EPISODE III: WOOKIEES AT WAR!

Their lush jungle homeworld of Kashyyyk critically threatened with Separatist droid invaders, the Wookiees will protect their lands and freedoms with unique heavy weaponry, as seen in this great conceptual art by Aaron McBride for Episode III.

THE CLONE WARS: JEDI ON THE EDGE!

His robot hand lost, his quest for revenge against the evil Wat Tambor and his associates on Nelvaan about to be unleashed, Anakin Skywalker's path to evildom and the eventual hands of the Sith continues, in this great scene from the near finale of the Genndy Tartakovsky The Clone Wars animated series.

EPISODE III: THE NEXT STEPS...

Count Dooku is dead and the kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has been safely returned to Coruscant by his Jedi rescuers. Now, the time must come for the reassembled senate to work out the next steps in the Republic's ongoing battle against the Separatists, in this group shot moment from Episode III.

CLASSIC ART: VOLCANIC CONFLICT!

The George Lucas equivalent of 'Hell' to be realised for the dramatic finale to Episode III, as the volcanic realms of Mustafar unleash their dark and terrifying powers of energy and destruction in this great concept art by Erik Tiemens. which also clearly makes Mustafar a firm part of the originally planned planet-spanning Clone Wars battle montage sequence to have started the film.

DELETED SCENES: THE BIG LEAP!

As the enemy Invisible Hand vessel comes under fierce attack from Republic forces high above Coruscant, our trapped Jedi heroes and the newly rescued Supreme Chancellor Palpatine must traverse dangerous areas inside the vessel whilst continuing their perilous escape attempts, during one of many opening deleted scenes from Episode III.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: THE VADER FACTOR!

One of Lucasfilm's most ambitious and effective marketing campaigns yet for the Star Wars Prequels, designed to bring in fans old and new to movie theatres, featuring the iconic Darth Vader, whose emergence in Episode III proves crucial in bridging the two George Lucas created trilogies together. Indeed, Vader is the key marketing image for movie posters and selected advertising/merchandise worldwide during May 2005, as well as subsequent later tie-ins...

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: A DARK DESTINY FULFILLED!

The nightmare begins...

His near destroyed, battle scarred and fire consumed body secretly returned to Coruscant, Darth Sidious still has plans for his apprentice in evil, Anakin Skywalker, as he finally becomes the unforgettable armoured, life support system-suited vision that is Darth Vader, fully immersed in powerful evil yet tortured and anguished forever more due to his disfigurement - emotionally and psychologically ruined further with the unexpected and shocking news of his beloved Padme's demise.

Yannick Dusseault's dark and atmospheric concept art for the scene from November 7th, 2003. This image was later 'leaked' to the UK press the following year as a preview for Episode III.

In one of the darkest moments of the Prequel saga, Darth Vader is born in true Frankenstein-esque gothic style, and the universe will never be the same again with such a terrifying arrival...

"It's the iconic moment. It's Darth Vader. To be totally enclosed in that suit, behind that mask - was extremely empowering. No... intense? Overwhelming? Cool? I've got it - how about orgasmic?"

"It was indescribable, you know? It was a completion of a job. And then my sort of five-year journey was over coupled with the fact that it was just this incredibly powerful feeling, this beastly feeling that wells up inside of you when you're playing a character that is Darth. You walk by and people see Darth and you know you watch the reactions on their faces. The days that Darth came out was quite the event on set. Everyone wanted to see what was going on. It was a one-of-a-kind experience."

"Getting to act behind a mask in general is a very freeing experience, and when that face is Darth Vader, it's very empowering, very beastly."

Hayden Christensen - unknown Internet interview - May 2005

The horrifically disfigured Anakin willing surrenders to the mechanical suit/life support system that will fully transform him into Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith.

The timeline of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: A GALAXY IN MOURNING...

The funeral procession begins through Theed City on Naboo.

Dignitaries from across the galaxy assemble alongside the devastated peoples of Naboo to mourn the loss of their heroine in politics, the woman who saved their planet from Trade Federation domination thirteen years earlier as their former Queen: Padme Amidala. Her passions and legacy to stop tyranny will live on with the birth of the slowly-building Rebellion against the Galactic Empire, of which her two now secretly hidden and Jedi-powers children, Luke and Leia Skywalker, protected on separate worlds, will ultimately be amongst its greatest heroes and leaders.

"I think they call it the "End Dress." It's really, really beautiful. I think Trisha (Biggar) wanted to get an ocean sense. Someone said to me that it was very 'Orphelia.' With the flowers and the hair, it looks like I'm drowning."

