EPISODE II: WHAT NEXT?

The Battle and Super Battle Droid armies have temporarily closed down their conflict against the remaining brave Jedi fighting within the vast Geonosian Death Arena, under the orders of Count Dooku, now fully revealed as the Separatists' clever and dangerous leader. As our heroes count the cost of their intervention against the enemy, what further evil will Dooku unleash?

A classic angle showing the Jedi, and Padme, from EPISODE II.

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE CLONE WAR BEGINS...

The first critical battle of the infamous Clone Wars is underway, as thousands of combat trained Clone Troopers advance against Separatist legions, whose epic conflict in EPISODE II was realized in ways that surely lived up to most fans expectations after the pivotal galactic war was first mentioned by Luke Skywalker back in cinemas during 1977.

“We’ve been hearing about this clone war for years, ever since the first movie; so it had to be very big, and very Star Wars–sized.” 

Ben Snow - Cinefex magazine - issue 90 - 2002

“It’s the kind of battle we always wanted to do in Star Wars. Now I was able to really cut loose and have all those action pieces be what I’d always hoped they’d be.” 

George Lucas - 2002 interview - Total Film magazine - Issue 102 - May 2005 (Star Wars Supplement)

Clone attack staging area. Production painting art by Ryan Church.

Escaped from the Geonosis Arena, the Jedi head off to the Clone Troopers staging area.

Newly arrived at the battle scene, Mace Windu directs the Clone Trooper forces.

The Clone Troopers press on in their ground attack.

Separatist Spider Droids also advance on their enemies.

Hailfire Droids begins their bombardments. Art by Erik Tiemens.

Battle Droids and Separatist artillery go into battle. 

Under Anakin Skywalker's instruction a Trade Federation fuel cell is destroyed.

Advancing on an escaping Trade Federation cruiser pod. Production painting art by Ryan Church.

"George said that the clones were clever. He said: “They’re human, they know a thing or two. Unlike the battle droids, which are machines that just march mindlessly into gunfire, the clone troopers are like trained Vietnam fighters, with squads of guys moving around.” So there was a dichotomy there-the clash of the droids, who just march to their doom like Napoleonic soldiers versus these smarter clones moving in squads. And that changed the way we choreographed the clone war battle. We ended up with whole battalions of droids coming in one place, and squads of clones moving all over the place.” 

Ben Snow - Cinefex magazine - Issue 90 - 2002

Aayla Secura and her troops go into battle.

The Clone Troops stop an escaping Trade Federation cruiser pod.

Heavy attack from above.

Landing Republic heavy forces.

Direct hit! Art by Erik Tiemens.

Republic forces attacked. Art by Ryan Church.

Unused animatics of the battle.

Droid forces face heavy resistance.

In a storm of dust, the Clones fight on.

The same scene as rendered by Ryan Church.

Into battle with this multi-media art linked to the film's classic battle.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Production painting art of the ground forces and air support.

A selection of storyboards by Rodolfo Damaggio. More Clone Troopers attack their targets.

The Jedi go into action!

Going into battle as the Geonosians blast at them from the ground.

Marching on to battle as the ground conflict intensifies.

An enemy in retreat.

A Geonosian energy cannon.

Separatist Spider Droid conceptual art.

Separatist Hailfire Droids concept art.

Steve Gawley adjusts a collapsible Republic vehicle at ILM prior to filming. 

CLASSIC IMAGE: THREEPIO JOINS THE FIGHT!

Batting for the wrong side, adding to the droid's overall dreadful ordeal on Geonosis, Threepio, or at least his head, joins the enemy! A fun moment away from, yet linked to, the gargantuan death arena conflict of EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: REPUBLIC BACK-UP!

Padme's back-up forces arrive at Count Dooku's secret escape hangar, buried deep in a Geonosian mountain, but is she too late to help her Jedi friends or stop the nefarious Separatist? A critical moment towards the end of EPISODE II.

CLASSIC ART: THE BUSINESS OF WAR!

