July 17, 2003; Hyperspace: "Matching Moves & Making Faces":
• ILM is waiting for principal photography to be complete so they can begin the large amount of digital work needed for Ep3 post-production.

• ILM places tracking makers around the set to match where digital characters may be and where they will look to other characters or things. All these measurements are very specific and carefully managed. Lighting is sampled and tests are run on the rough footage in between takes.

• The Creature Shop animatronics engineers are working with the heads of Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and a third Neimoidian.

• Nute and Rune will have new hats.

• The Neimoidians aren't scheduled for shooting for maybe another four weeks.

• Rune Haako only has one line.

• Silas Carson has recorded a number of Nute's lines.

• Ahmed Best is now in Sydney and was fitted into his Jar Jar Binks skin, and then quickly took off to Costumes, to try on Jar Jar's new clothes.
 

July 17, 2003; Hyperspace Webchat with John Knoll - A Summary:
• The Clone Troopers will again be CG, yet different than seen before.
• Ep3 will contain roughly the same amount of visual effects as AOTC.
• Wat Tambor is back, and "badder".
• Page 7, word twelve of the script is "trench".
• There's more planets in Ep3 than any previous SW film.
• There will be some spectacular battles.
• No plans for a CG Chewbacca.
• Artoo will still have his jet rockets.
• We will be seeing more of Coruscant.
• We will see the next step in evolution of the Republic ship to the Imperial ships.
• Pre-visualization will continue until a few months before the film is finished.
• Droids will be CG at times.
• The current plan is for Anakin to have the same metallic hand he had at the end of AOTC.
• Watto will not be in Ep3.
• No CG bounty hunters in Ep3 that he knows so far.
• Mace still has a purple lightsaber.
• Padme and Threepio will be looking out a window of a palace at something spectacular.
• The elevator set from shooting so far is not the Death Star.
 

July 18, 2003; Hyperspace: "Change of Venue":
• George may change the shooting script at any time to change ideas.

• A private meeting scene originally shot in Palpatine's Office was changed to occur in a very public place.

• Today's shooting was on sparse set which will become a Coruscant theater in post-production. The theater will feature tiers of viewing boxes and an elaborate stage show for entertainment yet to be determined. Palpatine will be in this scene and a clue is that the show may be "refined and sophisticated".

• Palpatine will be seated, awaiting a guest. He will by joined by his aides Sly Moore and Mas Amedda and a pair of red robed guards.

• Sly Moore will not have a new outfit as previously reported.

• Mas Amedda has a new costume featuring new imposing shoulder-pieces.

• The theater scene will last 8 minutes, but may later be shortened.

• Shooting in Palpatine's office is now complete.
 

July 18, 2003 ; COMIC-CON: Lucasfilm Previews Star Wars: Episode III:
• The 'flannelled one' appeared next on a set he himself described as the 'Emperor's Throne Room'. He spoke briefly about looking forward to having all the fans see the final film… which he said the title of, but was beeped out with the words "Title Censored" flashed across the screen. "Oh, I wasn't suppose to say that yet?" he questioned to someone off-screen.

• When the video was over, Steve Sansweet returned to the microphone, quick to say that he didn't know what Lucas had called the third film… "So, don't ask!" he laughed.

• Sansweet reassured fans that Episode III will answer the "Why" and "How" of the saga. He added that while most of the main characters are returning, some of the characters from the classic trilogy also emerge, such as Chewie and Mon Mothma. He also promised new vehicles, weapons, creatures and planets that we've only heard or read about.

• In closing, Sansweet said Episode III will 'surprise, amaze and shock.' He reinforced that it will be the darkest of the six saga films and promised that it will tie the series together in 'unexpected and surprising' ways.
 

July 21, 2003 ; Hyperspace: "Three Sets In One ":

• Two of the three sets used today are small "bridge" environments for characters to transition from one set to another.

• Shoot Day 16 starts with reversal angles of the Coruscant Theater. The previous shooting focused on the seated characters, while today focuses on angles behind them, looking out over their shoulders toward the stage show.

• The next set is a starship boarding ramp. R2 and 3PO will be in a scene going down the ramp.

• Padmι and Obi-Wan join C-3PO, hurrying down the ramp to meet Bail Organa at its base.

