The next great robotic hero from a galaxy far, far away is here. At the media preview event at Nuremberg Toy Fair, the world got its first look at Chopper, a feisty droid who will play a prominent role in the highly anticipated forthcoming animated series, Star Wars Rebels, and take his place in the wider Star Wars mythology.
In Star Wars, droids are always eager to help out their human masters, drop whatever it is they’re doing when called upon, and sometimes even sacrifice themselves to save others. Right?
Not quite. Introducing Chopper, a lazy, cranky (if ultimately goodhearted) astromech droid, and the latest character revealed from Star Wars Rebels. “If Artoo (R2-D2) is the family dog,” said Dave Filoni, executive producer of the show, “Chopper is the cat.” Chopper is an essential crew member of the Ghost (the Rebels’ starship), tasked with keeping the starship running and operable for its band of heroes. In reality, thanks to his many “unique” upgrades and customizations, no other alien, human, or droid could handle the job.
The design of Chopper, a.k.a. C1-10P, takes cues from early Ralph McQuarrie concept art for R2-D2, especially the expressive arms that fold out of his head. As Star Wars Rebels takes place four years prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Chopper’s retro look creates an aesthetic continuity with droids of the original trilogy.
Star Wars Rebels is scheduled to premiere in Autumn 2014 as a one-hour special on Disney Channel and will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.
The story of Star Wars Rebels takes place about 14 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, a time in which the Emperor’s rule is secure and the Empire is seeking to expand its power to Outer Rim territories.