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Anthony Daniels

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For other people named Anthony Daniels, see Anthony Daniels (disambiguation).

Anthony Daniels
Daniels in 2011
Born (1946-02-21) 21 February 1946 (age 78)
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Alma materRose Bruford College
Occupation(s)Actor, mime artist
Years active1974–present
Known forC-3PO in Star Wars (1977–present)
Spouse
Christine Savage
​
(m. 1999)​
Websiteanthonydaniels.com

Anthony Daniels (/ˈæntəni/ AN-tə-nee;[1] born 21 February 1946)[2] is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing C-3PO in 11 Star Wars films.[a] He is the only actor to have either appeared in or been involved with all theatrical films in the series,[3] and has been involved in many of their spin-offs, including television series, video games, and radio serials.

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, including playing a pathologist in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. Daniels was an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[4]

Early life

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Daniels was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of a plastics company executive.[5] He was educated at Giggleswick School and studied law for two years at university, then dropped out to participate in amateur dramatics and attend Rose Bruford College. After leaving the college in 1974, Daniels worked on BBC Radio and for the National Theatre of Great Britain at The Young Vic. Whilst working in the theatre, he was invited to meet director George Lucas, who was casting for Star Wars. Daniels at first turned down the interview but was persuaded by his agent to meet Lucas.[6]

Daniels has said that before his role in Star Wars, the only science fiction film he had ever seen in a theatre was 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968; he was so displeased with the film that he walked out after ten minutes and demanded his money back.[7] After Daniels was cast as C-3PO, Lucas recommended that he watch the film in its entirety to study HAL 9000's voice.[8] In a 2011 interview, Daniels said that he now regards 2001 as a masterpiece and that he also enjoys post-apocalyptic films such as Mad Max.[9]

He was a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company[10] and speaks fluent French.[11][12]

Career

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Star Wars

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After auditioning for the role of C-3PO, Daniels only became fully interested in it after seeing a concept design of the golden droid C-3PO by Ralph McQuarrie.[8] Daniels did not see the final costume until after donning it for the shoot and being shown a Polaroid photograph.[8] He struggled with delivering the character's lines until Lucas informed him that they would redub the dialogue in post-production.[8] Daniels also portrayed a protocol droid with a "white pointy face" in one shot in the original film.[8] Daniels was depressed with his lack of recognition after the film's successful release; he attributes this to Lucasfilm wanting audiences to believe that the droids were real.[8]

Daniels (right) with fellow Star Wars actor Warwick Davis (left) in 2007

Daniels has played C-3PO in all of the Star Wars feature films (with the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story, in which he plays a different character) from the original installment in the series as the golden droid's body and voice. Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2 in the series until his death in 2016, said that he and Daniels did not get along.[13][14] Daniels has reprised the role for various promotional work such as hosting The Making of Star Wars, Star Wars Connections and Science of Star Wars, appearances on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, an anti-smoking public service announcement, The Star Wars Holiday Special,[15] and advertising for Star Wars-licensed products such as Kenner toys and a breakfast cereal based on the character.[16]

Daniels voiced C-3PO in the Star Wars radio serial based on the original trilogy.[17] He is the only cast member of the original Star Wars trilogy to voice his character in all three parts of NPR's dramatisations of the trilogy. He voiced C-3PO for six animated series: Droids, Clone Wars, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Forces of Destiny, and Resistance. Other C-3PO voicework by Daniels includes: the Christmas-themed Christmas in the Stars album, Disney theme park attractions including Star Tours and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, and the Star Tours shutdown ceremony as a part of Disney's Hollywood Studios' "Last Tour to Endor" event at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida.[b] He also provided the narration and all character voices for the audio books Dark Force Rising and The Last Command.[19] Daniels voiced C-3PO in the 2014 film The Lego Movie.

Daniels contributed the foreword to the collected scripts of the Return of the Jedi radio drama, as their author Brian Daley died while they were being recorded. Daniels' other Star Wars-related writings include the Wonder Column for Star Wars Insider magazine[8] and a comic book adventure for C-3PO and R2-D2 entitled The Protocol Offensive, published by Dark Horse Comics.[20]

Daniels in May 2011

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Daniels only voiced the character, which a puppeteer played on set.[8] Daniels attempted to puppeteer the character himself in the sequel, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but after the script was changed, he returned to playing the droid in costume.[21] In this film and 2005's Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, he also performed the vocal tracks for scenes that featured a computer-generated C-3PO.

