/ 16 March 2007

US mailboxes go R2-D2 for Star Wars anniversary

Hundreds of R2-D2s will be popping up on street corners all over the United States in the coming months as part of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Star Wars.

The US Postal Service said on Thursday that about 400 mailboxes across the country will be revamped with special packaging to make them look like the famous chirruping robot from the science-fiction film and its five sequels.

A special stamp commemorating Star Wars, which was released on May 25 1977, is to be issued on March 28 when a “surprise announcement” is also to be made, officials said.

Customers will be able to use the R2-D2 boxes just like any of the 280 000 postal service mailboxes around the country.

One of the mailboxes will be situated outside the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood — one of the first cinemas to screen Star Wars 30 years ago. — AFP