'ATTACK' AT 20: CRAFTING THE SECOND ACT...

George Lucas enjoying the company of his co-stars Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen on location in Lake Como - Summer, 2000.

“The next film is a love story and I don’t know how that is going to be taken by fans. They think of Star Wars as one kind of movie. And it’s drifting a little more-by the nature of it being a love story, it’s less of a kids’ movie because they don’t like to sit through all that yucky stuff. But it’s still aimed at the same age level, so it’s going to be a real challenge for me to get through that part.” 

GEORGE LUCAS- EMPIRE MAGAZINE- SEPTEMBER 1999

"I've used co-writers a lot. The first one I wrote myself, but the other two were co-written. Phantom I wrote myself, but when I finished it I was tired and burned out and I took a vacation for about a month. As a result of that I did four or five drafts (of EPISODE II). It was to the point where I could show the script to the crew and they could start working on things, but it was one week before we started shooting. I knew I wanted to do more work on it, but I was about to direct the movie. So I brought in Jonathan (Hales), whom I'd worked with before on Young Indy and who I trusted. We sat down and I said, 'This needs to be fixed, this needs to be fixed.' I turned into a director and I let him be the writer." 

GEORGE LUCAS - BBC ONLINE INTERVIEW - 2002

CLASSIC IMAGE: A PICNIC TO REMEMBER!

On location in Italy during 2000, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen make the most of their picturesque shooting venue but stay under the shade to protect both their make-up and costumes, in this fun behind the scenes shot from EPISODE II. Their site was further post production beauty enhanced by ILM, right down to the necessary shot-by-shot removal of many buzzing-about flies.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO QUELL A NIGHTMARE!

Once more troubled by nightmare Force visions and cries for help from his mother on Tatooine, Anakin Skywalker knows that he must go to her aid, even if it complicates his continued duties as Senator Amidala's protector. A scene filmed at the beautiful location of Lake Como, Italy in 2000, for EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A PICTURE OF TRAGEDY...

Amidst the stunning natural beauty of Italy's elitist millionaire playground Lake Como location, Hayden Christensen (enjoying his first journeying time beyond American shores) and Natalie Portman add their youthful appeal to the then in-filming Attack of the Clones of 2000, playing the ultimately doomed lovers Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala for this posed publicity image aimed deliberately at the younger pin-up side of fandom, in an attempt to hype up the film's romantic aspects.

At first, the duo's onscreen love story was to have been the main crux of EPISODE II, as writer/director George Lucas first told many of his behind the scenes team in 1999, but this idea eventually gave way and was soon reduced in ambition so as to realize the bigger in scope and equally plot important launch of The Clone Wars - the dark shadow lead-in to the brutality ahead with Revenge of the Sith. Nonetheless, stalwart composer John Williams once again delivered the goods in composing a spectacular piece of courtly, tragic love for these star-crossed lovers: Beyond the Stars, a hauntingly beautiful piece very reminiscent to the work that Williams had previously created for that little seventies-made television movie gem, Jane Eyre. Enhanced further by the ever-talented London Symphony Orchestra, this evocative theme is one of many in the newly re-released and remastered original soundtrack for EPISODE II, out now on nice-priced CD from Walt Disney Records, alongside the rest of the Prequel and Classic Trilogy albums. Additionally, each volume comes with a collectible mini poster.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Attack-John-Williams/dp/B07BF2488G/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_0_22?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07BF2488G&pd_rd_r=74EPNNKMRGVHMWAC88RK&pd_rd_w=rE0V8&pd_rd_wg=yXMb2&psc=1&refRID=74EPNNKMRGVHMWAC88RK

'SOLO': A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

In sequences filmed at the Italian Dolomites, Thandie Newton looks every inch the formidable, capable thief and Star Wars action heroine as Val, getting ready for a risky train heist on Vandor. A lovely image from Solo: A Star Wars Story, of which Val's overall retro look would apparently be inspired by the real-life 1960's activist Angela Davis.

More on Thandie Newton/Val:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQzukexwyvw

CLASSIC IMAGE: IN DYING LIGHT...

