This account also makes sense when we consider how Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi handles its most iconic characters.
While legends like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa indeed appear in the film, the movie’s story is largely driven by the actions of newcomers like Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren.
With so many new personalities taking on more significant roles through the bulk of the narrative, seeing a Star Wars element as cool and beloved as R2-D2 could obviously take someone off his or her guard when the time came on set.