EPISODE II: LOVERS IN PARADISE!

The magical beauty of Lake Varykino on Naboo is the perfect hiding place for a young Senator and her obsessed Jedi protector, in another lovely Italian location filmed shot capturing Anakin's first awkward pass on Senator Amidala, from Episode II. 

EPISODE II: TO CHALLENGE A SITH!

Immature and reckless he may be, but the bravery of young Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, and his determination to stop the trouble-making Separatist Leader Count Dooku from unleashing his galactic war-making plans, shouldn't be overlooked, in this great image from Episode II.

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 II: POLITICALLY CHALLENGED!

Now returned to Naboo, Senator Amidala confers with the new Queen Jamillia about the state of the Republic and a place to hide from potential assassins, much to the chagrin of her Jedi Knight protector Anakin Skywalker, in a memorable moment once more filmed in Italy for Attack of the Clones.

Note the Italian background actor filling in for Oliver Ford Davies as Sio Bibble. Davies would be added to the film in Post Production.

'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: 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: SITH TALK!

The final stages of Palpatine's plans to convert Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side begin during a night at the opera, as the successfully seeded idea of preventing loved ones from dying festers for ill-will and obsession in the young Jedi's mind, of which the only way for Anakin to learn this unique power, and save his beloved Padme from an ominous prediction, is not from one of his own brotherhood...

The shocking legacy of Darth Plagueis the Wise is revealed.

The powerhouse scene from Episode III that everyone remembers, beautifully played by Ian McDiarmid, who clearly relished the opportunity to start becoming Darth Sidious properly by the end of the film. 

"The greatest fun of all is a big action sequence, which you probably wouldn't think as such, and that's the scene in the opera. Hayden and I sitting together... and just talking as the opera is playing. But interestingly enough, people have told me this and I was very pleased to hear it, it's as full of action in a way as any sequence involving spaceships or lightsaber fights because it's thought in action. It is a kind of saber battle but of the intellect. And the scene was a joy to do because i get to work with Hayden and we were with each other every second of the day in our eyes, which is exactly how actors really like to act."

Ian McDiarmid - Episode III DVD release press launch - 2005

Getting ready to film.

Above angle of the makeshift set, that will be considerably enhanced with CGI in post production.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: ANAKIN'S DARK PREDICTION...

What should be a time of private joy and celebration for Anakin - known as 'the hero without fear' during the Clone Wars - and newly reunited with his secret wife in Senator Padme Amidala, is soon shattered when the Jedi has disturbing premonitions of her dying in upcoming childbirth. It's a grim scenario that the young but Force powerful boy is determined not to let happen, and especially after the prior visions of his mother's torture at the Sandpeople on Tatooine were left in too little time to recognise and heed...

"You see her (Padme) as a woman, and less girlish, falling in love. The way Padme is in Episode III is a combination of being a woman and being a politician, which we didn't see much of before."

Natalie Portman - Star Wars Insider Number 82 - July/August 2005

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: A HERO AND HIS DROID!

They've been through the most incredible of times, challenges, and genuine ordeals in the last three years, have Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his trusty Astro Droid in Artoo Detoo (seen above in CGI form). Things seem better and quieter with their return to Coruscant after the Outer Rim sieges, the epic battle to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and the ultimate defeat and slaying of Count Dooku. 

But how long can such calm last before the next storm of drama and battle?

"Every minute detail (of the story and character) is pre-thought out by George, and I was only there to help realize his vision. By the time we got to Sith, I understood why he had me hold back (with his prior performance on Clones). So will the audience."

Hayden Christensen - TV Guide magazine - May 1st, 2005 

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: BRIDGE BATTLE!

On the bridge of the Invisible Hand, our Jedi heroes, plus Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, have the dreaded General Grievous in their hands and spring a trap to finally capture him so as to end this long-running Clone Wars, of which all kinds of hell erupts in the best Star Wars lightsaber action tradition. 

A great shot showing the on set lightsabers and the blue clad stunt doubles playing Grievous's lethal Magna Droids.

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: THE SLAYING OF SHAAK TI!

Facing the wrath of General Grievous.

Having landing, against all odds, on General Grievous's command ship during the epic Battle of Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin are en route to discover what bas happened to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and his Jedi protector in Shaak Ti. Ti's fate is soon revealed, however, as the two Jedi soon prove helpless in preventing their friend from being slain by the brutal lightsaber-wielding evil of the Separatist droid leader, General Grievous.