• Later, this set is transformed into a lobby.

• Four Jedi walk through the lobby set which is an environment that will be completely digital in the finished film.

• The final set is a new Coruscant landing platform. R2 will be in this scene. Three wind machines blast the actors on the first take.

• Large fans provide wispy clouds of smoke to waft into frame of the windy environment on Coruscant.
 

July 16, 2003; Hyperspace: "Spin Me Right Round":
• Set crews are working on revolving sets to create a "topsy-turvy effect".

• Some special FX to be done by ILM will include wind effects, sparking squib hits, indoor rain, smoke and fire, and now - working with a huge rotating set called a "revolve".

• A square wooden room will be in the center of the "revolve".

• The set can spin fast enough that someone running inside would not be able to keep up with the rotation.

• There were 20 costume fittings booked today.

• Palpatine's Royal Guards were included in today's shoot.

• Jimmy Smits has arrived at Fox Studios. Bail Organa will have several costume changes.
 

July 14, 2003; Hyperspace: "Quick Turnarounds":
• Today's shoot involves a dialogue-intensive scene entirely in Palpatine's Office. The scene is in a new corridor that connects the Ep2 office to a new Ep3 antechamber.

• Today's shoot has some complicated blocking and camera moves. As the characters exchange words, they slowly circle each other, and the camera in turn circles them.

• The stage where shooting started held four sets: the elevator lobby, the hallway, the elevator shaft, and the majestic environment with the columns and statues.

• Six new sets will be built. One of these new environments will feature an opening in the floor which will reveal a ten-foot deep sunken area to be filled with water. One of our heroes get wet.
 

July 02; Hyperspace Webchat with Rob Coleman - Summary:
• Yoda will look the same as in Episode II.
• There will definitely be more CG work involving characters and vehicles in Episode III than in the other prequels.
• The new fights are going to be amazing.
• We will see Battle Droids (including Supers) and Destroyer Droids in Episode 3 - as well as some "cool new ones".
• Ep3 is going to be dark.
• Yoda will be seen in action sequences again.
• Ep3 will have the most visual effects of all the movies.
• The clonetroopers will be all CGI and there will be new variations of them that "look really cool".
• Some of the fights are incredibly huge.
• We will some new, even bigger monsters/creatures.
• The last 3 pages of the script gave Rob goosebumps.
• There will be new starships and planets.
• The opening sequence of the movie is going to be quite challenging for ILM.
• There is a sequence in Ep3 that makes Rob think "this is what I always wanted to see in the prequels".
 

July 03, 2003; Hyperspace: "Makin' Wookiee":
• The Creature Shop crafted a brand new suit for Chewbacca.

• The new Chewie has some added subtle enhancements in his expressiveness thanks to small animatronics that control his lips. He can now snarl, smirk and purse his lips realistically.

• George asked that Chewie have a messier hairstyle, similar to Ep6.

• Today's entire shooting consisted of quiet exchanges of dialogue in Padmι's apartment set with only three actors on set: Hayden Christensen, Anthony Daniels, and Natalie Portman.

• One scene today required a shirtless Anakin. For his exposed mechanical arm, Hayden Christensen wears a long blue glove on his real arm.
 

July 04, 2003; Hyperspace: "Wrapping Up Week One":
• Today's action takes place in a new environment is an expansive example of classical architecture, resplendent with elegant columns and majestic statuary that befits the status of the locale's tenant.

• Off the edge of the set sits what the call sheet describes as a "Blue Speeder", a simple geometric shape done in the familiar bluescreen hue, with two banks of seats. In postproduction, ILM will replace it with a computer-generated vehicle. Since flesh-and-blood actors will occupy it, they need something with which to interact.

• At the center of the floor is a bowl-shaped structure intended to be a fountain. It will be digitally inserted in post, thus avoiding the work of incorporating running water onto the set.
 

July 07, 2003; Hyperspace: "Tour of the Galaxy":
• Family set tours began this week, a rare privilege and opportunity on a closed movie set like Star Wars.

• Padmι's apartment is dismantled, already having served its purpose in Episode III.

• The next stage is home to the Jedi Council chamber. Again, the group stands within the instantly recognizable circular room, which currently is unfurnished.

