:EPISODE TWO
Includes possible spoilers....
FACTS
Release Date: Star Wars Episode Two will be released around May 22 2002. Principal shooting has now finished in Australia and post-production is taking place. The crew returned to Australia in March 2001 for some pick-up shots and later in London for some extra work.
Title: No title for the film has yet been decided on. SW2 is the current working title.
Plot: Anakin will be 20-years-old.He trains and becomes a Jedi Knight. In an interview Rick McCallum has said that the background to the story is the Clone Wars and just when Anakin becomes a hero his pride and ego get the better of him and he turns to the dark side.
Palpatine's rise to dominance continues as he begins creating the Empire and the Battle Droids are replaced by the slightly more effective Stormtroopers.
The background to the Force should be explained more fully and a romance will begin to develop between Anakin and Amidala.
Boba Fett's father will also emerge as one of the main characters.
Characters: Hayden Christensen will be playing Anakin. Among the other stars signed to re-appear are Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan),Natalie Portman (Amidala), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Samuel L Jackson (Mace Windu), and Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine).
And Jar Jar, love him or hate him, will be back as well.
The film will be directed by George Lucas.
Location: Star Wars Episode II will primarily be shot at the new Fox Studios in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Locations shots will also be in Tunisia and Italy. A new digital camera is also being designed to ensure Episode Two will be unique in the way it is filmed.
RUMOUR
Characters: The main issue has been who will play Anakin, as Jake Lloyd will be too young. Among the names mentioned have been Leonardo Di Caprio,Jesse Spencer (Neighbours), Ryan Phillipe, Colin Hanks and James Van Der Beek. But none of them made it and Hayden Christensen is the name to remember.
It has also been said that U2 singer Bono will have a part in Ep2. It is thought that Liam Neeson will play some part,, as his contract has him committed to a few days filming. It's possible he will re-appear as a ghost-like figure, much like Obo-Wan eventually does. Although seeing as he didn't vanish when he died, maybe not.
There will also have to be a new Sith apprentice, to replace Darth Maul.
Tit;le: Among the rumoured titles are Rise of the Empire and The Clone Wars.
Plot: It is thought Boba Fett will have a role to play in the movie and it has been suggested that he may even be Kitster, Anakin's friend in TPM.
Although it's known that Amidala and Anakin have a romance there is also a suggestion that Obi-Wan becomes a love rival for Amidala's affections.