'ATTACK' AT 20: DEFEATING JANGO FETT!

The end of the line for Jango Fett!

Separated in battle from Obi-Wan (who has now dispatched the Acklay beast and numerous intimidated Battle Droids), Mace Windu finds himself back in the target sites of bounty hunter Jango Fett, who propels himself into the arena for final conflict against the Jedi, though the primal Reek has a grudge to settle first against any humanoid in its riotous path, notably injuring Fett and disabling his jet pack before the bounty hunter ultimately kills it. No longer a threat to Mace Windu, the supreme Jedi fighter makes the graceful killing moves that lead to his separating Jango's head from his body, watched from a distance by a shocked Boba!

Mace and Obi-Wan hip-deep in battle.

The rampant Reek attacks anything in its way, first separating Obi-Wan and Mace, then going for Jango Fett with thunderous skill.

With his rocket backpack damaged, Jango Fett is stuck in the arena...

... whilst Mace retrieves his lightsaber in an alternate take.

"My fight with Jango is a combination of him trying to escape and me trying to stop him. so there are a few elements, of him flying around, shooting projectiles at me, me defending myself and then going on the offensive. And once that happens he's pretty much toast."

Samuel L. Jackson - Lucasfilm promotional interview for EPISODE II - 2001

“Mace’s style (of fighting) is quite economic. If he gets within range, there’s no question-you’re dead.” 

Nick Gillard - Dreamwatch magazine - June 2002

 “George was like, “Hmm, well, there are only two colours. Bad guys have red and good guys have blue. Let me think about it. Then we went back to do some shots in London, he said, “hey, take a look at this.” He pulled up some footage and my lightsaber comes up purple. I was like “Is this just for this or is it going to be like that in the movie?” He goes, “No, you got it.” Purple is my favourite colour, and it has regal overtones, it’s a powerful colour. And then when I’m in big battles scenes off in the distance, I can always say, “Look! There I am, over there.” ” 

 Samuel L. Jackson - Empire magazine - June 2002 

“Mace is not the calmest of Jedis. He’d just as soon saber you in the back.” 

Samuel L. Jackson - Empire magazine - June 2002

Jango takes out the renegade Reek and will rapidly turn his attentions to the approaching Mace. But too late - Jango is soon going...

going...

.... gone!

And a boy will ultimately take on his father's legacy.

BEHIND THE SCENES VARIOUS

Awaiting the cue to 'Action!'

Mace Windu, now arrived in the arena and with his smoky cloak (prior set alight by Jango Fett) soon abandoned.

Mace fighting back in a deflection stance not seen in the movie.

Another unseen moment of Mace using his skills in the arena, or before he retrieves his fallen lightsaber?

Going through some unseen killer lightsaber moves with stunt coordinator supremo Nick Gillard.

Cooling off between takes on the set floor.

Jango stunt double Scott Mclean prepares for action.

An unseen moment of a mid-air Jango firing double blasters. Perhaps at Mace Windu?

Mace takes out Jango.

Lucas goes through the decapitation aftermath with a colleague on set.

Close-up shot of the lone helmet, its insides having been deposited somewhere else in the arena.

'ATTACK' AT 20: BATTLING THE ARENA MONSTERS!

Fighting for survival! Padme versus the fearsome Nexu beast in the Geonosis arena blood sports. Art by Ryan Valle.

The Geonosians are hungry to see Jedi blood spilt in their gruesome packed-to-the-rafters arena as three fearsome beasts are herded into animalistic violence and savagery against Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme. Fortunately, the three captured friends prove totally formidable against the creatures in a battle leading to near-escape that angers not just the insect audiences but the important Separatist VIPs watching the spectacle, guests of Count Dooku.

The Reek emerges... heading towards Anakin.

The Acklay heads for Obi-Wan.

The Nexu beast turns on its Geonosian slaver.

The Nexu begins its attack, and soon injures Padme, who resiliently fights back and injures it with her chains.

Padme works to free herself from her final bonds.

At first dragged along by the Reek...

... Anakin uses the Force to temporarily calm and control it.

Padme jumps down to the awaiting Anakin, now atop the Reek. She kisses his neck in a romantic gesture deliberately referencing Leia with Han Solo in a brief and tender moment during The Empire Strikes Back.

Whilst Obi-Wan keeps back the Acklay before reuniting with Padme and Anakin now using the Reek for transport.

Obi-Wan runs from the Acklay to join his comrades. A frame of lie action blue screen filming is superimposed onto a concept/atmosphere painting from Ryan Church.

Our heroes once against trapped by Droidekas.

Our heroes look up as a surprise rescuer makes an appearance.

Production design for the multi-limbed Acklay beast.

BEHIND THE SCENES

“The execution beasts were outrageous designs but they were workable in terms of animation. I was never worried about the reek, which was big and muscular and well designed. I was a bit more worried about the Nexu, because of its huge claws. In the maquette he was down very low, almost like a hunting cat; but we had to lift him up a bit in order to make him work. Also, the walking cycle had the kind of twisting action of a Komodo dragon, and that took some effort. The final monster, the Acklay, had fingers coming off its six legs. I wasn’t sure what to do with the fingers initially, but overall he moved a lot like a crab.” 

Rob Coleman - Star Wars: Mythmaking book - 2002

The Nexu beast was designed by Robert E. Barnes, and a creature that was mad to mix Lion-like physique with human and reptilian influences. Barnes would state of the creature in 2002: "I was thinking of a mutated hybrid of human and feline energy, which was a very disturbing image in my mind." It was also nicknamed 'Bad Kitty' by the ILM animation team.

The Acklay design was inspired by a giant crab-like monster seen in the classic Ray Harryhausen movie, Mysterious Island (1961).

Concept art of a Geonosian with ride.

Nexu beast design.

Model maquette of the Reek.

Concept art of beasts heading towards our chained heroes in the arena.

Padme begins her escape climb up the pillar.

Filmed in Australia's FOX Studios, Padme climbs her singular pillar to escape the Nexu.

Undoing her chain bonds.

Ready to defend herself.

Padme's battle scars.

Natalie Portman prepares to film her scenes leaping from the giant pillar down to an awaiting Anakin.

Anakin uses the Force to control the Reek.

Nick Gillard instructs Hayden Christensen on how to control the Reek with the wraparound chain.

Hayden and Natalie on the fake Reek.

“I remember this one scene we had to shoot, where me, Hayden and Ewan all had to stand on this huge mechanical bull in front of a bluescreen. Hayden was in front, I was in the middle and Ewan was standing behind me. Honestly! The rude things he was whispering in my ear! I mean, Ewan is a suggestive guy at the best of times, but jumping around together in what he called “his sandwich” was just too good an opportunity for him to resist. Trust me, he said absolutely everything you could imagine...” 

Natalie Portman - Empire magazine - June 2002

Having fun alongside veteran Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard.

Our trio reunited but still in danger.