Daniels also makes cameo appearances as a humanoid in two scenes of the feature films. His character, Lieutenant Dannl Faytonni, appears in the nightclub scene early in Attack of the Clones as a man in blue uniform who can be seen in a cutaway reaction shot after Obi-Wan Kenobi disarms the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. Faytonni can also be seen at the Galaxies Opera House in Revenge of the Sith.[22]

Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO in the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which was released in December 2015.[23] J. J. Abrams, the director of The Force Awakens, told Daniels that he was only going to be the voice of C-3PO in the film, but changed his mind and decided Daniels would wear the suit in the film as well. Abrams made a new C-3PO suit for Daniels to wear during filming using 3D printing[8] that allowed Daniels a great deal more mobility and comfort than the original suit. Daniels has stated his displeasure with the droid's red arm.[8] Daniels also appeared as C-3PO in 2017's The Last Jedi,[24][25][26] and 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.[27]

Daniels appears in a cameo as C-3PO in 2016's Rogue One, the first standalone film in the Star Wars anthology series.[28] He also makes an appearance as Tak in the second anthology film, Solo: A Star Wars Story,[28] and voiced C-3PO's cameo appearance in Ralph Breaks the Internet, and The Lego Movie alongside other crewmembers of the Millennium Falcon.[29] He has also hosted the Star Wars: In Concert tour in North America.[30] Daniels made cameos as C-3PO in Obi-Wan Kenobi[31] and Ahsoka.[32] Daniels is the only actor to act in all nine films of the Skywalker saga, two anthology films, the Star Wars Holiday Special, the 2008 Clone Wars film, the related television series and several TV series (animated and live-action).[33][34][c]

In March 2017, All Nippon Airways introduced a Boeing 777 modelled after C-3PO into service. Daniels attended the aircraft's unveiling.[35]

Other acting roles

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Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, notably in a recurring role in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. He also played the priest in the British spoof horror film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990).[36][37]

Other work

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Daniels was an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[30]

His autobiography, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story, was released on 5 November 2019 by DK.[38] He had previously considered using the title Telling the Odds.[39]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1977 Star Wars C-3PO [36]
1978 Bruges-la-Morte Pierrot [40][41]
The Lord of the Rings Legolas Greenleaf
Deagol 		Voice; uncredited as Deagol [36]
1980 The Empire Strikes Back C-3PO [36]
1982 Return of the Ewok Short video; unreleased
1983 Return of the Jedi [36]
1990 I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Priest [37]
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace C-3PO [d] [36]
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones C-3PO, Dannl Faytonni [36]
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith [36]
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars C-3PO Voice [42]
2014 The Lego Movie Voice; cameo [29]
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens [36]
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cameo [28]
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi [24][25][43]
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Tak Cameo [44][28]
Ralph Breaks the Internet C-3PO Voice; cameo [45]
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [27]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1977 Donny & Marie C-3PO 1 episode, uncredited [46]
1978 Star Wars Holiday Special TV special [15]
1979 Turning Year Tales John Episode: "Dear Harriet"
1980 The Muppet Show C-3PO Episode: "The Stars of Star Wars" [47][48]
Sesame Street 4 episodes [47]
1984 The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Kenneth 7 episodes
1985 Star Wars: Droids C-3PO Voice;
13 episodes 		[49][48]
1986 The Great Heep TV movie
1987 Three Up Two Down Rupert Fairfax Episode: "Mirror Mirror on the Wall"
1988–89 Square Deal Julian 3 episodes
1990 The Magical World of Disney C-3PO Voice;
Episode: "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration"
1992 The Bill Richard Lee-Ward Episode: "Stoning the Glasshouse"
1995 Prime Suspect Pathologist "Inner Circles" and "The Lost Child", TV movies [36]
The Famous Five Professor Dobson Episode: "Five on a Secret Trail"
1997 Star Wars: Droids – The Pirates and the Prince C-3PO Voice;
Video
2001 Urban Gothic Mr Tidyman Episode: "Serotonin Wild"
2002 Star Wars: Connections C-3PO TV Short
2004 Holby City Colonel Donald Humphries Episode: "In the Line of Fire" [50]
Ghosts of Albion Embers Lord Nelson Voice;
TV movie
2007 Micro Safari: Journey to the Bugs MAL Voice
2004–05 Star Wars: Clone Wars C-3PO Voice;
4 episodes
2008–11 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Voice;
11 episodes 		[29][48]
2010 Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Voice;
TV movie
2011 Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
2012–13 Dirigible Days Narrator Voice;
Also executive producer;
5 episodes
2013–14 Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles C-3PO Voice;
6 episodes 		[46]
2014 Star Wars Rebels Voice;
Episode: "Droids in Distress" 		[48][46]
2015 Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales Voice;
5 episodes 		[48][46]
2017 Star Wars Forces of Destiny Voice;
Episode: "Beasts of Echo Base"
2018 Star Wars Resistance Voice;
Episode: "The Recruit"
2020 The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special Voice;
TV movie 		[51]
2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi Cameo; Episode: "Part I" [31]
Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation Voice;
TV movie 		[52]
2023 Ahsoka Episode: "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness" [32]
2024 How NOT to Draw Voice;
1 episode: "R2-D2" 		[53]
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Voice [54]

