R2-KT to Appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

R2-KTIn addition to showing the film to the late Daniel Fleetwood, it has officially been revealed that Lucasfilm will honor the memory of another fan who died of cancer in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. A droid named after a young girl who is no longer with us will appear in the film itself.

 

For those of you unfamiliar with this droid, the story begins with Katie Johnson, the daughter of 501st Legion founder Albin Johnson. Katie was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 6. In a show of support for the brave little girl, the R2 Builder’s Group created an R2-D2 unit to watch over her. However, mid-development, they decided to take it a step further and repaint the droid pink and name it after Katie, and thus R2-KT was born. Katie loved the droid, and she later passed away in peace; to this day, the droid is still around and continues to inspire young Star Wars fans suffering from serious illnesses.

 

Katie Johnson

 

The character was officially added into the annals of Star Wars lore when she was included in three episodes of The Clone Wars; a similar character named QT-KT was also seen in four droid-centric episodes that came later on. And now, the character is officially making the jump from animation to live-action as revealed by a recent statement from Albin himself:

 

 

If you remember back in July in our article “Behind the Scenes of The Force Awakens – Things you Might have Missed”, we also noticed that little droid in the footage shown at SDCC 2015:

 

R2-KT BTS

 

I think it’s a neat little way to pay respect to someone who died much too young and tie the continuity between the television shows and the movies in one fell swoop. It’s wonderful to know that someone like Katie will be remembered by Star Wars viewers for years to come through this, and we can’t thank Lucasfilm enough for their kindness.

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

30 thoughts on “R2-KT to Appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

  • November 29, 2015 at 5:06 pm
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    I guess the color pink makes anything real after all. Ain’t that right?

  • November 29, 2015 at 5:24 pm
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    Uggghhh. 6? That really sux. As someone who has 2 kids under 6 its impossible to imagine. Good job by JJ making sure this droid made it inmto the movie.

    • November 29, 2015 at 8:44 pm
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      I’m more than 3 times that girl’s age and I can’t imagine my life being that much shorter. So sad!

  • November 29, 2015 at 6:15 pm
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    What is there to say, other than that’s pretty damn cool.
    I’m sure we’ll keep an eye out for KT in TFA, and give a little wink in acknowledgement.

  • November 29, 2015 at 6:22 pm
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    While this was a very nice thing to do for the little girl, I feel like Disney is paying homage to too many people in this show (especially McQuarrie) rather than pusing the story forwards. There have been so many filler episodes so far where very little has happened.

    • November 29, 2015 at 6:39 pm
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      the force awakens is not a show. You meant Rebels?

    • November 29, 2015 at 7:19 pm
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      Yeah, I also have no idea what you’re talking about. The Clone Wars series wasn’t a Disney production, and is long over as well…if you are talking about Rebels, this has nothing to do with that series.

    • November 29, 2015 at 8:23 pm
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      I can’t tell if by “show” you’re talking about Rebels, Clone Wars or TFA. But either way, I hope the family that actually lost their girl, for whom this gesture means a great deal, doesn’t read your comment. Homage is different from fan service – it’s called having a heart!

    • November 29, 2015 at 9:16 pm
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      Rebels has lost it a bit… but that has nothing to do with homages to others in different series/movies. Take it up with the writers…

    • November 30, 2015 at 5:36 am
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      Ok here’s what we run into. People like you who say there are too many homages, there you get others who say there isn’t enough. It’s a difficult line, and someone inevitably will complain from one side or the other. You can’t please everyone.

  • November 29, 2015 at 6:40 pm
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    wich clone wars episodes was this droid in?

    • November 29, 2015 at 8:46 pm
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      “Jedi Crash”, “Storm Over Ryloth”, and “Mercy Mission”.

      • November 29, 2015 at 9:02 pm
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        thanks…. so more like cameo appearances

  • November 29, 2015 at 7:34 pm
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    That’s very sweet. I can’t imagine being that young and having cancer. The scene might be small, but the reasons behind it and its impact will be much larger…

  • November 29, 2015 at 9:11 pm
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    Existence can be so merciless. Glad humans occasionally try to ease some of it.

  • November 29, 2015 at 9:21 pm
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    illum, deveron(?) and now the pink droid…im seeing a lot of clone wars references

    • November 29, 2015 at 10:34 pm
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      Good. The Clone Wars is AWESOME!

  • November 29, 2015 at 9:38 pm
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    A wonderful gesture by Disney. In some way, a small part of Katie will live on for ever.

    • November 29, 2015 at 10:45 pm
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      My thoughts exactly, KR. I hope Disney/Lucasfilm will let their humane side show even more by including other moments dedicated to their fans in the production of the upcoming films.

    • November 30, 2015 at 2:16 am
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      and Katie herself is living forever in a much better place. I promise you that.

  • November 29, 2015 at 9:49 pm
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    Classy move, Lucasfilm. Very cool. Cannot wait to see this movie, they are really checking the right boxes.

  • November 29, 2015 at 9:49 pm
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    The picture of Katie hugging the droid made me tear up

    • November 29, 2015 at 10:41 pm
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      Me too. It contains a lot of emotion.
      Very nice gesture from LucasFilm! Glad they did this.

  • November 29, 2015 at 10:12 pm
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    I have been watching the Clone Wars for the first time in preparation for TFA and have just watched those episodes. That is a fantastic honour for a little girl. Can’t wait to spot her in the movie in 17 days time

  • November 30, 2015 at 12:59 am
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    will we see Chopper is the Force Awakens 😀

    • November 30, 2015 at 10:14 pm
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      Chopper is Snoke.

  • November 30, 2015 at 1:02 am
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    Will we see anything of Star Wars Rebels in TFA its not fair if its only the Clone Wars

  • November 30, 2015 at 5:18 am
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    <3

  • November 30, 2015 at 3:10 pm
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    Yes! Just yes!!! I know KT is not originally from The Clone Wars but more connections from the prequel! Also Katie is one with the force. ^-^ Just some random speculation but what if R2-KT, R4-M9, and R2-Q2 show up in Rebels? I mean All of them or at least droids with the exact same color scheme are present in The Force Awaken so they could show up with Bail Organa in his ship. I know R2-KT is not present on the ship in A New Hope but I would love to see a episode similar to the D-squad arc from The Clone Wars with Chopper leading a secret mission. It’s a stretch but I like the idea. Finally it would be awsome if R2-D2 & Chopper have some rivalry between KT. That would be sweet as I believe we lack that tense relationship with Ezra and Sabine. ^U^

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