The star of the debut Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer wasn't any Jedi, Sith or cross-hilted lightsaber — it was an adorable rolling droid named BB-8. During today's keynote panel at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, Calif., BB-8 made his off-screen debut to a crowd of instant fans, and even squared off against R2-D2 in a chirping argument. You can witness its appearance in the video above.
Director J.J. Abrams explained that he had originally considered using CG to create BB-8, but found it much easier for the actors to interact with a real-life puppet.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released in theaters December 18. The Star Wars Celebration event will run through the weekend, and is expected to bring an all-new trailer for the film.