Documentary

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1977 The Making of Star Wars C-3PO / Host TV movie documentary
1978 50th Academy Awards C-3PO / Presenter TV special
1983 Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi C-3PO / Himself TV movie documentary
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
2004 Empire of Dreams Video documentary
2005 Science of Star Wars TV documentary miniseries

Theme park attractions

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1987 Star Tours C-3PO Uncredited; also provides the voice in the French dub [55]
2011 Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Uncredited [55]

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1997 Monopoly Star Wars C-3PO Also writer
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels
2009 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Ultimate Sith Edition
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0
2015 Star Wars Battlefront
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens [56]
I Expect You to Die Daniel Sans [57]
2020 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge C-3PO
2021 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge- Last Call
2022 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga [58]

Discography

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References

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Footnotes

  1. ^ Every episode of the Skywalker saga, one anthology film and one animated film. He portrayed a different character in another anthology film, Solo.
  2. ^ Including the film Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of Epic Proportions created with audience participation at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, which was modified to include Star Wars characters; Daniels also appeared in a parade the same weekend at part of the park's "Star Wars Galactic Nights".[18]
  3. ^ Droids, Clone Wars, Rebels, Droid Tales, Forces of Destiny, Resistance, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka.
  4. ^ Daniels provided the voice of the character, whilst a puppeteer portrayed the unplated C-3PO.

