The little robot who could has actually been the subject of pretty major concern in the run up to The Force Awakens' release, because his only role so far has been one suspiciously inactive shot. Is he decommissioned? Will someone need to fix him? Even if he is temporarily "dead", droids thankfully can be revived without too much of a sacrifice of their being. And it looks like he's a lock for Episode VIII. The Evidence As reported by Metro, Doctor Who actor Jimmy Vee will replace long-term star Kenny Baker - now 81 - inside R2, presumably to allow him to retire. Vee was spotted in Ireland for secret filming alongside another returning figure, on Skellig Michael (a confirmed location for the trilogy). So unless it's a flashback (you'd think they'd be out of the way in the first film), that's probably confirmation enough.