Droids Like Us

The Star Wars mock documentary is certainly not a new idea. Kevin Rubio's truly excellent Cops send-up, titled Troops, took a look at the men and women of the Imperial Empire at work and has stood proud as the most impressive fan homage to date. But now the folks over at the Official Site have tried their hand at some affectionate irreverence. R2-D2: Beneath The Dome charts the humble beginnings of the little astro-droid from his hometown of Bollux, England. Artoo, or Reg as he is known to his family, is shown making his first break into showbusiness and, after turning down the lead role in The Godfather he found his first major role in a science fiction project by young director George Lucas. As superstardom beckoned, Artoo weathered a nervous breakdown and the trappings of drugs, drink and women. This insightful look at the birth of a major movie star features testimony from Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and co-stars Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson, Ewan McGregor and, of course, long time friend Anthony Daniels: "I think what people forget is that he has feelings. When you're at crotch height, it's hard to make a good impression."