George Lucas To Bring New "Star Wars" Movie To Theaters

NEW YORK — The "Star Wars" universe, already substantially rendered by computer generated imagery, is giving in all the way to animation.

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars," an animated film, will open in theaters Aug. 15 and be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network and TNT this fall.

"I felt there were a lot more `Star Wars' stories left to tell," said "Star Wars" creator George Lucas in a statement. "I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the animation forward."

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, both the film and TV show will be distributed through Time Warner Inc., which owns TNT, the Cartoon Network and the film's distributor, Warner Bros.

Lucas, who serves as executive producer, is also planning a live-action television series spinoff of the franchise, which he began working on last fall. The animated series has long been in the works, though the theatrical release was only announced late Tuesday.

The movie and subsequent series takes place between the ground covered in episodes II and III of the "Star Wars" films: "Attack of the Clones" (2002) and "Revenge of the Sith" (2005). It will include cartoon versions of many familiar characters, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala and General Grievous.

A new character named Ahsoka, Anakin's padawan, will be the first female Jedi to be a character of focus.

"It turned out to be an idea that George wanted to explore," said Dave Filoni, director of the "Clone Wars" movie and supervising director of the series. "Henry Gillroy (a writer on the series) and I very much wanted to have a female Jedi in more of a lead role because you've had all the boys."

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More than 30 episodes are planned, though Filoni declined to say exactly how long the show will run. He acknowledged it's a finite timeline before encroaching on "Revenge of the Sith" story lines.

Though the "Star Wars" films have been extraordinarily lucrative, the force won't be expected to be as strong in cartoon form. The film and series are clearly aimed at younger viewers, though Filoni hopes to also entice the many "Star Wars" die-hard fans.

"An animated series always appeals more to a younger audience," said Filoni. "But at the same time, we've tried to do some sophisticated things and ensure that we are going to satisfy the broad spectrum of `Star Wars' fans."

Though Lucas farms out various "Star Wars" projects in what's known as the "`Star Wars' expanded universe," Filoni says that Lucas ensured "The Clone Wars" has "that `Star Wars' feeling."

Fans will also remember other animated series following the first time Lucas completed a "Star Wars" trilogy. After "Return of the Jedi," the series "Ewoks" and "Droids" ran in the late `80s.

The Cartoon Network also ran an earlier version of a "Clone Wars" animated series for three seasons beginning in 2003.

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On the Net:

http://www.starwars.com/

Comments

[WilliePilgrim]

PS...the Young Indiana Jones series has opened up a world of learning and insight and now as I watch I find myself frequently jumping over to wikipedia to cross check and expand my learning experience­...thanks, George. You are doing great stuff.

[WilliePilgrim]

Interesting. Thanks for that. While I'm not a huge fan of the Star Wars universe, I'm also not envious of his fame or money, and fully understand his motives for going forward. His movie production facilities create great well paying jobs for many artists and technician­s...and landscapers and dog walkers too. It's an awesome responsibility and I stand I awe at what he and his company have accomplished from outside the typical, all but obligatory, system of hollywood fealty.
More importantly, despite the catcalls of "cliche'" so abundantly spouted here by the mob of oh so superficial huffposters, I am delighted that this admittedly synthesised mythology is gaining such a following. We are seeing the emergence of a new world culture and this integrates meaningful aspects of many of them, marginalizes none of them and invites the whole world to partake while emphasizing good over evil, people before government efficiency, creativity over destruction and knowledge over ignorance.
It's easy to see Lucas as a symbol of all that we find wrong with pop culture, but a closer look reveals that it is deserving of much praise and I hope it is successful and that it coninues to inform young viewers while the stale, outdated and highly suspect scriptures that have been plagueing us for so long are dropped away like a snake sheds its skin.

[vandegrasse]

Talk about a one trick pony!

[SaintN]

Lucas makes $Billions off a shop-worn Cliche!

Well George you made $Billions off a movie that was onerously trite and cliche.Sta­r Wars had not one ounce of uniqueness or originality about it - it was nothing but old SwashBuckler and Buck Rogers' scripts jumbled together! Luckily for you Mr.Lucas your easily entertained audiences were bigger,denser hams than you are.You would think that with your mountain of gold that you could now at least buy a somewhat original idea for a new movie but I guess you've become seduced by your own inane clap trap?

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Newsflash. George in competiton with Stallone for most sequels.

[Ohg]

The new movie in the works "Election - 2008" does not yet have a director - I suppose we can dream....
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/14/kevin-spacey-as-mike-huckabee/

[jhoughton1]

Wouldn't it be nice if Mr. Lucas put out a film about real people dealing with real life? I mean, a little fantasy is nice and some violence, well..okay­. But kids are growing up on this stuff, Mr. Lucas. Bang, bang, bang.

[TruEngineHearing]

At last, the dream come true: no more pesky actors to direct - or to not direct well, as in the last 3 snoozefesters.

[Lemoenus]

I don't call him George Lucas, I call him 'Jabba'...­'Jabba Lucas'.

[tinkaboutit]

Where's the apology for the Greedo revisionism?

[StanDaMan]

Who gives a poop, really? Most of what Hollywood cranks out, especially sci-fi flicks, put me to sleep. But the formula of simplistic plots, one-dimensional characters and f/x keeps the average moronic movie-going American, who'll watch anything Hollywood puts before him/her, no matter how lousy, riveted to his/her seat. It's all about the cash, isn't it, George?

[piotr]

The old three episodes - brilliant. The newer 3 ones - shit. Mr Lucas - think a bit, then do the movies.

[GlimmerofDope]

Please STOP ruining what was once a great story. The last 3 (all directed by Lucas) are complete shit.

[KindAndThoughtful]

George Lucas is a genius...a­nd is very nice in person. He has done much for the motion picture industry both creatively and technologically.

http://verybestwebsites.blogspot.com/

[MikeDu]

How many types of movies has Lucas *directed* in the last 30 years? Where's his romantic comedy? Where's his historical drama, his urban crime thriller, his celebrety biopic, his buddy film, his film noir, his satire, his... his... Oh, he hasn't made any? (and don't say "American Grafitti", I asked about the last 30 years and that turkey was a full 34 years ago.) I'd hardly call Lucas a proper 'film director' at all considering his barren track record.