EPISODE I: COSTUMED ROYALTY!

A look at just one amazing costume for Queen Amidala seen in EPISODE I. Stunning image by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine.

Never has there been a Star Wars film before or since where the costume design of the characters has been so important to the overall storytelling function than in The Phantom Menace, and especially with regards to the life and duties of Naboo's beloved Queen Amidala, as played by a very young Natalie Portman, who instantly fell in love with the designs, and inspired her acting choices, brought to her in full creation by Trisha Biggar over three months filming in 1997. 

Three shots taken by Nigel Parry for Lucasfilm to use in publicity.

A French film magazine cover from 1999.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE RESISTANCE FIGHTS BACK!

As the galaxy, and its benevolent but harried New Republic, faces fresh turmoil with the first incursions of the dreaded First Order, a small but no less brave group of fighter pilots joins the fight back, headed by their inspirational, talented, though often reckless, leader, Poe Dameron (as played with amiable heroism by then rising star, and long-time Star Wars fan, Oscar Isaac). Soon enough the diverse-piloted Black Squadron is thrust into the greatest battles of new history, including a successful opening aerial conflict against the First Order on the mercenary world of Takodana, liberating rebel heroes Han Solo and Finn in the process, as well bringing vital assistance, against overwhelming odds, to the epic destruction of the enemy's planet killing weapon, Starkiller Base...

Oscar Isaac with his original X-wing on the Jakku exterior set at Pinewood Studios, photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz.

The crowd-pleasing Battle of Takodana begins...

'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: PADME AND THE DELEGATION OF 2000 TAKE ACTION!

Padme gets serious in diplomacy with this memorable outfit.

On Coruscant, the Clone Wars continue on despite the defeat of Count Dooku, with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's senatorial powers seemingly undiminished nor scaled back, as he had prior promised he would. Now is the time that a group of war-weary senators, ultimately led by Padme Amidala (garbed in one of her most striking diplomatic outfits), meets with Palpatine, watched by the leader's loyal friend and bodyguard of sorts in Anakin Skywalker, to discuss the future and an end to the galactic warfare. The Delegation of 2000 sadly fails in their task, brushed aside by Palpatine, of which Padme feels frustrated that Anakin is not in her corner on the subject, adding strain to their relationship.

Anakin watches as Palpatine brushes the Delegation's genuine concerns away.

The Delegation of 2000 has been soundly defeated.

An intriguing deleted sequence that we all wish had been put back into the film, boosting Natalie Portman's role in the film, and especially after so much prior production publicity linked to this sequence had been given to the fans, including the appearance of a Mon Calamari senator. 

Revenge of the Sith at 20: Revisiting the Cut Scenes | StarWars.com

Posed publicity/costume reference images by Keith Hamshere.

Continuity polaroid of Natalie Portman in costume for the deleted Scene 89.

Costume camera test scene.

"The biggest change was that, when I wrote the first draft, I had way too much stuff. It was a longer movie. I had a whole thing about Padme helping to start the Rebellion. Obi-Wan also had a whole piece, and there was more about the Emperor. And R2-D2 and C-3PO had bigger roles. But I realized that, one, I had too much material, and two, it was extraneous. Also, the film - which is the third act - really had to be about Anakin and his fall from grace. Anything that didn't deal with that had to get out. So I cut everything except Anakin's story."

George Lucas - Starlog 337 - August 2005

Portman in her stunning costume for a posed photo shoot with the costume team (including designer Trisha Biggar and Ivo Coveney), for Vanity Fair magazine's coverage of Episode III. Image by Annie Leibovitz.

OUT NOW - 'VANITY FAIR' INVESTIGATES THE 'STAR WARS' TV EMPIRE....

Vanity Fair magazine's always extensive, gorgeous photo-packed coverage of the live-action Star Wars universe is back with a bang via their July 2022 TV issue, celebrating and revealing the exciting secrets of the universe-building realms of the saga's hugely successful TV empire vis Disney+. Iconic photographer Annie Leibovitz returns to deliver some spectacular new pictures covering the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, and Andor event series.

The new issue of Vanity Fair is out later this month.

The main trio characters of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a superb first proper look at the Vader costume.

Gathering for the cover.

Ewan and Hayden - back in duelling action rehearsal.

Grogu and Jon Favreau.

Custodians of the former Lucas empire.

And more TV Star Wars to come...

CLASSIC IMAGE: BEST OF THREE?

Watched on by Prequels duel alumni Nick Gillard, alongside Australian colleagues and key fighting doubles Kyle Rowing and Michael Byrne, Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, in costume as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, are put through their fighting paces at FOX Studios, for a specially posed image taken by the esteemed photographer Annie Leibovitz, part of an EPISODE III special edition/ behind the scenes tribute for Vanity Fair magazine, published in 2005.

