Published Jan 30, 2026, 3:45 PM EST
After joining Screen Rant in January 2025, Guy became a Senior Features Writer in March of the same year, and now specializes in features about classic TV shows. With several years' experience writing for and editing TV, film and music publications, his areas of expertise include a wide range of genres, from comedies, animated series, and crime dramas, to Westerns and political thrillers.
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Star Wars has recently released the details of its new show Maul – Shadow Lord, with a stunning trailer to match. From what’s been revealed, it appears that the franchise has just created the perfect replacement for legendary protocol droid C-3PO.
From aiding Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in the original movie trilogy, to the Star Wars theory that the franchise’s entire central story arc is entirely his creation, C-3PO is an irreplaceable part of this seminal space opera series. Yet, it seems that the franchise’s latest show may be about to replace him, thanks to a casting masterstroke.
Maul – Shadow Lord continues the evolution of Darth Maul’s costume as well as his character, with the iconic Star Wars villain finally taking center stage in a series of his own. Meanwhile, Maul’s main adversary in the show will be Janix police detective Brander Lawson, whose droid sidekick Two-Boots features characteristics distinctly similar to C-3PO.
Two-Boots Will Be The Perfect C-3PO Replacement In Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars had already been working on C-3PO replacements, with Ahsoka’s lightsaber droid Professor Huyang likely to feature in future franchise movies. Threepio, as he’s affectionately known to fans, was effectively retired in 2019, when actor Anthony Daniels announced that The Rise of Skywalker likely marked his last appearance as the character.
Until now the franchise had failed to find a suitably neurotic and highly-strung droid to provide the same type of comic relief as this Star Wars legend. In Two-Boots, however, the team behind Maul – Shadow Lord has found the perfect successor to R2-D2’s anxious and accident-prone companion.
Star Wars Casting Richard Ayoade As Two-Boots Is A Stroke Of Genius
We know from information released by Disney and Lucasfilm about Two-Boots that he’s going to be detective Brander Lawson’s sidekick, and that he got his name from his unusual choice of footwear for a droid. But it’s primarily from the actor who’s been cast as the character that we get a sense of his personality.
Richard Ayoade has already featured in Star Wars: The Mandalorian, playing Q9-0, a mercenary droid in Ranzar Malk's gang. This bit-part didn’t give the actor and comedian any room to shine, though. His portrayal of Two-Boots will be a different proposition entirely. It’s hard to imagine a comedian who sounds and acts more like C-3PO than Ayoade when he’s performing.
Two-Boots Could Become The Funniest Star Wars Droid Of All Time
Because Maul – Shadow Lord’s trailer only gives us a brief glimpse of Two-Boots, we don’t yet know exactly what he’s like as a character. But Richard Ayoade’s résumé as a comic actor, standup comedian, writer, and director, gives us some idea.
Ayoade’s razor-sharp wit, zany tangents, and neurotic obsessions suggest that the character has every chance of being the funniest Star Wars droid ever to appear onscreen. Rogue One and Andor’s sarcastic and deadpan security droid K-2SO might have something to say about this claim, but even he might be outdone by the comedic persona we expect Two-Boots to have.
C-3PO has always divided opinion among the Star Wars fanbase, but there's a huge constituency of viewers who’ll be delighted that Richard Ayoade is continuing his legacy. Maul – Shadow Lord’s main focus will be on its title character and Gideon Adlon’s young anti-hero Devon Izara. Nevertheless, Two-Boots has a key role to play, and may just steal the show.
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Created by George Lucas
First Film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Cast Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
TV Show(s) The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s) Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
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