C-3PO is widely regarded as one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters. His intriguing look and offbeat comic relief worked wonders for George Lucas’ franchise. C-3PO makes a brief appearance alongside R2-D2 in Rogue One (2016), [39] accompanying Rebel Alliance troops to Scarif alongside Princess Leia. Browne, Ray Broadus (1982). Objects of special devotion: fetishism in popular culture. Popular Press. p.333. ISBN 978-0-87972-191-6 . Retrieved 4 February 2011. Star Wars Special: C-3PO # 1 - Exclusive Preview!". starwars.com. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016 . Retrieved 3 September 2017. In 2012, the U.S. Navy built a robot called the Autonomous Shipboard Humanoid which they claim was modeled on C-3PO. The robot was built for the purpose of extinguishing fires, but has similar movement abilities to the Star Wars droid by being able to climb ladders and carry hoses. Also similar to C-3PO, it can respond to human gestures, but at a much more basic level. [76] [77]

When Daniels agreed to join the Star Wars cast, he had to have a custom costume made just for him. He ended up having to go to a production studio to have his entire body covered in plaster. In Empire's End, C-3PO and R2-D2 are nearly destroyed after they spot an Imperial installing a homing beacon on the Millennium Falcon; but are saved by Han Solo and Chewbacca. The resurrected Palpatine and his fleet discover the Alliance's existence, leading C-3PO and the others to flee to Iziz, a city on the planet of Onderon. Palpatine eventually finds them, but is mortally wounded by Han and destroyed when Empatojayos Brand sacrifices himself to save the latter's son Anakin. [74]

The C-3PO costume was created from a plaster mold of Anthony Daniels’ body 

Star Wars’: C-3PO Actor Anthony Daniels Initially Had No Interest in George Lucas or ‘Star Wars’ — ‘I Slightly Think 3PO Fell in Love With Me’

I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story is available now. And on December 20, join C-3PO as he takes one last look at his friends and we experience the final act in the Skywalker saga with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker . Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded (Firsted.). DK Publishing. 2016. p.36. ISBN 978-5-0010-1452-2. On-screen, C-3PO has always acted as something of an unfiltered conduit for the audience’s own emotions. Between his dramatic and vocal exclamations and his physicality, Daniels has found the humanity in a character that is no man, all machine. “He’s a slightly prim, over-educated, over-didactic, preachy character who has got this tremendous vulnerability, which is kind of why we like him, who has no sense of humor because that makes him ridiculous,” Daniels surmises. “We’re taught to dissemble, taught to not give our true feelings, and we allow him to. It’s just fascinating to see that release of tension. He has no restraint, no filter at all, whereas we are taught to filter what we say. And also I think we quite enjoy the fact that at various times, he’s persecuted or humiliated or ignored or whatever. And we all feel that as humans from time to time… So, he’s a great person to relate to.”StarWars.com Team (24 March 2022). "Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 Announces First Celebrity Guest". starwars.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022 . Retrieved 11 January 2023. Daniels has the distinction of being the only actor to work on all 11 Star Wars feature films, appearing as C-3PO in all three trilogies in the Skywalker saga as well as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Daniels also made a cameo appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story in the role of Tak.