Natalie Portman - Dressing the Galaxy book - 2005

"My favourite costume that Trisha designed for the Prequel Trilogy is the one Natalie wears in her funeral. It's a very moving shot in which her open coffin slowly glides under the camera. I remember asking Trisha why she chose the specific fabric and color for that dress. She looked at me in bewilderment, and very gently explained that the colour - this beautiful azure blue - and the rippled fabric matched the ethereal and melancholy landscape of the Naboo lake retreat at Lake Como, where Padme and Anakin fell in love. This is where Padme had wanted to escape with Anakin, and the funeral gown symbolizes her spiritual return to that lake."

Rick McCallum - Dressing the Galaxy book - 2005 

Filmed at ILM, around 50 Lucasfilm staffers were called in to play Naboo inhabitants for background crowd scenes, some wearing multiple, differing costumes when photographed. Amongst the people would be veteran Star Wars behind the scenes chronicler J.W. Rinzler, who recalled: "The group was shot at different angles and elevations, so the filmmakers could replicate us wherever they wanted to in relation to wherever the camera was." 

Iain McCaig's approved costume design for Padme, given a "Fabuloso" stamp by Lucas.

Goodbye, Padme.

Clutching the Japor snippet that was once supposed to bring luck.

Behind the scenes of the costume tests and filming.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: LIGHT VS DARKNESS!

The Duel of the Fates continues..

Now returned to Coruscant in the aftermath of the brutal slaying of their fellow Jedi during Order 66, Obi-Wan goes off to find Anakin Skywalker via his connection to Padme, whilst Yoda confronts the evil and repulsive Darth Sidious, their intense lightsaber duel taking them into the heart of the senate audience chamber. Though Yoda's impressive skills in the Force almost win the day, it's ultimately the Emperor/Sidious who wins through, as a defeated and depressed Yoda realises that he will now have to begin a life of exile on a mysterious alien world later revealed as Dagobah.

A thrilling CGI sequence that once more makes effective use of John Williams supreme score, originally composed for Episode I but reused here: Duel of the Fates.

The Emperor's hideous cackle must not deter Yoda from combat.

"Fighting Frank (Oz) - fighting Yoda - was a joy. And then I got to experience the full beauty of CGI. In other words, actors in battle with invisible people. Although it was a very precise choreographic sequence - it would have to be, you've seen it - which we did do. Then I sensed, in fact George asked for it in a polite way, he wanted a few sort of improvised strokes. So basically I did a rap to thin air at the end of the choreographed sequence and then collapsed with exhaustion and hysterical laughter on the floor. I don't know if any of those movements are in the final cut... That wasn't difficult, that was great fun."

Ian McDiarmid - Episode III DVD press launch interview - 2005

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: NICK GILLARD AND THE ART OF LIGHTSABER CONFLICT!

Delivering the duel fans had waited for, Nick Gillard, with Kyle Rowling and Michael Byrne, observe Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in posed action for Annie Leibovitz's special Episode III coverage in Vanity Fair - 2005.

With the thrilling duel between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi against the lethal double-bladed nastiness of Darth Maul, Prequel Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard delivered action not previously seen or experienced in the saga to thrilled audiences and fans worldwide. Now, with Episode III, and the eagerly awaited lightsaber conflicts detonating the end of the saga, especially the emotional final conflict between Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader and his former friend and master in Obi-Wan, the accomplished, thoughtful Gillard, with an exceptional British and Australian stunt team alongside him, as well as enthused work from stars Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor, was ready to deliver the exciting goods once again, with years of planning on his side going into 2003-2005 and an excellent grasp of the main characters, giving them their own unique fighting styles that have endured for over twenty years.

Star Wars Aficionado celebrates and thanks Nick Gillard for his iconic work. 

Kyle Rowling and Hayden go through a specialist move.

Going through the moves with Nick Gillard on Episodes II and III.

Making a point with Ewan, who took to the dance-like Lightsaber duelling with speed.

Ewan and Hayden working with Kyle Rowling on the film's opening duel with Count Dooku.

"Hayden worked really hard. He did six hours of sword fighting every day with us, and then he did two hours of training plus an hour solid of weights and an hour of cardiovascular work. And he had to eat about six times a day!"

Nick Gillard - STAR WARS INSIDER MAGAZINE - January/February 2006

"I think we both really work well off each other. He's (Hayden)  a great actor and he did a really good job in this. Yeah, I think we worked really hard on this one and we were all really comfortable."

Ewan McGregor - Unknown Internet interview quote - May 2005

The epic duel as realised at the FOX Studios, Australia, towards the end of Episode III's filming.

Nick Gillard watches the action closely.

Obi delivers a kick blow to Anakin.

Coordinating the filming of the Mustafar lave flow skiff duel scene.

On Episode II, a great posed shot with Samuel L. Jackson and Ewan McGregor.

Nick Gillard BREAKS The Internet STAR WARS Prequels MASSIVE Interview - YouTube

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: "ORDER 66"

The murder of the Jedi across the galaxy begins as Ki-Adi Mundi falls to his troops on Mygeeto.

