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| Fighting for survival! Padme versus the fearsome Nexu beast in the Geonosis arena blood sports. Art by Ryan Valle. |
The Geonosians are hungry to see Jedi blood spilt in their gruesome packed-to-the-rafters arena as three fearsome beasts are herded into animalistic violence and savagery against Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme. Fortunately, the three captured friends prove totally formidable against the creatures in a battle leading to near-escape that angers not just the insect audiences but the important Separatist VIPs watching the spectacle, guests of Count Dooku.
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| The Reek emerges... heading towards Anakin. |
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| The Acklay heads for Obi-Wan. |
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| The Nexu beast turns on its Geonosian slaver. |
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| The Nexu begins its attack, and soon injures Padme, who resiliently fights back and injures it with her chains. |
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| Padme works to free herself from her final bonds. |
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| At first dragged along by the Reek... |
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| ... Anakin uses the Force to temporarily calm and control it. |
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| Padme jumps down to the awaiting Anakin, now atop the Reek. She kisses his neck in a romantic gesture deliberately referencing Leia with Han Solo in a brief and tender moment during The Empire Strikes Back. |
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| Whilst Obi-Wan keeps back the Acklay before reuniting with Padme and Anakin now using the Reek for transport. |
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| Obi-Wan runs from the Acklay to join his comrades. A frame of lie action blue screen filming is superimposed onto a concept/atmosphere painting from Ryan Church. |
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| Our heroes once against trapped by Droidekas. |
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| Our heroes look up as a surprise rescuer makes an appearance. |
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| Production design for the multi-limbed Acklay beast. |
BEHIND THE SCENES“The execution beasts were outrageous designs but they were workable in
terms of animation. I was never worried about the reek, which was big and
muscular and well designed. I was a bit more worried about the Nexu, because
of its huge claws. In the maquette he was down very low, almost like a
hunting cat; but we had to lift him up a bit in order to make him work. Also,
the walking cycle had the kind of twisting action of a Komodo dragon, and
that took some effort. The final monster, the Acklay, had fingers coming off its
six legs. I wasn’t sure what to do with the fingers initially, but overall he
moved a lot like a crab.”
Rob Coleman - Star Wars: Mythmaking book - 2002
The Nexu beast was designed by Robert E. Barnes, and a creature that was mad to mix Lion-like physique with human and reptilian influences. Barnes would state of the creature in 2002: "I was thinking of a mutated hybrid of human and feline energy, which was a very disturbing image in my mind." It was also nicknamed 'Bad Kitty' by the ILM animation team.
The Acklay design was inspired by a giant crab-like monster seen in the classic Ray Harryhausen movie, Mysterious Island (1961).
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| Concept art of a Geonosian with ride. |
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| Nexu beast design. |
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| Model maquette of the Reek. |
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| Concept art of beasts heading towards our chained heroes in the arena. |
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| Padme begins her escape climb up the pillar. |
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| Anakin uses the Force to control the Reek. |
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| Nick Gillard instructs Hayden Christensen on how to control the Reek with the wraparound chain. |
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| Hayden and Natalie on the fake Reek. |
“I remember this one scene we had to shoot, where me, Hayden and Ewan all
had to stand on this huge mechanical bull in front of a bluescreen. Hayden
was in front, I was in the middle and Ewan was standing behind me. Honestly! The rude things he was
whispering in my ear! I mean,
Ewan is a suggestive guy at the
best of times, but jumping
around together in what he
called “his sandwich” was just
too good an opportunity for him
to resist. Trust me, he said
absolutely everything you could
imagine...”
Natalie Portman - Empire magazine - June 2002
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| Having fun alongside veteran Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard. |
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| Our trio reunited but still in danger. |
