star Wars film.
This account also makes sense when we consider how Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi handles its most iconic characters. While legends like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa indeed appear in the film, the movie's story is largely driven by the actions of newcomers like Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren. With so many new personalities taking on more significant roles through the bulk of the narrative, seeing a Star Wars element as cool and beloved as R2-D2 could obviously take someone off his or her guard when the time came on set.
You can now catch Kelly Marie Tran as Rose in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and stay tuned for all of CinemaBlend's awesome coverage of the latest Star Wars film as its opening weekend kicks into high-gear! If you want to learn more about how we feel about the December blockbuster, check out our in-depth review to see more. In addition, you can order your tickets now.