With Anakin Skywalker gone and Darth Vader now crowned in his place by the manipulative Darth Sidious, of which the young former hero will soon be unleashed in all his terrifying power against the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the evil Dark Lord master is now ready to send the Order 66 signal across the galaxy that will see the Clone Troopers, after years of pre-planning, finally turn against their Jedi Commanders and murder them across a thousand worlds and beyond. 

The Dark Times of the Sith and the Galactic Empire have begun...

One of the key sequences that Star Wars fans had been anticipating that would be effectively revealed in Episode III, hauntingly bolstered by superb music from John Williams, and featuring pre-viz ideas/contributions from Steven Spielberg, encouraged to provide ideas for the then final film of the saga by his friend George, for both Order 66 and the finale duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar.

Darth Sidious activates Order 66 to the Clone Troopers across the galaxy.

"To be very honest, that scene (Order 66) was about twice as long as it is now. There were a lot more Jedi killed in a lot more ways, but it kind of went on and on. So we finally cut it down to what we thought was the minimum we could get away with and still get a sense that there are thousands of Jedi around the galaxy."

George Lucas - Empire magazine - July 2005

The bold Aayla Secura is cornered and brutally executed on the alien world of Felucia.

Darth Vader leads his elite troops into the Jedi Temple and continue the surprise massacre.

Shaak Ti's (Orli Shoshan) original death scene would instead be re-filmed and editorially moved to the Order 66 sequence, where she would be slain from behind by Anakin/Darth Vader instead of Grievous. sadly, this scene too would end up being deleted.

Vader soon slaughters a group of innocent younglings hiding in the Temple.

As the Jedi drop like flies across the galaxy, Yoda is disturbed in the Force whilst on Kashyyyk.

Fire and explosions rock the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Padme and Threepio are shocked and disturbed by what they see in the distance.

On patrol, Stass Allie (Nina Fallon) is murdered by her speeder bike colleagues on Saleucami.

Plo Koon is taken out by his wingmen above one of the bridge cities of Cato Neimoidia.

Yoda is soon in the Clone blaster crosshairs but escapes the carnage, with help from the Wookiees.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM!

Multi-saber murderer!

No longer the coward, the evil General Grievous decides to stand and fight, putting his unique and lethal lightsaber skills to bear against his ongoing enemy Obi-Wan Kenobi, whilst the environs of the sinkhole city of Utapau now resound to the fire of warfare with the newly arrived Clone Troopers. Another great moment for the cyborg villain in his final scenes during Episode III.

Obi-Wan proves a match for the Droid General.

"Since Dooku gets killed off early, I needed to have a villain besides the Emperor, who is the ultimate villain, the real key villain. I needed another person. A MacGuffin for the Jedi to go chasing around the universe. I also wanted to foreshadow what was going to happen to Anakin. So here we have an alien who's been put into a droid suit, he's a half-alien, half-droid. I wanted him to be quite a lot different from Darth Vader. Dooku was foreshadowing the idea that the Emperor would take a disgruntled Jedi and turn him into a Sith Lord. So with each film we kind of foretell a little of what is going to happen with Anakin. In this case, Grievous is that mechanism."

George Lucas - Empire magazine - June 2005

An Ode to Grievous | StarWars.com

A close-in shot of the malevolent alien/droid warlord.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: WOOKIEE WAR BUDDIES!

Comrades in Wookiee-dom: Chewbacca and Tarfful. Image: Keith Hamshere.

It's a system that the Republic cannot afford to lose to the Separatists, as Master Yoda brings a force of Clone Troopers to the lush and tropical Wookiee world of Kashyykk, liaising with its fierce armies lead by the furry leader Tarfful (Michael Kingma), and his special aide in the legendary Chewbacca, once more played by the iconic Peter Mayhew. Fans loved this first official onscreen visit to Kashyyyk, and the return of loveable Chewie, in a sequence that ultimately proved far too short.

Peter Mayhew: A Lost Interview With Star Wars' Original Chewbacca

Back in an all-new yak hair costume after thirteen years away: Peter Mayhew is Chewbacca!

Mayhew in costume for publicity, holding a unique cane stick not seen in the film. Image: Keith Hamshere.

"I got a call from Rick McCallum last year (2003), and he wanted to check on dates and my availability. It was one of those nice phone calls that you get. It's great to know that you're going to do something that you've had in the back of your mind for a long time."

Peter Mayhew- Star Wars Insider issue 79 - Jan/Feb 2005

"Chewie is up to all sorts of things in Revenge of the Sith - battles, rescues, all the good stuff. I have a reasonable chunk of screen time."

"After so many years, it's great that Chewie is finally getting the recognition and background details that the fans want to know."

Peter Mayhew - Starlog magazine issue 334 - May 2005

Liaising with Tarfful, Yoda and the Jedi before battle begins.

A guide to the Episode III Wookiees.