EPISODE II: THE KAMINO DISAPPEARANCE!

Deep in the heart of the Jedi Temple Archives, Obi-Wan Kenobi ponders the intriguing mystery of the missing planet Kamino and wonders where it, and its system, has gone from their star maps. Further help will be needed to unravel this anomaly, in a scene from EPISODE II.

'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.

'THE MANDALORIAN':THE JEDI SAVIOUR!

As the revelations of how young Jedi Grogu managed to escape the slaughter of Order 66 on Coruscant are slowly beginning to be revealed within The Mandalorian, who better to be his original saviour and protector, and sending fans crazy with happiness both on and off screen with his return in such a great role, than Ahmed Best, totally slaying it in his performance as the esteemed and powerful Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, during the highly satisfying and exciting flashback events witnessed in the third season episode, The Foundling.

 We look forward to seeing more of Kelleran Beq in not just The Mandalorian but hopefully other aspects of the franchise's evolving live-action/animated lore.

‘The Mandalorian’: Dave Filoni Teases Return Of Ahmed Best’s Kelleran Beq

Ahmed Best on His Surprise Return as Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian | StarWars.com

Dave Filoni Says Ahmed Best Could Be Back For More Star Wars Projects - GameSpot

The Mandalorian: Ahmed Best Helped Create His New Star Wars Character

CLASSIC IMAGE: BEFORE THE COUNCIL!

With the news from the Supreme Chancellor indicating General Grievous's hideout planet location, Anakin Skywalker liaises with the Jedi Council, hoping to personally lead the final spectacular battle against the cowardly villain. But the fallout from his Jedi leaders' ultimate decision-making soon builds further animosity towards them in Anakin's heart and mind-set, in another important moment from EPISODE III. 

'KENOBI': DUELLING NATURES!

We all knew that Hayden Christensen would be returning to the Star Wars saga in Obi-Wan Kenobi to play the post Episode III malevolent form of Darth Vader, and perhaps also for some specific scenes as Anakin Skywalker linked to Order 66, but who wasn't surprised by this excellent additional new flashback sequence of Obi-Wan and his Padawan learner sparring in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. It was both wonderfully nostalgic to see the iconic pair again in action/banter but was also fine storytelling linked to the soon ongoing hatred Darth Vader would show towards his former friend and master, and how Obi-Wan could always beat his young friend thanks to his life experience, balance with the Force, and temperament in conflict.

Will there be more scenes like this should a second season be announced shortly? Let's hope so...

CLASSIC IMAGE: A MASTER'S GUIDANCE!

Deeply worried about the fate of his beloved Padme, Anakin Skywalker seeks guidance from Master Yoda in the Jedi Temple, as the shroud of the Dark Side continues to strengthen around the ultimately doomed order. An important character moment from EPISODE III that was apparently a last minute addition to the film in re-shoots.

BEHIND THE SCENES: TALKING JEDI!

It's a well known fact that Ewan McGregor isn't always enthused by a lot of excited grown-up Star Wars fans he encounters, but when it comes to the little 'uns, it's a different story, showing himself as a brilliant ambassador to them as part of the franchise both off screen and on set in his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi. As seen here. with the Padawan Younglings during 2000 Australia filming for EPISODE II.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/the-obi-wan-kenobi-series-is-delayedbut-not-canceled

CLASSIC IMAGE: KEEPER OF THE RECORDS!

Woe betide any Jedi young or old who crosses paths with the distinguished Madame Jocasta Nu and her knowledge of the vast archives within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, as Obi-Wan politely discovers, in a scene from EPISODE II.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: "HE WILL NOT BE TRAINED"

The words neither Anakin or his potential teacher in Qui-Gon ever expected to hear from a seemingly future-hesitant Jedi Council. Qui-Gon remains defiant in training the boy whatever the consequences, despite the shocked reaction from current Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Young Anakin's fate will be decided at a later point by the council- for now he will travel with the Jedi duo back to Naboo as they protect the Queen, despite the grave dangers ahead with the potential Sith assassin at large...

"When we rehearsed it (the Jedi Temple scenes), I couldn't look at Ewan, and Ewan couldn't look at me, because we knew we'd just start laughing. But there's something about Yoda. And there was kind of a reverence about all that on set. I went down underneath to see how it was all done. It was quite extraordinary. We didn't make any fun of Yoda."

Liam Neeson - Heat Magazine - 1999

With thanks to Ian Trussler for selected imagery.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY- ANAKIN IS TESTED

Qui-Gon Jinn strongly believes that young Anakin Skywalker is "The Chosen One" of ancient Jedi prophecy. Now tested by the venerable Master Yoda and his colleagues on the council, will the nervous boy get the chance to fulfill his destiny in that sacred order protecting the galaxy?

Coruscant sunset image art by ILM.

"I was just totally taken by the whole visual (landscape) of that world (the windows of the Jedi Temple out into the Coruscant skies), You just sit there and watch it and you go, 'Wow, this is a cool place. I wish I could see that or could walk around this city."

