„This is a scene where we introduce R2 which was a fun moment for me since R2 becomes a central character through out the movie. One of the things we´re doing in this movie is to introduce characters. See where they came from. The main job of the first episode really is to introduce character. It´s what the first act of a play is all about. Set up the plot, then introduce the characters. And so in the whole Star Wars saga this will be the first time that R2 is introduced. So I wanted to give him a little bit of a dramatic opening, chance to do something, be a little hero. He is the hero throughout the series. He´s always the one who sort of comes through in the end and saves the day. So I thought that was appropriate at this point when we do introduce him that we introduce him in a bit of an action sequence when we can again establish this character as a hero. Because that continues through the whole series."

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, blu-ray audiocomentary