The actor who has played beloved robot C-3PO in the Star Wars films said the saga “needed to end”.
Anthony Daniels has appeared in the space opera series for more than 40 years and is the only actor to have starred in every core film.
The 73-year-old is stepping back inside the golden droid suit for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, which will bring to an end the nine-part saga that began with the original film in 1977.
Daniels said that while his final day on set was emotional, he is glad fans will get closure.
Speaking at The Rise Of Skywalker’s world premiere in Los Angeles, he told the PA news agency: “My final day was a little touching. Curiously, I didn’t have a line in my final scene. I was just watching the action. So that was kind of weird, because C-3PO is pretty chatty.
“So the last day was sad for me, as it would be after all this time. But am I sad the story has come to an end?
“Not at all. It needed to come to the end rather than drift on forever. And we wanted to find out what happens and shortly, you will.”
While Daniels’s stint as C-3PO has spanned five decades, he said he was not tempted to take a memento from the set of The Rise Of Skywalker.
He said: “I suppose the best souvenirs really are the memories I have with this film which was a peculiarly lovely under JJ’s(Abrams, director) masterful… his spirit came alive on this set.
“Really the best memories are memories. You don’t need things.”
Daniels also paid tribute to Star Wars’s millions of dedicated fans.
He said: “I suppose really I’ve come to appreciate what the fans give back. We made these films only because fans want to go and see them. So I’m very grateful.”
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker will be released in UK cinemas on December 19.
