The pioneering astromech droid R2-D2 might have been the sassiest droid around in the original Star Wars trilogy, but it definitely wasn’t the first R2 unit to traverse the galaxy with Han Solo. Ron Howard, director of the upcoming Han Solo standalone Star Wars film, posted a photo of a new R2 unit to Twitter on Wednesday, proving that the film will pay tribute to its classic connections.
“These droids can be so damn intractable,” Howard wrote alongside a photo of him supposedly discussing something with a gold-and-white R2 unit. “But we’ll go until we get it right!”
The largest grouping of astromech droids on screen in a Star Wars film is probably the moment in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace when R2-D2 saves Queen Amidala’s ship when it’s been attacked by the Trade Federation as it speeds away from Naboo. R2 is the only one of the gang to make it out alive and not be blasted away, so, hopefully, Howard’s new little gold-plated friend doesn’t meet the same fate.
The untitled young Han Solo film premieres in theaters on May 25, 2018.
