K-2SO Returns to LEGO 'Star Wars' and Is Bigger Than Ever

Chiba, Japan is currently the epicenter of everything Star Wars as the franchise's special Star Wars Celebration fan convention is taking place there this weekend. Everything from movie announcements to exclusive merchandise is being shared and the LEGO Star Wars line, having just unveiled its lineup of sets for May the 4th, had another surprise prepared.Adding to the list of LEGO Star Wars sets to be excited for, a new buildable model of K-2SO -- the Imperial security droid reprogrammed by Cassian Andor to support the rebel cause in Rogue One. The droid is due to return to live action next week, with actor Alan Tudyk reprising his role in Andor Season 2. Constructed of 845 pieces, the intricate build highlights the candid droid as it stands over 16 inches tall. He's joined by a stand for stability, display plaque listing key information about him, and his very own minifigure. The LEGO team also spent over 182 building hours creating a 50,067-piece life-size version of K-2SO, a one-of-one build on display at Star Wars Celebration.We had the opportunity to chat with Alan Tudyk, who is responsible for the voice and motion capture involved with K-2SO, as well as LEGO designer Peter Carmichael, who created the set, to learn more about the character and his new build.K-2SO first appeared in Rogue One almost 10 years ago. Now, the beloved character is making a return with season two of Andor and is again being celebrated in LEGO form as a result of this. How does it feel to have K-2SO back in the limelight?Alan Tudyk: I love it. Any type of thing where they show our characters and show K-2SO, I like it. I'll collect it. I'll keep it. And to have him get a whole renewed enthusiasm around him and be back in the story again, as it connects to Rogue One, is a rare thing and very exciting.LEGO designer Peter Carmichael has done a fantastic job in recreating K-2SO for his very own LEGO set. What about the build's design excites you most?I like how shiny it is and I guess that is part of the design, that he's very shiny. Because K-2SO is not totally shiny. He's been beat up. He's been around. Well see how he got all his cuts and scars when we watch Andor season 2. But this is like young K-2SO. He's looking really good here. Well done, Peter, on the design.As a designer, what are some of the first steps you take when creating a set?Peter Carmichael: Every designer has their own process that helps boost their creativity, and The LEGO Group is amazing at supporting us to be creative in the way that works for us. Personally, I look at references provided by Lucasfilm and use those to scale the concept model correctly. I pick a small part of the build that I want to use as the starting point and build out from there. I use both physical building and digital building to find a solution that works the best for specific needs of the project.This new K-2SO set follows 2016's release of 75120 -- a simpler buildable figure of the droid. Did you consult this set at all, and if so, were there any insights from it that you used to create this year's take on the droid?We always use former versions of characters and vehicles as inspiration when approaching the project. We strive to innovate our building techniques and introduce new elements over the years. There are some amazing things in the past set that we wanted to build on."I'm especially proud of the chest of K-2SO as there were curves from nearly every direction that needed to be translated into LEGO elements."K-2SO's in-universe design is very smooth and quite rounded. How difficult was it to maintain this element of his shape when recreating him in LEGO form?The shaping of K-2SO is incredibly exciting and complex. I used a variety of techniques to capture both the smooth curves and sharp angles. I'm especially proud of the chest of K-2SO as there were curves from nearly every direction that needed to be translated into LEGO elements. Builders will discover some super cool techniques of how to make a model both geometrically complex and still fun to build.What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome when designing the set?There are always opportunities to find innovative solutions with every LEGO build, but we view those as the most fun things to work on and solve! One of my main goals for this model was to capture the unique and witty expressions and poses that K-2SO is known for. By adding multiple points of articulation throughout the torso, arms, and head, we were able to capture the likeness of his iconic personality and bring the model to life.What's your favorite element of the set?Hands down my favorite element of the set is the rubber fly wheel used three times. I got the amazing opportunity to change the color of this element into yellow, and I'm so happy I did. It really ties the model together in the perfect way. I was so excited to change the color of this element into something I've never done as I've been building with that element since I was a kid.Fans ca

Apr 20, 2025 - 07:50

K-2SO Returns to LEGO 'Star Wars' and Is Bigger Than Ever

Chiba, Japan is currently the epicenter of everything Star Wars as the franchise's special Star Wars Celebration fan convention is taking place there this weekend. Everything from movie announcements to exclusive merchandise is being shared and the LEGO Star Wars line, having just unveiled its lineup of sets for May the 4th, had another surprise prepared.

