Remember when he said BB-8 wasn't possible even though it was an actual remote controlled droid rolling around actual sand?
this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2026
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It wasn't though.
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/113600/how-does-bb-8-move-in-the-sand-without-skidding
There were multiple different versions of the BB8 prop, and the ones where it is moving quickly, well, it's moving over a thin layer of sand on top of something more solid, and he's got a rig attached to him, that was green screened out.
Neil was basically right, something like BB8 would have terrible traction over sand dunes.
... and it did:
We built the trikes because we needed a stable driving version. We motorized the ball and had the head move around on top by means of a curved track system. Motorized castors on the back allowed us to steer it. That version could go over pretty much any terrain. The only thing that defeated it was deep, very fine sand.
- Josh Lee
( EDIT: i hate sand, its coarse, irritating... )
The other versions were puppets, with green screened out pupeteers and control arms.
Fast moving BB8 on sand shot, done with puppet, pupeteer, and car camera:
You fell for a marketing campaign.
They absolutely did not build a real world BB8 capable of independently/remote control doing everything it does in the movies.
this is slander
Well they certainly made RC toys that work the way it looks in the film after the fact. And all I remember him saying was impossible was how BB-8's "head" kinda floats on top of the sphere.
Then write your own scientifically-accurate sci-fi, ya doink! Complain, complain, complain
Critiqueing media is only allowed if you make your own media!
James Cameron appreciated Neil's nitpick about the stars in Titanic.
He went back and fixed them.
At first glance I thought it was an Hitachi.
I’d shove a thumper up my ass.
It kinda is…
Pretty sure he was into athletics at that age. Specifically wrestling. So, this locker story seems more dubious than most made up stories.
Ah yes, wrestling, the sport known for it's small, skinny athletes
Him and Kaku should both stfu and never speak in public again.
Neil because of how he comes off and Kaku for the endless kookery.
Wow I hope you don't have any autistic friends.