Was the incredible K-2SO inspired by an earlier kill droid, HK-47?
Statement: In Rogue One, we are introduced to the very witty, sarcastic, a bit morbid droid known as K-2SO. We find out he has been reprogrammed from his original state. And part of the reprogramming removed his internal filter, so he says any morbid little thing that comes to his circuits.
Observation: In the previous extended canon, there was Knights of the Old Republic's HK-47, a very witty, sarcastic, a bit morbid droid that was also reprogrammed a few times. Same lack of filter.
Query: Was K-2SO inspired or based on HK-47?
Best Answer
According to this Entertainment Weekly interview with John Knoll (executive producer and visual effects supervisor, who has worked on the Star Wars series since 1977) the visual design was primarily based on and inspired by imperial droids we've seen in the original trilogy, primarily the scout droids deployed in the beginning of Empire Strikes Back (Viper probe droid) and the interrogation droid from New Hope (IT-O Interrogator).
Of course Knoll, as visual effects supervisor, is primarily talking about and concerned with the look of K-2SO, whereas you're more interested in his demeanour.
However, there is no proof (that I was able to find) that our beloved Meatbag-caller HK-47 was in any way an inspiration for K-2SO.
(For the sake of completeness, here is the lack of relevant overlaps between the IMDB credits between the two projects)
Pictures about "Was the incredible K-2SO inspired by an earlier kill droid, HK-47?"
Is the HK-47 a canon?
HK is not canon.What type of droid is K 2SO?
K-2SO is a KX-series security droid originally created by the Empire, reprogrammed by pilot Cassian Andor to serve the Rebel Alliance. He is co-pilot and "sidekick" to Andor, and lends comic relief to the film.What does HK-47 stand for?
HK-47 is a fictional droid in the Star Wars franchise. Introduced in the 2003 video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, he is an extremely efficient assassin droid constructed by Revan to assist them in hunting Jedi, until both have their memories wiped and made to serve the Jedi themselves.How did HK-47 end up on Tatooine?
He went from owner to owner, many of whom he inadvertently slew personally. Eventually, he ended up on the planet Tatooine, where he was sold to and unwittingly reunited with Revan, whose memory had been erased following his capture.KotOR 2 HK-47: How to Kill Jedi
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