Samuel L. Jackson - Starburst magazine - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: INTRODUCING MACE WINDU

With a subtly intense stare and a genuine aura sense of refined power about him, Jedi Master Mace Windu is a Jedi of distinction and truly at one with the nature and energies of the Force, and confident in his role within the Jedi Council and the Republic leaders they serve- second only in leadership responsibility to Master Yoda himself. Who better to play one of the coolest Jedi ever seen in the saga than one of the coolest men ever to reside on planet Earth: Samuel L. Jackson!

Jackson's enthusiasm for the saga has been a constant since the original film's New York opening in 1977. For EPISODE I he would be on the Leavesden set filming his Jedi Temple scenes over four days and working from six script pages of dialogue revealed only prior to shooting. By 1999, George Lucas was clear to tell Jackson that Mace was a developing character, of which there would ultimately be lots of things ahead for him with the remaining prequels.

"I was doing a lot of interviews for some other film and reporters tend to ask you questions like, 'Is there any director that you haven't worked with that you've got to work with?' I remembered that George Lucas was about to do The Phantom Menace, so I said, I'd really like to work with George Lucas on this new Star Wars film. And I said it often enough and I said it on a London talk show (the Chris Evans hosted T.F.I. Friday). Somebody heard it and told him and I got invited to the Lucasfilm Ranch. When I met George, I told him, 'Look, I'm really serious. I'll do anything. I'm not trying to be the star of your movie. I'll be a stormtrooper. You can cover my face. Whatever, I don't care. As long as I know I'm in the movie, I'm happy.' George said, 'We'll see what we can do.'"

Samuel L. Jackson - Starburst magazine - 1999

Rehearsing a scene with the puppet Yoda.

"When I got to London the first time, I had no clue who I was going to play until they gave me some pages and saw I was going to be Mace Windu. Who? And then I realized he was talking to Yoda. So when I got to the studio the next day, I saw this Jedi costume and I was so ecstatic I ran out of breath. At last I had an idea of who I was, how to carry myself, and I had a way of being. And I had a reason for being."

Samuel L. Jackson - Dressing a Galaxy - Deluxe edition - 2005

"The first day I showed up I put on my robes and I was standing there looking in the mirror going, "Yeah, I'm a Jedi." Then the guy comes in with a Haliburton briefcase, opens it up and there all these lightsabers in there. He goes, "Okay, pick one". I tried a few out and I was like, "Okaaay, this looks like me." It was kind of a chrome handle with this long, soft rubber thing down the side, and on the inside, where you turn it on, it had this very unique-looking switch. It was very me, very Mace."

Samuel L. Jackson - Empire magazine - June 2002

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: REPORTING TO THE JEDI COUNCIL!

His meeting with Valorum over, Qui-Gon, with Obi-Wan, now reports to his superiors at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant about the mysterious warrior intent on capturing Queen Amidala- whose identity might be related to the return of the Sith (a scenario the Jedi find incredulous to believe), and the potential vergence in the force located around a mysterious boy...

1997 quasi-religious design concept for the Jedi Council area, by Ed Natividad.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: HEADING TO THE JEDI TEMPLE!

Like a watchful beacon over the comings and goings of the cityscape to which it is centralised, the millennia-aged Jedi Temple building is a striking and formidable looking part of Coruscant, during our first view of it in EPISODE I.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE MYSTERY DEEPENS...

The search for the Outer Rim world of Kamino - home to a unique and deadly saber dart - proves an elusive one for Obi-Wan Kenobi, as he goes through the Jedi Archives once-seemingly accurate database of worlds and systems, in a scene from EPISODE II.

EPISODE VIII: FIERY BETRAYAL!

SPOILERS: On a far-off world, the peace and seclusion of Luke Skywalker's new Jedi Order is shattered, his trainees slaughtered, their temple a destroyed inferno - events that he and trusty Artoo can now only look on as powerless observers to a new dark future born, as their betrayal by Ben Solo seems complete. An eagerly awaited flashback scene of tragedy from The Last Jedi.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TWILIGHT OF THE REPUBLIC

As the Jedi Temple Master's investigate young Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi enjoy a moment of peace watching the Coruscant twilight- a twilight not just the last pure one for the Republic but also for the friendship and union that exists for this unique Master and Padawan pairing, from EPISODE I.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE GALAXY...

The mighty spires of the Jedi Temple stand out across the skyways and horizon of Coruscant. A place of learning, of discipline, of peace, but an environment soon caught in the chaos and shadowy manipulations of the Clone Wars, by the end of EPISODE II's events.

CLASSIC IMAGE: OF GRIEVOUS AND WOOKIEES!

The urgent need to capture the newly located General Grievous, and aid the Wookiees in their battles against the Separatists, are important matters discussed by the Jedi Council, in this scene from EPISODE III.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TROUBLED TIMES...

In the expansive corridors of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu confer with Master Yoda on the troubled times now affecting the Republic, and the prophecy linked to young Anakin Skywalker, in a scene from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: STAR SEARCH!

At the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi searches for the truth behind the missing planet Kamino, getting help from friends old and young, in this memorable scene from EPISODE II.