ASN-121

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Homeworld:
  Assassin droid

• Weapon:
  Variable

• Affiliation:
  Bounty hunter

• 

From the Movies

A sleek droid outfitted for the blood trade of assassination, ASN-121 was the property of Zam Wesell. The Clawdite bounty hunter dispatched the flying automaton on a mission to kill Senator Padm? Amidala. To that end, its small cargo hopper was loaded with a pair of squirming kouhuns, deadly centipede-like creatures with a poisonous sting.

The droid flew high amidst the skyscrapers of Coruscant, stopping to hover outside Padm? Amidala's apartment window. Using disruptive energy beams, the droid was able to bypass the window's security screen, and used a laser cutter to bore a hole in the pane. The droid then deposited its venomous cargo.

It succeeded in its primary function -- to deliver the kouhuns, and was set to return to Zam, but a pair of Jedi protectors burst into the bedroom. Anakin Skywalker cut the kouhuns to pieces and Obi-Wan Kenobi brashly dove out the window to capture ASN-121.

The droid soared away, carrying the Jedi Knight with it. Kenobi clung tenaciously to the droid as it soared through the Coruscant air traffic. Zam, seeing that ASN-121 carried an unwelcome guest, destroyed the droid with a well-placed shot from her sniper rifle, sending Obi-Wan Kenobi tumbling through the air.

From the Expanded Universe

Bracketed by a powerful repulsorlift array, the ASN-121's frontal tool chuck can be equipped with a variety of attachments depending on its mission profile. Its interface port can handle such diverse tools as a harpoon gun, a sniper blaster, a gas dispenser, spy sensors, a flamethrower and various drills and cutters.

Behind the Scenes

Early production notes refer to the assassin droid as a "probe droid," suggesting the same lineage as the floating dark eye probe droids used by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. Its finished design is much bulkier than those floating globes, allowing not only for more tools, but also a handholds for a surprise Jedi rider. The droid was realized both as a computer-generated model and as a full-size prop shot in front of a bluescreen.