StarWars: The Clone Warsmakes its theatrical debut as an all-new, computer-generated feature film inAugust 2008, followed by a television series in the fall.
The new adventuresin a galaxy far, far away apparently take place between the second and third StarWars prequel films, similar to the Clone War series of the same name that ranbetween 2003 and 2005. Returning characters include AnakinSkywalker ? who later becomes Darth Vader ? along with Obi-Wan Kenobi and PadmeAmidala. New heroes also join to battle familiar villains from the Star Warsprequels, such as Darth Sidious, Count Dooku, and General Grievous.
"Ifelt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell," saidGeorge Lucas, Star Wars creator and executive producer of Star Wars: TheClone Wars. "I was eager to start telling some of them throughanimation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward."
Combining asignature animation style with all computer-generatedgraphics, Star Wars: The Clone Wars opens in North American theaterson Friday, Aug. 15. The brand new television series then premieres in the fallon Cartoon Network, kicking off regular airings on TNT. The television episodeseach amount to a 30-minute "mini-movie," and will showcaseaction-packed battles along with new revelations about the Star Warsuniverse.
LucasfilmLtd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. announced theirpartnership yesterday to produce and distribute the new film and televisionseries.
"WarnerBros. and Turner are uniquely positioned to deliver on the enormous potentialof The Clone Wars because together they offer a world-class opportunity:the theatrical and home-video distribution of Warner Bros. and the broad reachof the Turner Networks," said Micheline Chau, President and ChiefOperating Officer of Lucasfilm Ltd. "This terrific combination hits thekey demographic groups, ranging from kids to adults, that make up the StarWars audience."
LucasfilmAnimation has already produced more than 30 all-new episodes of Star Wars: TheClone Wars, and continues to work on new episodes.
StarWars: The Clone Warsmarks the latest expansion for the Star Wars universe following the 30thanniversary celebrations for the original film in 2007. Last year saw rolloutsof relatedvideogames and events such as the launchingof Luke Skywalker's lightsaber with space shuttle Discovery.
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