• Palpatine's office is now furnished, with Palpatine's familiar looking chair in place, complete with working lights. His table is adorned with the crystal pyramids seen in Episode II.

• Ian McDiarmid is now in Sydney. The Creature Shop Creative Supervisor is working to determine the continued evolution of Palpatine, and how to get one step closer to how we first saw him in Return of the Jedi.

• Samuel L. Jackson is also in Sydney. Today, he's scheduled for a costume fitting. Mace Windu will be wearing the same Jedi robes as in Episode II. Jackson will soon begin lightsaber rehearsals with Nick Gillard.

• Peter Mayhew is here today as well. Chewbacca is back.

• Bai Ling has wrapped her shooting requirements for Episode III, and has left Sydney.
 

July 08, 2003; Hyperspace: "Breezy Blue Vistas":
• Today's call sheet notes the wind requirements as "moderate," gentle currents of air flowing from an unseen vista.

• This environment is a mix of interior and exterior -- a sitting area with an expansive view.

• Anthony Daniels is polished and golden as C-3PO.

• Today's shoot adds another two pages, for a total of eight pages of script shot in this environment so far. George Lucas says it is "the scene that explains it all". True to the much-predicted tone of Episode III, the characters have grim expressions as they account for the dark state of things.

• Animatronics were worked on for a Mon Calamari mask mouth. The character will ultimately be a senator.

• Olive Levi will play a Senator, and Caroline De Souza will play one of Bail Organa's aides.
 

Jul 08, 2003; Peter Mayhew Talks Episode III with UK LOK Magazine:
• On page 49, Robin Hail asked Peter Mayhew how he felt about the prequel trilogy and Episode III in particular since Chewbacca will make his silver-screen return. Peter replied, “I am very pleased with Episodes 1 and 2. George Lucas is doing a remarkable job. However, Lucas assures me that Episode 3 with far surpass the other two in both action and story and from some of the pages I have read from the Episode III script, I certainly believe him.” Later he goes on to say, “As you know, none of the actors get the full script of Episode III, but they do get the pages for what scene they are working on. Therefore, I have not read the full script yet, just a few pages with my character.”

• After Peter talked about Episode III’s script, Robin asked Peter on the role that Chewbacca will play. I liked what Peter said. Peter replied, “I was told by George Lucas that I would be playing a large part in the story including the delivering of two twin babies and playing a role in a major battle scene that involves many war machines. Sadly, I have not read those sequences of the script yet.”

• After a small bit of Robin comparing the Original trilogy to the Prequel trilogy, she asked Peter how well he liked the parts of the script that he had seen. Peter says, “Again, I haven’t really seen the complete script. Lucas only gives us copies for that days shooting. But from what I’ve seen, it looks good. Of course, I really don’t have any lines (he laughs). Lucas has really changed his writing style from back when he wrote the original trilogy. He is much bolder and willing to push the envelope in both settings and dialogue. In fact, the opening action scene involving many Wookiees takes place on one of the many new planets seen in this movie.”
 

July 09, 2003; Hyperspace: "New Kit On The Block":
• Ben Cooke underwent his Kit Fisto makeup test.

• Ben Cooke is also Anakin's double, a bodyguard, and a few droids. For several of these roles, he won't be seen in the movie, but his performance will be the basis of a CGI character and serves as vital interaction for actual live actors.

• Peter Mayhew donned the Chewbacca suit for tests.

• Anthony Daniels donned the golden droid outfit to perform alongside R2-D2.

• The main set today was a landing platform on Coruscant with Ewan and Hayden. There are 10 landing platform sets for Episode III. Many different types of vehicles will be seen traveling to and from these platforms.
 

July 10, 2003: Hyperspace Webchat with Nick Gillard - Summary:
• Mace Windu will go out in a blaze of glory.
• There will be many intense fights
• There are going to be new styles of lightsaber fighting. Deconstructing the current Jedi style.
• There's no question that we'll see Saber duels in Episode III that will definitely top the Obi-Wan / Maul duel.
• The tall individuals on the web cam that were seen fighting with poles were not Wookies nor Imperial Guards.
• Nick Gillard will be having a cameo as a Jedi in Episode III. May or may not have large ears.
• We will see at least one character we've never seen fight before with a lightsaber, do so in Episode III. Also expect a new style from this or these characters too.
• Anakin will cover just about every fighting style in Episode III.
• Many limbs will be lost in Episode III.
• The Epic duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan will be the longest lightsaber duel ever.
• Female Jedi will fight in Episode III.
• Anakin is vulnerable on a slope.
 

