CLASSIC IMAGE: THREEPIO IN GENESIS!

The Prequel Trilogy behind the scenes news filters slowly but surely revealed that Threepio would return to the saga in one shape or form, but his final visual reveal, and historical storytelling place at the saga's beginning, proved both surprising and intriguing, as seen in this great concept/production art by Doug Chiang from 1995. 

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: NEW DROID ON THE BLOCK!

UK Assistant Creatures Designer John Fensom gets to discover what it was like for Anthony Daniels inside his Threepio costume when slipping inside the uncomfortable guise of Trade Federation Protocol Droid TC-14 (voiced with a polite American accent in post production by respected UK actress Lindsay Duncan). During the Leavesden Studios filming, Fensom would also provide various camera lighting stand-in duties for some of the EPISODE I cast.

TC-14 greets the Jedi 'Ambassadors' on their arrival in the Trade Federation battleship.

CLASSIC ART: DANGER WITHIN THE 'LIVING FORCE'!

The young Obi-Wan Kenobi looks towards the planet Naboo, sensing an upcoming disturbance in the Force, whilst a servant droid awaits his bidding, in this cool concept/production painting for EPISODE I by Doug Chiang.

The image may have been done when the visual realisation of the Prequel era Jedi were still being worked out, or Chiang may have just decided to paint Obi-Wan in the character costume design he conceived and liked the most at that time.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: READY FOR INTRUDERS!

And so it begins- the pursuit of Princess Leia's Blockade Runner by Darth Vader and his forces on the Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator, as her brave soldiers prepare to repel boarders, whilst a trio of benevolent droids (including the silver background Threepio likely played by Anthony Daniels stand-in, Harriet Colville) are caught up in the hive of activity. A great image from the original STAR WARS.

The stretch of corridor for the Blockade Runner opening hastily created by UK Production Designer John Barry and his budget-strapped team as the film was nearing its hasty (kind of) conclusion of principal photography. It was pretty short and shot from numerous angeles and set rearrangements- I love the way we see the edge here in the above shot, with bubblewrap and other filming set dressing items nearby- the way that fantasy merges with reality. The film camera in this instance must have been on the same side as the stills lensman (presumably John Jay) taking this shot, or behind the droids facing towards the set- a moment of footage that didn't make the final film.

EPISODE I AT FIFTEEN: A DROID IS BORN!

For several months in the Summer of 1997 he'd been quiet about his involvement, but fans were nostalgically thrilled and delighted when the official news eventually, ultimately came through confirming that Anthony Daniels would return to the STAR WARS universe to play fussy but lovable droid C-3PO, if only at first in a vocal role, and additionally in all-new and surprising origins, for the upcoming EPISODE I.

Anthony Daniels talks Threepio past, present and future in a new interview: Anthony Daniels definitive 'Star Wars' interview | Inside TV | EW.com