Citations

  1. ^ Jimmy Kimmel Live interview with J.J. Abrams and cast of The Rise of Skywalker (Jimmy Kimmel Live official YouTube channel)
  2. ^ "Biography". Anthony Daniels official website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  3. ^ Kachka, Boris (24 March 2017). "Anthony Daniels on 4 Decades of Life As C-3PO". Vulture. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Faculty / Staff | Entertainment Technology Center". www.etc.cmu.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  5. ^ Lubow, Arthur. "The Forces Behind Jedi: Making Movie History Took Lucas & Co. to the Outer Limits", People, vol. 20, no. 6, 8 August 1983.
  6. ^ "The Official Anthony Daniels Web Site". anthonydaniels.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  7. ^ Dermot O'Leary Show, BBC Radio 2, 21 March 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Daniels 2019.
  9. ^ "C-3PO: Q&A with Anthony Daniels". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Radio and audio book companies" in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353–354
  11. ^ General_Kenobi (4 November 2007). "Anthony Daniels et Roger Carel 2_PC - vidéo Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Q & A". Anthony Daniels. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  13. ^ Williams, Andrew. (27 October 2009). "Kenny Baker". Metro.
  14. ^ Famous co-stars who absolutely hated each other www.news.com.au, 4 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  15. ^ a b William Thomas; Ian Freer (3 December 2015). "The Star Wars Holiday Special: may the farce be with you". Empire (film magazine). Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  16. ^ Kevyn Cortez (19 September 2015). "Star Wars Episode VII's Anthony Daniels Confirms Practical C-3P0 Suit". movienewsguide. Movie News Guide. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  17. ^ Derek John (18 December 2015). "That Time NPR Turned 'Star Wars' Into A Radio Drama - And It Actually Worked". npr.org. NPR. Retrieved 11 March 2024. Anthony Daniels returned as the uptight protocol droid C-3PO
  18. ^ Parfitt, Dave (22 April 2017). "Star Wars Galactic Nights at Walt Disney World is Force-tastic". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  19. ^ Trudi Miller Rosenblum (5 November 1994). "Avalanche of Audiobooks set for Holidays". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 45. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Star Wars: Droids – The Protocol Offensive". darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2 December 2015. written by See Threepio actor Anthony Daniels
  21. ^ "Attack of the Clones: Behind the Scenes". StarWars.com. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  22. ^ "4 Actors Who Played Multiple Star Wars Roles". starwars.com. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Star Wars: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reunite for latest film". BBC News. 29 April 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Star Wars: Episode VIII Now Filming". StarWars.com. Star Wars. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  25. ^ a b Christopher Hooton (23 January 2017). "Star Wars 8 gets official title: The Last Jedi". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  26. ^ Rainey, James (4 September 2015). "'Star Wars': Anthony Daniels Slams Disney's 'Kremlin Attitude' Over 'Force Awakens'". Variety. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Star Wars: Carrie Fisher and Richard E Grant among Episode IX cast". BBC News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  28. ^ a b c d StarWars.com team (24 March 2022). "Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 Announces First Celebrity Guest". starwars.com. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  29. ^ a b c Jessica Boulton (20 September 2015). "Star Wars C-3P0 on how R2-D2 was no Force to reckon with and Princess Leia in a bikini was boring". Mirror. Retrieved 24 September 2015. even had a cameo in 2013's The Lego Movie
  30. ^ a b MaryCatherine (15 September 2009). "Adjunct Professor Anthony Daniels to Narrate North American tour of Star Wars: In Concert". ETC Global News. Carnegie Mellon University.
  31. ^ a b John Saavedra (27 May 2022). "Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi Cast: Meet the New Characters". denofgeek.com. Den of Geek. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Anthony Daniels appears very briefly as C-3PO in the party scene on Alderaan. You can see him walking around in the background of the Organa's home with R2-D2.
  32. ^ a b Devan Coggan (26 September 2023). "Ahsoka's penultimate episode resurrects a classic character". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Anthony Daniels' C-3PO makes a surprise appearance in Ahsoka episode 7
  33. ^ Alice Vincent (18 September 2014). "C3P0 will get a new suit for Star Wars VII". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2015. The only actor to appear in all six Star Wars films
  34. ^ Huw Fullerton. "C-3PO star Anthony Daniels confirms he has finished filming Star Wars Episode IX". radiotimes.com. Radio Times. Retrieved 28 January 2024. longtime series star Anthony Daniels (who has played fussy protocol droid C-3PO since '77 and is the only actor to appear in every single Star Wars film to date)
  35. ^ ANA's 4th 'Star Wars' jet goes into domestic service 21 March 2017, www.japantoday.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ryan Gilbey (3 September 2015). "'The secrecy has been ludicrous': Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels on the new film and his life as C-3PO". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  37. ^ a b Kim Newman (1 January 2000). "I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Review". Empire. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  38. ^ Newbold, Mark (13 April 2019). "I AM C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels". Fantha Tracks. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  39. ^ LaSalata, Justin (13 April 2019). "New Book Titled I Am C-3PO Written By Anthony Daniels". Jedi News. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  40. ^ Bruges-La-Morte (1978) www.imdb.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  41. ^ BRUGES-LA-MORTE 1978 FEATURE Prix de la Presse/ Ghent Film Fesvital (sic) 1980 ronaldchaseart.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  42. ^ "Star Wars: The Clone Wars". rottentomatoes.com.
  43. ^ Coggan, Devan (22 September 2017). "Star Wars: The Last Jedi has officially wrapped, says director Rian Johnson". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  44. ^ Ryan, Mike (12 May 2018). "Is Anthony Daniels In 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'? Jonathan Kasdan Gives Us An Unexpected Answer". Uproxx. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  45. ^ Zach Johnson (22 November 2018). "Ralph Breaks the Internet: What the Critics Are Saying". eonline.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024. Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
  46. ^ a b c d "Anthony Daniels Biography". anthonydaniels.com. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Anthony Daniels The Muppet Show & Sesame Street". anthonydaniels.com. Anthony Daniels.
  48. ^ a b c d e "Anthony Daniels Films and Shows". tv.apple.com. Apple TV (UK).
  49. ^ Greene, Jamie (18 January 2018). "Everything You'd Ever Want To Know About Star Wars: Droids". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  50. ^ "Guest actors in Holby over the years". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  51. ^ "Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams, and Anthony Daniels join cast of "LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special"". disney.co.uk. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  52. ^ StarWars.com Team (5 August 2022). "LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation Is Here!". starwars.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024. Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
  53. ^ Kristin Baver (4 May 2024). "How NOT to Draw R2-D2, C-3PO is Caught Up by Jawas". starwars.com. Retrieved 6 June 2024. Watch as the mayhem, narrated by Star Wars icon Mark Hamill with Anthony Daniels reprising his beloved role as C-3PO, unfolds!
  54. ^ "D23 2024: All the Star Wars News from D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event - Updated". starwars.com. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024. joined by Skywalker saga alums Naomi Ackie, Anthony Daniels
  55. ^ a b Kristin Baver (12 December 2019). "Anthony Daniels Interview - I am C-3PO". starwars.com. Retrieved 29 April 2024. Daniels says, having also provided the voice of the character in animation and for the Star Tours experience in the Walt Disney theme parks.
  56. ^ Dan Brooks (28 June 2016). "The Bricks Are Calling to You: Inside LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens". starwars.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016. Same thing with Anthony Daniels. We got him to reprise C-3PO.
  57. ^ Peter Graham (13 December 2016). "Become a Puzzle Solving Spy in I Expect You To Die on PlayStation VR". vrfocus.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2019. Esteemed actor Anthony Daniels – C-3PO in Star Wars films – lends his voice talents throughout the game.
  58. ^ Martin Kimber (5 April 2022). "LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - big screen actors reprise their roles in new video game". news.sky.com. Sky News. Retrieved 9 February 2024. Stars including Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams reprise the Star Wars roles that made their names, but this time it's for a game rather than a film.

Sources

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony Daniels.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Anthony Daniels.
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