July 10, 2003; Hyperspace: "Council In Session":
• The Jedi Council set is complete and shooting there has begun.

• Due to the Clone Wars, the Jedi that comprise the 12 Council chairs has changed for Ep3. There will be 4 alien Jedi (and one human Jedi with a funky alien hat).

• What was once a polished floor now has visible scuff marks and wear. The chairs of the Jedi COuncil are marked and torn, being visual cues that things have been chaotic and difficult these past 3 years.

• Samuel L. Jackson was on the Jedi Council set with Hayden and Ewan. Mace discusses new assignments with them. Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon are not in the scene as they are on a mission off-world. We will see their holograms during this scene. Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, and Saesee Tiin are among those present.

• CGI Jedi Masters may be added into the scenes.

• Duncan Young spoke Yoda's lines and Yoda will be added digitally to the scene.
 

July 11, 2003; Hyperspace: "Supreme Performance":
• His first day of shooting, Ian McDiarmid performed some of his on the Supreme Chancellor's office set.

• Much of Palpatine's plan will be revealed in Ep3, meaning the actor has a large number of scenes. Today was the filming of a big scene.

• Palpatine discusses a new assignment to Anakin in this scene.

• In a scene, a Senator refuses a beverage offered to him by C-3PO as he is serving drinks. We will hear 3PO's lines to be formal and humorous, similar to his OT lines.

• The "scene that explains it all," was cut together. It was amazing and will be even more dramatic once the editing has been completed.

June 13, 2003; Hyperspace: "Preparing for GWL":
• George Lucas arrives on Monday to start his time in Sydney.

• George is scheduled for a tour of the various sound stages alongside Producer Rick McCallum, Production Designer Gavin Bocquet, Supervising Art Director Peter Russell, Art Director Ian Gracie, Director of Photography David Tattersall and 1st Assistant Director Colin Fletcher.

• Palpatine's office and connecting corridors now have the familiar red walls. The Jedi Council chambers are coming together. A new starship bridge sharing the same stage as Padmι's apartment looks almost finished.

• Hayden is slated for a full makeup test on Monday for his Episode III look.

• The Costume Props Dept is focusing on pieces like Padmι's headdresses and a suit of alien military armor.

• Ewan McGregor had a lifecast done of his head and hands, which had to include his beard. Dave Elsey spent much of today "shaving" the clay beard off the head-cast, reproducing a replica of a clean-shaven Obi-Wan to allow makeup work for an effect needed early in Episode III.
 

June 16, 2003; Hyperspace: "Home Sweet Home":
• "Home sweet home" is referencing the familiar red interior of Palpatine's office.

• While on the set, George and Rick decide a shattered glass effect will be achieved digitally since shattered practical glass on the set floor may impede the work of the stunt performers needed in that environment.
 

June 17, 2003; Hyperspace: "Accessories Included":
• Costume Props is working on a suit of alien military armor with handmade breast and back-plates. The flexible abdominal plates are perfectly articulated. It all works, and six copies of this armor will have to be made for the production.

• Bail Organa will wear it like a decorative wrist-guard. A ring of blinking LEDs provide the perfect feel.

• Narrow pieces of jewelry will become the basis of a larger costume prop for a Padmι headdress.
 

June 17; David Stiff Cast as Wookie:
Sydney Kings basketball star David Stiff has landed a part as a Wookie.
 

June 17; Captain Typho Films in July:
Jay Lagalia appeared on 'Mornings with Kerrie-Anne' on Australian TV and mentioned he starts shooting on the last prequel next month.
 

June 18; Bai Ling Cast in Episode III:
Access Hollywood interviewed actress Bai Ling. She says she was offered a role in the new Star Wars movie. She doesn't know the part, but she will leave for Sydney next week.
 

June 18, 2003; Hyperspace: "Making Good Guys Look Good":
• Natalie Portman is now in Sydney.

• One of Padmι's headdress mockups is a spectacular arrangement.

