Star Wars Day 2020: Babu Frik may have a long-lost love that still haunts him, says Shirley Henderson
May The Fourth be with you! Fans, stars and filmmakers are celebrating the occasion with much gusto. While fans are busy dishing out hot takes on social media, special behind-the-scenes of actors and backstories have been shared. Not surprisingly, Babu Frik has emerged as a topic of discussion. The fellow was considered a favorite and perhaps the only good thing about the film, 'The Rise Of Skywalker'.
In the film, the droidsmith was instrumental in translating the message in the Sith dagger. An Anzelian, Babu had worked with Zori Bliss (Keri Russell) and was also a member of the Space Runners of Kijmi. He helps Rey (Daisy Ridley), and the rest of her crew translate the message from the Sith dagger. Babu Frik showed up in the final battle between the Resistance and The Last Order In Exegol. While we don't know what lies in store for Babu Frik, turns out that the droidsmith might have an interesting backstory that could play in future 'Star Wars' spinoffs.
Shirley Henderson, who voiced the character, opened up about his origins to Vanity Fair and mentioned even a possible love story. "Beyond the film, Babu has lived a life. Somewhere out there is a lost love. He thinks about her sometimes when he sits down in his workshop and lets his thoughts drift away. That’s what I think, anyway," she said.
This is entirely Henderson's idea, but in all probability, his story might be expanded on a bit more. After all, there is enough Star Wars lore to go around. If Baby Yoda is taking 'The Mandalorian' forward, then it won't be long before we see Babu Frik again in one of the spinoffs, or future films. The 'Star Wars' universe keeps expanding with each year, anyway.
Henderson also spoke about her introduction to the character. "One evening I was sitting in a hotel room, about to get into my pajamas and head off to dreamland, when Nina Gold, the casting director, phoned me and asked if I would like to meet JJ Abrams and audition for him. I asked what the part was, and she said she couldn’t tell me. It’s a big secret. “No clues at all?” I asked. Nina then muttered something under her breath that sounded a little like, “maybe small, maybe old, maybe a workshop.” I thought about it for one second and said, “Yes, please! I would love to meet JJ Abrams!"
She added, "Then the day arrived. I was taken into JJ’s office and we said hello. Still, there were no real clues—so I just hunched down on the ground and made myself as small as I could and started talking as I thought the character might. Minutes later, JJ brought in a tiny model of an old man, set it down on the coffee table and said: “This is Babu Frik."
'The Rise Of Skywalker' released in December last year and was the final film in the Skywalker saga. However, it was not received well by fans.