R2-D2 is joining the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection and rolling into Disney’s Hollywood Studios this fall as part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”
Walt Disney Imagineers Ann Morrow Johnson and Scott Trowbridge, who are currently working on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, announced R2-D2’s gold statue in a new social media video.
It appears as though roaming droids in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge could be a possible reality soon, as an R2-D2 unit has been spotted roaming through the lands at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
As reported by The Orange County Register, the droid is being used in “play tests” as part of an ongoing process that looks at new ways for guests to experience and interact with the Disney Parks. According to Disney officials, though, the experiences being tested may or may not end up as actual theme park offerings.
R2-D2 has been spotted roaming near the entrance of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disneyland park and around the land at Walt Disney World, based on the photo below:
One of the earliest announced offerings for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was roaming droids, though they didn’t make it to the final version when the lands opened this year at both resorts. Roaming aliens were also teased in pre-opening footage at D23 Expo 2019, but those didn’t make it to the final product, either.
Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Bob Chapek was asked about this earlier this year:
Currently, unless you happen upon one of these tests, you can only interact with Artoo inside Droid Depot at Galaxy’s Edge, and meet BB-8 in Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These play tests are the droid’s first journey outside of Droid Depot at both parks. According to the Register, the test at Disneyland saw cast members walking alongside Artoo as he made his way around Galaxy’s Edge.