Beautiful the secret wedding of the handsome couple Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala may be, but the spectre of the impending Clone War looms ahead for them and the galaxy beyond the Naboo twilight, in this gorgeous scene filmed on location at Lake Como, Italy, memorably ending EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A RETREAT FOR THE YOUNG!

The lakeside retreat of Varykino on Naboo holds much incredible scenic beauty to enjoy, but the only beauty on young Jedi Anakin Skywalker's mind right now is that of his current protectorate, of whom he's thought so much about these past ten years: Senator Padme Amidala, in this scene from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TAINTED LOVE

Away from the Jedi, away from politics, away from the emergent Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala enjoy what little is left of the fragile peace and love in their lives, wedding in secret amidst the beautiful scenery of the peaceful world of Naboo, during the effectively memorable closing scenes of EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: LOVER'S QUALITY TIME...

Could there ever have been a more beautiful place to hide and protect young Senator Amidala from brewing dangers than on her spacious and picturesque homeworld of Naboo? ILM may have had to weave additional digital matte painting extensions to filmed scenes, but the overall choice and flavour of Italy for use in EPISODE II was a fine one.

BEHIND THE SCENES: PICNIC HUMOUR!

A beautiful Natalie Portman has fun during location filming in Italy for her picnic scenes with Hayden Christensen. A lovely pic from EPISODE II.

For more on the Italian locations used for Naboo in the Prequels, check out AFICIONADO contributor Linda Pellerito's 2006 travel feature here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRc084TGRodVgtOGM/edit?usp=sharing


With thanks to Ian Trussler for the above image.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

On the picnic plains of Naboo, and in between a little political debate and Shaak baiting, Anakin enjoys a publicity photo smooch with his beloved Padme.

THE LOST 'EPISODE II' PADME SCENE REVEALED?

I think I've finally found out what this missing deleted scene was from EPISODE II, which has beguiled many a fan over the last ten years (and specific behind the scenes EPISODE II crew whom I've contacted, too). If you recall the deleted scenes from the EPISODE II DVD OF 2002, there were several at the Varykino retreat/lake house on Naboo, interiors of the guest house with Anakin and Padme looking at holographic photos of her life and career in the senate and on her home world-this may have been one of those scenes shot for that but ultimately not used. It was definitely a scene filmed at Lake Como - something that Prequel Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard confirmed to me recently- he recognised the background, but didn't actually see this being shot.

If anyone else has any more info, please get in touch. I additionally contacted Trisha Biggar a while back (no response via her agent), and Leland Chee at LUCASFILM, via his HOLOCRON name TWITTER account, last year but didn't receive any response there, either.

UPDATED 12/2022

Veteran Star Wars behind the scenes researcher and writer of the Taschen Books Star Wars Archives, Paul Duncan, has surely solved the mystery of the scene via two possibilities. Firstly, either a costume fitting on day 1, June 26th 2000 for the Senate costume on day 2, or (most likely) an unused costume design test shot in Padme's parents dining room/alcove after principal photography for the day, with Natalie Portman and the crew working late (8.30pm) on July 19th, 2000. According to the production documents, Portman had a costume fitting that day (up to 10.30pm), amongst other costume fittings on subsequent days. 

Thanks for the research, Paul!

CLASSIC IMAGE: LOVER'S PARADISE!

Senator in hiding Padme Amidala gets to spend a little quality time in the Naboo countryside with her Jedi protector Anakin Skywalker, in a "love haiku" scene filmed in the romantic and beautiful climes of Italy. In this image, actors Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen get ready to be photographed for their 2002 published VANITY FAIR cover shoot taken by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz.

For more detailed info on the EPISODE II location filming in Italy, Tunisia and Spain, check out our current AFICIONADO issue now available- THE BEST OF ISSUES 1-4.

To get it, head over here: BACK ISSUE PDF CATALOG

CLASSIC IMAGE: QUEEN TO A CAPTURED WORLD!

Queen Amidala of the Naboo (Natalie Portman) can only look on helplessly as the city of Theed is surrounded and then ruthlessly occupied by the Battle Droids of the unscrupulous Trade Federation, in this hauntingly beautiful frame shot on location at the Caserta Royal Palace in Italy for EPISODE ONE.