The battle between newly arrived Republic forces against the mechanical armies created by the repulsive Geonosians is in full chaotic, destructive swing, as seen in this excellent Ryan Church conceptual work for EPISODE II, an intense image captured on screen exactly as painted.

CLASSIC ART: RISE OF THE WAR MACHINES!

Their Battle Droids may have shown incompetence during the battle of Naboo, but their creators on the creepy world of Geonosis are always out to make improvements- powerful improvements, as seen here with the front and centre Super Battle Droids soon unveiled into battle against the mighty but small in numbers Jedi force newly arrived on that outer rim hellspot. The infamous The Clone Wars begin, in this great art linked to EPISODE II.

If anyone knows the artist behind this spectacular piece, please get in touch.

CLASSIC ART: A MATTER OF RESCUE... AND SURVIVAL!

In the Geonosian Arena, the newly arrived Jedi force led by Mace Windu prove themselves as formidable warriors, but, despite their powers, even they soon find themselves overwhelmed by legions of Battle Droids and Super Battle Droids. Terrific mood warfare concept art for EPISODE II by Ryan Church.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SEPARATIST WAR MACHINES!

In the hostile wilderness of Geonosis, the Separatist Droid army is on the march in its thousands, as all shapes and size of machine automate terror unleashes its firepower on the approaching Jedi and Clone Trooper battalions, in this memorable shot from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: DARK INHERITANCE...

In the vast but now abandoned Death Arena on the dusty and brutal world of Geonosis, the young Boba Fett contemplates the passing of his father Jango, and ultimately planning his next steps against the Jedi that caused his decapitating demise, in a memorable frame from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST!

A bulky Super Battle Droid uses its wrist blaster weapon to spread brutally destructive effect, in this great imagery from the Geonosis Arena battle, from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "DIE, JEDI DOGS!"

Within the battle of the Geonosian Death Arena, C-3PO is indeed acting very curiously and aggressively, now that his head has been planted accidentally onto a Battle Droid's body, in this fun moment from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A JOB WELL DONE...

Inside his solar sail vehicle departing Geonosis, a confident Count Dooku (aka Darth Tyranus) is satisfied with the handiwork he has just initiated: wounding the two esteemed Jedi in Obi-Wan Kenobi and young Anakin Skywalker, bringing trouble to and dark side power against his former master in Yoda, and at last launching the galaxy-spanning Clone Wars that will fracture the lives of billions, in a well captured frame from EPISODE II.

BEHIND THE SCENES: CREATING CONFLICT!

It's a tense time for the friendship of Anakin and Obi-Wan during the Battle of Geonosis, as George Lucas goes through a scene with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen on the Republic gunship interior at FOX Studios, for EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE!

The battle between Jedi and Geonosians intensifies in the death arena, as Padme, using her blaster skills to the hilt, and a protective Anakin Skywalker continue to aid their friends, in this great image from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SPIRITED ELDER!

Ten years on from the Battle of Naboo, the path of the Dark Side has been too clouded for Master Yoda to see and predict. Now, things start to get a little clearer with the confirmation of Count Dooku's turn to evil, as their epic lightsaber duel on Geonosis continues, during the climactic events of EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: STANDING HIS GROUND!

Anakin Skywalker's abilities may have been temporarily downed, but Obi-Wan is still ready to fight alone against the growing dark powers of the intimidating Count Dooku, in this memorable moment from EPISODE II.

Star Wars' Ewan McGregor Insterested in Obi-Wan Spinoff | Collider

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends Birthday Greetings out today to Ewan McGregor, whom we hope will return to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi at some future point in the movie franchise.

CLASSIC ART: THE GEONOSIS CONVERGENCE!

The dangers intensify for the Jedi and our young Prequel heroes, as the true colours of Count Dooku are revealed and the perils of the Geonosian Arena begin, in this great cover art by Tsuneo Sanda for DARK HORSE COMICS hugely successful adaptation of EPISODE II, from 2002.