The original slaying of Shaak Ti was one of a large number of scenes for the movie set aboard the Invisible Hand involving Anakin and Obi-Wan which were either deleted, trimmed down or reshaped/re-filmed. This original introduction to Grievous was replaced with an all-new sequence for the character partly filmed in additional photography that would be set on the vessel's bridge. 

Derek Thompson's June 18th, 2003 storyboards for the scene.

Shaak TI referencing in the original Episode III filming script from Nick Gillard's collection.

Concept art for the scene.

Anakin and Obi-Wan stop in a corner and witness the captured Shaak Ti.

Actress/Supermodel/designer Orli Shoshan on set as Shaak Ti. 

The shocking death scene.

Orli remains in the dead position as the technicians mill around the FOX Studios set.

Obi-Wan and Anakin prepare their next unexpected move.

AGE OF THE SITH! CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF 'EPISODE III'

Art by Mike Mayhew for Marvel Comics.

It was the finale to the Prequel Trilogy that had to deliver the dramatic/action-packed goods to worldwide audiences eager to see the bridging between the worlds of darkness encapsulating both once Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker and his alter-ego Darth Vader. And for the most part, creator George Lucas delivered the epic goods in ways that we sometimes never expected, amidst a sea of CGI spectacle and lightsaber duels. Revenge of the Sith, now celebrating its iconic Twentieth Anniversary this May 19th, 2025, with its strong tone, fast pace and overall fine performances, has aged well in comparison to this current era of mostly disappointing superhero/sci-fi blockbusters being made, and a packed story continuing to inspire fans who love its doom-laden essence of tragedy seen-in with the rise of the evil Emperor Palpatine, as the fearsome Sith finally achieve their brutal aims against the Republic and their Jedi enemies.

But A New Hope is certain...

It was great to see how well the film did in its Anniversary re-release last month (April 2025), taking its box office final tally to nearly one billion whilst beating out modern films (like The Accountant 2) to a point that was astounding. Another incredible testament to the talent and imagination of George Lucas and his filmmaking team back in 2003.

Wookiee Basketball, Kid Han Solo, and a Kenobi Dummy: 20 Fun Facts about Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith | StarWars.com

Sam Jackson and Hayden Christensen at the El Capitan cinema launch night screening.

EPISODE II: MEETING THE NABERRIES!

Outside Padme's family home, Pooja (Hayley Mooy) and Ryoo Naberrie (Keira Wingate) enjoy the company of R2-D2 in a noted deleted scene from EPISODE II.

Taking a much welcome respite from both the darkness and important political decision-making surrounding her, Padme Amidala lets her true self show when she brings her Jedi protector Anakin Skywalker along with her to a peaceful suburban area of Naboo to meet her parents, sister and her nieces. A charming sequence, ultimately cut for ongoing problematic time and pacing reasons (filmed at the Australian FOX Studios and with location scenes at Lake Como, Italy in 2000), this would have helped further develop Padme's character whilst solidifying her own secret affection for the handsome Anakin, a fact that doesn't go unrecognised by her loving family, nor the potential building danger of her current in-hiding situation...

Arriving at the district house containing Padme's family, on the outskirts of Theed City on Naboo.

Despite their roles being cut, kudos to Prequels casting director Robin Gurland for the choice of fine local Australian talent playing Padme's family. Bar Claudia Karvan's character, the rest of the onscreen family would briefly return for their daughter's onscreen funeral on Naboo, at the end of Revenge of the Sith. 

Padme enjoys a warm reunion with her older sister.

The duo watch as Anakin enters the dining area.

Anakin meets the intrigued Naberrie women.

The playfully inquisitive Sola (Claudia Karvan) soon teases her sister Padme about the handsome young man in her life.

Anakin enjoys the family atmosphere he wishes he could've had as a child, in a lovely moment adding further nuance to his character.

Padme's father Ruwee Naberrie (Graeme Blundell) readies dinners at table.

The meal begins as curiosity about Padme and Anakins's friendship and his protectorate status are asked.

A lovely shot of Natalie Portman from the scene.

Jobal (actress and singer Trisha Noble) is worried when she hears that her daughter's life is in danger, which Padme tries to play down... 

... yet Anakin must ultimately convey the seriousness of the situation to the family to her father.

A seasoned former diplomat, Ruwee confers with Anakin about Padme's situation with Anakin, in a scene filmed on location at a luxury house and its gardens at Lake Como, Italy.

Sola sees Padme's clear affection for her Jedi protector.

A brief moment that appeared in one of Episode II's first trailers.

Natalie Portman has fun being directed on set by George Lucas in 2000.

Natalie Portman's deleted scene wardrobe as Padme.