Adding to the list of LEGO Star Wars sets to be excited for, a new buildable model of K-2SO -- the Imperial security droid reprogrammed by Cassian Andor to support the rebel cause in Rogue One. The droid is due to return to live action next week, with actor Alan Tudyk reprising his role in Andor Season 2. Constructed of 845 pieces, the intricate build highlights the candid droid as it stands over 16 inches tall. He's joined by a stand for stability, display plaque listing key information about him, and his very own minifigure. The LEGO team also spent over 182 building hours creating a 50,067-piece life-size version of K-2SO, a one-of-one build on display at Star Wars Celebration.

We had the opportunity to chat with Alan Tudyk, who is responsible for the voice and motion capture involved with K-2SO, as well as LEGO designer Peter Carmichael, who created the set, to learn more about the character and his new build.

K-2SO first appeared in Rogue One almost 10 years ago. Now, the beloved character is making a return with season two of Andor and is again being celebrated in LEGO form as a result of this. How does it feel to have K-2SO back in the limelight?

Alan Tudyk: I love it. Any type of thing where they show our characters and show K-2SO, I like it. I'll collect it. I'll keep it. And to have him get a whole renewed enthusiasm around him and be back in the story again, as it connects to Rogue One, is a rare thing and very exciting.

LEGO designer Peter Carmichael has done a fantastic job in recreating K-2SO for his very own LEGO set. What about the build's design excites you most?

I like how shiny it is and I guess that is part of the design, that he's very shiny. Because K-2SO is not totally shiny. He's been beat up. He's been around. Well see how he got all his cuts and scars when we watch Andor season 2. But this is like young K-2SO. He's looking really good here. Well done, Peter, on the design.

As a designer, what are some of the first steps you take when creating a set?

Peter Carmichael: Every designer has their own process that helps boost their creativity, and The LEGO Group is amazing at supporting us to be creative in the way that works for us. Personally, I look at references provided by Lucasfilm and use those to scale the concept model correctly. I pick a small part of the build that I want to use as the starting point and build out from there. I use both physical building and digital building to find a solution that works the best for specific needs of the project.

This new K-2SO set follows 2016's release of 75120 -- a simpler buildable figure of the droid. Did you consult this set at all, and if so, were there any insights from it that you used to create this year's take on the droid?

We always use former versions of characters and vehicles as inspiration when approaching the project. We strive to innovate our building techniques and introduce new elements over the years. There are some amazing things in the past set that we wanted to build on.

"I'm especially proud of the chest of K-2SO as there were curves from nearly every direction that needed to be translated into LEGO elements."

K-2SO's in-universe design is very smooth and quite rounded. How difficult was it to maintain this element of his shape when recreating him in LEGO form?

The shaping of K-2SO is incredibly exciting and complex. I used a variety of techniques to capture both the smooth curves and sharp angles. I'm especially proud of the chest of K-2SO as there were curves from nearly every direction that needed to be translated into LEGO elements. Builders will discover some super cool techniques of how to make a model both geometrically complex and still fun to build.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome when designing the set?

There are always opportunities to find innovative solutions with every LEGO build, but we view those as the most fun things to work on and solve! One of my main goals for this model was to capture the unique and witty expressions and poses that K-2SO is known for. By adding multiple points of articulation throughout the torso, arms, and head, we were able to capture the likeness of his iconic personality and bring the model to life.

What's your favorite element of the set?

Hands down my favorite element of the set is the rubber fly wheel used three times. I got the amazing opportunity to change the color of this element into yellow, and I'm so happy I did. It really ties the model together in the perfect way. I was so excited to change the color of this element into something I've never done as I've been building with that element since I was a kid.

Fans can pre-order this new K-2SO Security Droid set via LEGO today at a price of $90 USD. Orders will be shipped on August 1, the day that the kit officially releases.

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