Welcome, Star Wars fans! Today, we’re going to take a closer look at one of the most beloved droids in the galaxy, BB-8.
From his creation on Hosnian Prime to heroic acts in The Last Jedi, and iconic design that captured our hearts, BB-8 has become a fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
Join us as we explore 21 fascinating facts about this lovable droid, including his origins, capabilities, and pop culture impact.
So sit back, relax, and may the Force be with you as we delve into the world of BB-8!
BB-8 was created by Industrial Automaton on Hosnian Prime in 29 ABY. He is a BB-series astromech droid, which means he is equipped with a wide range of tools and gadgets to help his pilot.
BB-8 is a small droid, standing at just 2’ 2” (0.67 meters) tall and weighing 39.7 lbs (18 kilograms). Despite his size, he is capable of incredible feats, such as grappling with his spike launcher and making repairs with his welding torch.
In addition to his grappling spike launcher and welding torch, BB-8 is also equipped with a holoprojector and arc welder. These tools come in handy when he needs to repair his ship or help his pilot escape danger.
Although BB-8 is a machine, he has masculine programming, which means he is referred to with he/him pronouns.
BB-8 was brought to life by Neal Scanlan and his team at Disney Research for The Force Awakens.
Director J.J. Abrams originally did a rough sketch for the design of BB-8 on a napkin. The drawing was essentially a ball with a dome and one eye! Abrams also gave the droid his name based only on how it looked.
“BB-8” was one of the few names that remained unchanged from the beginning of production. However, the pre-production team nicknamed the droid “Surly.”
BB-8’s design features asymmetrical panels that make it easier for viewers to track his motion.
BB-8 has a distinctive design, with white and orange plating and a red sensor. The spherical robot has a free-moving domed head and is primarily white, with orange and silver accents and a black optical lens on his headpiece.
His emotions are displayed via small lights that blink at different paces and patterns.
BB-8 possesses various tools and ports within his multiple panels; however, not all of BB-8’s panels have a defined purpose, leaving options open for future films.
The voice of BB-8 was provided by comedians Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, who were credited as “BB-8 vocal consultants.”
J.J. Abrams used a talkbox attached to an Apple iPad running a sound effects app to manipulate Hader and Schwartz’s voices to create BB-8’s voice effects.
BB-8 made his first appearance in the 88-second teaser trailer for The Force Awakens, released by Lucasfilm on November 28, 2014.
BB-8 comes to the rescue in The Last Jedi by fixing Poe’s X-wing weapons system by smashing it with his head.
Later in the film, BB-8 becomes the target of a drunk gambler who mistakes him for a slot machine and keeps putting coins into a slot in him.
Also, in The Last Jedi, BB-8 helped Finn and Rose escape imprisonment by defeating multiple guards and even rescued them by operating a First Order AT-ST!
In The Rise of Skywalker, BB-8 joined Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, and C-3PO on a thrilling mission and even made a new friend named D-O.
BB-8 has also made appearances in various Star Wars media, such as Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Star Wars Resistance.
Sphero developed a mobile app-enabled robotic BB-8 toy, which was a huge success, selling over 1 million units in 2015.
In December 2015, BB-8 appeared with several other Force Awakens characters on the cover of Rolling Stone and was also featured alone on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter.
BB-8 is more than just a droid; he’s a beloved character in the Star Wars universe.
From his creation on Hosnian Prime to his heroic acts in the movies, BB-8 has captured our hearts with his distinctive design and lovable personality.
BB-8 has left a lasting impact on pop culture, and it’s certain we haven’t seen the last of him. So here’s to you, BB-8, and may the Force be with you always!
