UPDATED JULY 6TH
The glowing ball that the Queen hands to Boss Nass is sort of a mystery right now, but will have greater importance as Episodes II & III unfold. For a clue, study the ending of the the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi.
Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman have already inked their deals to star in Episodes II and III of George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy, but not Samuel L. Jackson. The actor, known to Phantom Menace fans as Mace Windu, tells the Toronto Sun, "I haven't signed yet, but Mace has to play out." He adds, "George Lucas did say on the Rosie O'Donnell Show that I would have a significant part in the next one. Hopefully, I can get that tape and give it to my agent."
Jar Jar Binks and the Gungans will be back.
The tentative release date for Episode II: May 24, 2002.
Preproduction is under way at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia, and principal photography is set to begin in June 2000. Lucas will write and direct with Rick McCallum returning to produce Episode II and composer John Williams scoring II and III.
Confirmed for Episode II: Anakin Skywalker (still to be cast), Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, Yoda, Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala, Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine/Darth Sidious, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Kenny Baker as R2-D2.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Mace Windu will play big roles.
The action takes place about a decade later and will show how Jedi's are trained as we watch the training of Anakin.
According to Lucas, II will see "Darth Sidious/Senator Palpatine take over the Republic, turning it into The Empire.
In an interview with the French magazine Studio, Lucas confirmed that Anakin Skywalker, not Luke, is "The Chosen One."
Who will play Anakin in the next film? The character will be in his late teens or early twenties in Episode II, must be tall, thin and well-versed in martial arts. Names that have come up:
Leonardo DiCaprio (PLEASE NO GEORGE!), Ryan Phillippe, Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek, David Schwimmer (LET'S GET REAL!!)
Harry Connick Jr., Matt Damon and Rick Schroder.
C-3PO will still not be completed in Episode II but will have more covering on his legs and upper body.
According to a comment made by costume designer Trish Beggar
during the Star Wars Celebration in Denver, the sole location for
Episode II will be the planet Tatooine.
Rick McCallum did suggest, during a recent fan chat, that a new Sith will emerge. According to an Internet rumor, the new Sith will be called "Detori." McCallum also indicated that Darth Maul will most likely not return. Internet talk, however, is that Maul will return as a clone.
A Tokyo newspaper reported that George Lucas, who was visiting Japan to promote the July 1 release of Episode One there, is "thinking of using Japanese people extensively" in Episode II.
According to several Lucasfilm sources, Episode II will also feature The Clone Wars. You know, "General Kenobi, you served my father in The Clone Wars...." (Leia..Ep 4)
Boba Fett will appear and may even figure prominently.
Episode II will focus on the romance between Amidala and Anakin, parents of Luke and Leia. The movie might end with their wedding.
Fan-generated plot twists: Anakin Skywalker does not become Darth Vader. An evil individual takes over Anakin's identity during Episode II and later becomes Vader. Remember, tho' Anakin unmasked himself in Return of the Jedi.....
An Internet rumor, supposedly originating from a "Lucasfilm employee who stole the script": (and should be fired!) Anakin's dark-side leanings will become more evident after Darth Sidious sends a new Sith to Tatooine to kill Shmi Skywalker, Anakin's mother.
Although Qui-Gon Jinn was struck down by Darth Maul in Episode I, Lucas hints that we may not have seen the last of the him. (I HOPE NOT!!!!) Many fans have wondered why Qui-Gon does not disappear when Maul kills him (as Ben Kenobi did in the original), and to that query Lucas replies:"You will discover in the next film why he doesn't disappear. The key line that serves as a clue is from Ben Kenobi to Darth Vader in the original: 'If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.' "
Episode II will be shot digitally; that means higher quality, especially on the CGI shots. McCallum says he expects Lucas to have a script for II completed in September, though several sources say Lucas is down to the last 30 minutes already. (THE SOONER THE BETTER GEORGE!!)