The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin was one of the main highlights of Revenge of the Sith, and as Lucasfilm news broke these past few days of what to officially expect with the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi limited run series, coming to Disney XD in 2022, a rematch between the former 'brothers' is very much on the cards, before A New Hope, in a beyond Tatooine-spanning adventure for the older Jedi that will be set six years after the dangers of III. McGregor has confirmed that both he and Hayden will have "another swing at each other" before the end of the series. As well as the happy news that Hayden Christensen is returning to play Vader, let's hope that Prequel Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard can be equally persuaded back one last time for this special pre-re-match re-match.

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/hayden-christensen-darth-vader-star-wars-obi-wan-1234851064/?fbclid=IwAR25PXlPgKMOTEwyApLBizTWAc40Z3pZ7_bLoetvTEnkuP7Z9b37nRIhIYE

https://www.starwars.com/news/future-lucasfilm-projects-revealed

https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/22/star-wars-prequels-lightsaber-fights/

The many new Star Wars series coming within the next few years exclusively to Disney XD

EPISODE IX: TWO JOURNEYS...

Image: Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair.

At the incredible location of Wadi Rum in Jordan, best remembered for its use in the more Earthbound epic of Lawrence of Arabia, writer/director J.J. Abrams prepares to continue the story, and reveal the ultimate destiny, of the heroine he brought to life so effectively onscreen. alongside the very special British actress who plays her with such strength, courage and singular vulnerability- Daisy Ridley, for The Rise of Skywalker. Another great image captured by the iconic photographer Annie Leibovitz that appeared exclusively in Vanity Fair magazine, earlier in 2019.

More on J.J. Abrams talking EPISODE IX:

https://lrmonline.com/news/star-wars-j-j-abrams-on-how-the-last-jedi-affected-his-making-of-the-rise-of-skywalker

https://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-talked-to-george-lucas-about-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7689973/Star-Wars-Rise-Skywalker-director-JJ-Abrams-admits-met-George-Lucas.html

EPISODE IX: A LEGEND RETURNS...

Though now at one, and at peace, within the Force, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker will nonetheless make some kind of vital, final contribution to the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker, linked to the destiny of that girl from 'nowhere', Rey. Whether this contribution by our favourite saga hero, played with such mature and acclaimed distinction by Mark Hamill in The Last Jedi, will either be in vocal form (as heard in recent trailers), and/or in physical manifestation as shown via Annie Leibovitz's striking posed photography for Vanity Fair earlier this year, remains to be seen...

More on the original arc for Luke that was planned early-on for the sequels:
https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/lukes-star-wars-last-jedi-arc-planned-years-force-awakens/?

EPISODE IX: NEED A PILOT?

The reborn Rebel Alliance couldn't have better nor more skilled pilots aiding their brave cause than the Millennium Falcon's former owner Lando Calrissian, his friend and co-pilot Chewbacca, and top X-wing captain now commander Poe Dameron. All three are encouragingly supported by droids BB-8 and D-O in this great image by Annie Leibovitz shot exclusively for Vanity Fair magazine earlier in the year to launch EPISODE IX.

EPISODE IX: EVIL ALLIANCE!

Image by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine.

His ambitions for power and revenge diminished under the constant thumb of the new Supreme Leader Ren, it surely won't be long before the scheming and sneery General Hux will try to take control of the First Order for himself, likely via his association with a new EPISODE IX villain- the surely equally despicable Allegiant General Pryde, as played by an enthused Richard E. Grant, a respected actor who has also been a long-time fan of the saga.

Richard E. Grant talks IX:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/star-wars-richard-e-grants-villainous-character-revealed

'Star Wars: Episode IX': Richard E. Grant Claims the "Room Went Upside Down" When He Learned His Role

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: OF BEAST AND BURDEN!

The hyperdrive has been delivered from a bankrupt, now debt ridden Watto, but there's still unfinished and important business to settle requiring Qui-Gon's immediate return to Mos Espa, as George Lucas directs Liam Neeson for his Eopie travelling scene on location in Tunisia.

A behind the scenes image also captured by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine's coverage of EPISODE I.

A closer look at the CGI design of one of the Eopies of Tatooine.

As seen in the finished movie.

"(Working with digital creatures added later.) You felt like a pillock sitting there in 150 degrees heat. You have to turn your body then they cut and the magicians do their stuff afterwards."

Liam Neeson - Film Review magazine - 1999

Further filming of Qui-Gon atop the beast was shot on Blue-screen at Leavesden upon the crew's return from Tunisia, literally Liam Neeson once more atop a stirrup and scaffold.

Scripted but excised was a moment where one of Darth Maul's Sith Probe Droids discovers the location of the Naboo Cruiser from a far hill, seeing Qui-Gon heading back to Mos Espa.