SCI FI PI

Lucasfilm has officially announced the release of the latest chapter in the Star Wars saga. Here are the best bits (and the best pics) from the news-blast from Skywalker Ranch.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will be released as an all-new feature film in August, followed by the television series debut in a partnership announced today between Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

It's scheduled to open in the U.S. in theatres on Friday, August 15. We'll tell you the Oz release dates as soon as possible.

“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” said George Lucas, who worked as executive producer on the project. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS showcases an entirely new look and feel to the galaxy far, far away – combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars Saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation.



(c) Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.


The action of the Clone Wars will see familiar characters. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains – led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous – are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the Jedi Knights.

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, added, “This is a breakthrough project – returning Star Wars to the big screen in a completely new way while beginning an exciting new chapter in George Lucas’ legendary saga. We immediately felt that it would be a fantastic theatrical event and are thrilled to be bringing it to moviegoers.”

Lucasfilm Animation, which is based in Marin County, Calif., with a studio in Singapore, has produced more than 30 all-new episodes of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, and production continues.



(c) Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.



The first in a planned series of special web-only documentaries that chronicle the development of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS debuts online today, and can be found at www.starwars.com.


(Header pic at the top of this page- (c) Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.)