• Ewan McGregor continues his hair and makeup tests. His hair will be styled more like a younger version of Alec Guinness. He will wear temple pieces, and they will be graying. Ewan's beard will be neatly trimmed and less bushy, with more sculpting and manicuring into a more goatee shape.

• Hayden will look quite rugged and weathered after having fought in the Clone Wars for years.

• Lily Nyamwasa will return as Jedi Stass Allie.

• A starship captain and a handmaiden have been cast in small parts.
 

June 18, 2003; OS Casting Update - Spence Joins Ep III:
Bruce Spence joins the cast as a helpful alien.
 

June 19, 2003; Hyperspace: "Unpacking a Star":
• R2-D2 units arrived today in Sydney.

• In another padded crate are the pieces of C-3PO, who will start to be assembled Friday morning.

• Matt Sloan will return as Plo Koon.

• Plo Koon will have a brief appearance in Episode III, but the script requires very specific actions for him.

• Plo does have scripted dialogue in Episode III, but there is no guarantee that it'll remain in the finished film.
 

June 23, 2003; OS Update: "Meeting Genevieve O'Reilly":
• Genevieve O'Reilly has been cast in the role of Mon Mothma.

• Industrial Light & Magic has arrived in Sydney. Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll, Animation Director Rob Coleman and Matchmove Supervisor Jason Snell are setting up shop and touring the stages.
 

June 24, 2003; Hyperspace: "Blue Guards & Tall Pilots":
• Five blue Senate Guard candidates donned velvety robes.

• The blue guards will be undergoing some modifications. This is not only to advance their look along the timeline, but also to create new helmets to replace the older Episode I artifacts that are starting to show some wear-and-tear. The new look brings them closer to the sleeker red helmets worn by Palpatine's personal guards.

• The red guards will again appear in Episode III. Costume Props are fabricating new helmets and force pikes for these fan-favorites based on the designs of the originals.

• A few extras came in to be fitted as Neimoidian pilots.
 

June 25, 2003; Hyperspace: "Lights, Camera, Testing":
• Padmι's apartment is the location for a full-fledged camera test today. The set is finished and decorated with furniture and props.

• George Lucas and Rick McCallum soon sit down and look at the images that the cameras are gathering.

• George asks that a copy of Return of the Jedi is given to Genevieve O'Reilly so she can watch the Mon Mothma parts repeatedly to get used to the manner of speech.

• Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor show up in full wardrobe. Anakin's is in one of his Episode III looks -- according to the slate, they're shooting Hayden's "tidy" look. His "messy" look will come later.

• George musses with Hayden's hair a bit. The tidy look is apparently too tidy. A scar added by makeup isn't reading well enough on the monitors, so Nikki Gooley and her crew thicken it up to make this particular trophy of the Clone Wars more visible.

• Obi-Wan looks dignified. The contour of the beard and the cut of the hair perfectly define a distinguished Jedi. "I don't seem to remember ever owning a droid," Ewan says, just to get into the spirit of things. And it's perfect.

• Hayden runs through one frame of shooting to test the drape of his cloak and the flow of his hair.
 

June 25, 2003; Hyperspace Web Chat with Gavin Bocquet Summary:
• No Neimoidian planet. But we will see more of their hardware and crafts.
• There are around 67 physical sets built. More than any previous SW film. But there are also more CGI environments.
• There are new Starfighters being built for Anakin and Obi-Wan. There will also be new Starfighters for the rest of the Jedi. The new starfighters will have new weapons and fight in big battles.
• A question was asked if we would be seeing any sets with Imperial implications in Episode III. He said yes. Both seeing and building. But that's all he could say.
• There are many new worlds in Episode III. But most are being built on sound stages and do not require traveling elsewhere.
• There are a few scenes he believes we'll go nuts over.
• We will see a number of sets and environments returning from the OT.
• We will get to see OT Starships in Episode III.
• Some places and vehicles will have a more "used" feel to them.
• There will be many fights on sets that change in level.
• Sets are going back to the monochrome color. But other sets are going the complete opposite way.
• There are a couple of set environments that were cut from Episode II that will be returning because now they can fit them into the story.
• The colors of the sets on Stage 3 are soft cream with copper highlights

May 10, 2003: SW Insider 68 Highlights:
• McCallum will not confirm or deny if there's a Star Destroyer bridge as one of the sets of the film.

• There is no complete script as of this writing, but there was a 46 page outline from Lucas. Still no talk of a co-writer on the film.

• Lucas has approved 52 sets as well as "lots of vehicles".

• Hayden Christensen started fight training at the beginning of May. Ewan McGregor arrives June 10th. Filming begins late June.
 

May 26, 2003; New Zealand Herald: Captain Typho Returns:
"Jay Laga'aia is recovering from sugery ahead of his appearance in the sixth Star Wars movie, due to begin filming in Australia shortly."
 

May 29, 2003: Homing Beacon #68:
• Episode III is the final chapter detailing what fans already know is a bleak resolution for Anakin Skywalker and Padmι Amidala. The Chosen One succumbs to the call of the dark side, with disastrous consequences for those he loves. McCaig notes satisfaction with the way this transformation currently exists, as words on the script pages and accompanying artwork.

• "In Episode I, when we saw Jake Lloyd, we wondered where’s the dark side? Why isn’t this kid creepy?" recounts McCaig. "And then, in Episode II, Hayden Christensen came across as a justifiably angry teenager more than a kid who crosses over to the true dark side. Killing the Sand People... they killed his mom! I could go mad and do something like that. So, I kept waiting for the dark side to take hold. In this film, you realize, it’s more about Anakin making the wrong choices. He’s given a glorious moment by George -- I’m so happy with part of the script -- where he truly has to make a choice. In the end, I think that’s a smarter way to go than a slow transformation. It’s more tragic this way."

• Tragedy follows the beautiful Amidala as well. Since Episode I, McCaig has helped develop Padmι’s intricate costumes, which often serve as reflections of her political position, and where she is in her life. "What are we wearing this year in Star Wars?" smiles McCaig. "In Episode I, she was the Queen, and she was wearing disguises. I once said she should be able to slip out of the back of the costume, and you’d never know she was gone. Ironically, in this one, she’s back to wearing disguises. As well as now hiding this marriage to a Jedi, which is not allowed, she has to hide the fact that she’s going to have babies. All of the costumes had to disguise these facts."
 

May 27, 2003; Hyperspace: "Dueling for the First Day":
• Episode III has taken over all seven stages of Fox Studios Australia.

• Stunt Coordinator and Sword Master Nick Gillard is whipping Jedi into shape and perfecting new moves.

• Kyle Rowling, Dooku's stunt double, was squaring off against Ben Cooke, a newcomer to Star Wars. Behind them, Michael Byrne was sparring with Hayden Christensen.

• For six weeks, Jedi have been practicing. On the walls are printouts of animatic frames for three key set-pieces, and Nick's desk has several rough storyboards of what looks to be intense action. It's part of the duel fans have been waiting for: the falling out between master and apprentice.

• Hayden has been practicing his skills with the lightsaber for the past three weeks. For six hours a day, it's dueling drills. For another two, it's time to workout. "It's feeling right," he says.
 

May 28, 2003; Hyperspace: "Return of Two Jedi":
Nalini Krishan and Orli Shoshan spent the morning transforming into the Jedi warriors Barriss Offee and Shaak Ti for makeup and wardrobe tests.
 

May 29, 2003; Hyperspace: "More Extras, More Aliens & Moore Makeup":
• In the same chair where her Padawan sat yesterday, Luminara Unduli -- or rather, actress Mary Oyaya -- undergoes a similar makeup process.

• Sandy Thompson will be playing the Neimoidian Rune Haako.

• Sandi Finlay is returning to the role of Sly Moore, Palpatine's ghostly aide first seen in Episode II. Sly is getting some new threads for Episode III.
 

May 31, 2003; Hyperspace: "The Aptly Named Jedi-Not-Appearing-In-This-Film":
Depa Billaba, Oppo Rancisis, Even Piell, Yarael Poof, and Yaddle will not be in Episode III.
 

June 02, 2003: Hyperspace: "All The World's A Stage":
• Seven enormous soundstages are currently bustling with activity, as they house sets in various stages of construction. A few are returning from Episode II, while at least one currently erected has been recreated from the original trilogy.

• "Probably fifty percent of what you're seeing is stuff from the other films, because those were the first ones that were easy for us to dive into," says Gavin Bocquet, Production Designer.

• One stage is Padmι's Coruscant penthouse apartment. The set is being modified, to add an extension as dictated by the story of Episode III, which include a door leading to a new environment.

• Also being modified is Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's Office. It now has a branching corridor leading away from the office and into a circular antechamber.
 

June 03, 2003; Hyperspace: "Developing the Duel":
One stage is the dueling arena for Michael Byrne and Hayden Christensen as they perform an intense duel. It's more than just a test-run. These combatants are being videotaped today for inclusion into the working rough cut of Episode III. The footage then gets sent back to the Editorial department so that it can be cut along with animatics and storyboards into a rough assembly.
 

June 03, 2003; OS: Pre-Production Almost Wrapped:
• George Lucas leaves for Sydney, Australia in just two weeks to begin principal photography for Episode III. While Producer Rick McCallum is down under driving construction crews, costume and prop departments, and countless others in preparation for the director's arrival, the teams in the U.S. are feverishly attempting to wrap-up as many tasks as possible before he leaves. With much of the basic look of the characters, vehicles and locations of Episode III finalized, the size of the Concept Design team has dwindled somewhat as Iain McCaig and others have moved on to other projects. Ryan Church, Eric Teimens and the remaining artists are now concentrating on storyboards and specific details that help to dictate the movie's solidifying story line.

• "The confrontation between Obi-Wan and Dooku originally was a confrontation between Padme and Dooku and it was a political thing. I decided after seeing the movie that I didn't need that scene with Padme and Dooku, it was in the wrong part of the picture, and this one with Obi-Wan would be more appropriate and would work better if Dooku would actually tell the truth about what was going on and then create a situation where nobody would believe him. It also allows you to kind of have some sympathy for Dooku in that he carries the sympathies of most of the Jedi which is that the Senate is corrupt and it's incapable of carrying on any meaningful actions because they argue about everything all the time. I accentuate that by introducing Darth Sidious again. Darth Sidious we refer to in the first film and he's a hologram and we see a little tiny bit of him but I needed at this point to say that there is a Darth Sidious, especially if you haven't seen the first film. I needed to identify that there is a Darth Sidious who is behind all this and who is the same Darth Sidious that was in league with the Trade Federation in the last movie. It's really important to set up for the very end scene here where Darth Tyranus and Darth Sidious come together in the end and you realize who's behind all of this."

• "The fun part about being able to set up a character like Mace Windu and Sam wanting to do the pictures is that we were able to set him up in the first film and actually use him in this film. And he's looking forward to the fact that he knows that at the end of the Clone War he gets killed so he gets hopefully a great death scene. So you kind of know where everything is going."

• "Here with Obi-Wan we get a little sense that Anakin has some relationship with Palpatine and that he likes Palpatine. In the last film we set up the fact that Palpatine was gonna watch after Anakin."

• "I had all these hints that Palpatine had been helping Anakin, but I needed an explicit scene that actually spelled it out and where you could see that some of Anakin's dialogue later on has come from Palpatine."

• "So we have this little picnic where Anakin brings out the uncomfortable subject of previous boyfriends which boys have a tendency to do, and then we get into this political discussion which allows us to get a little insight into Anakin and Palpatine's influence over Anakin and some of his thought process."

• "Someone in the Jedi order has been hiding this whole system from the Jedi Archives. It does come out eventually in the next movie exactly what's behind all this. I wanted to have it there in this movie but not so strongly that you asked a lot of questions about who is the one that erased the tapes and who started the army and how all that works because it's something that unfortunately doesn't get revealed until the third film."
 

November 18, 2002; More Artists Join Episode III:
Feng Zhu has joined the work on Episode III. He's right in the mix on stuff, working on the final Star Wars movie ever to be made. Interesting is that they really don't have an art director for Episode III per se, really more or less just working as a team for now since the fallout. The usual suspects, Ian McCaig and so forth are back, and someone you haven't mentioned, Sang Jun Lee (a former ILMer) has also been asked to join up. They are producing conceptual artwork at the rate of several pieces a day, currently based on what Lucas has told them in generalizations, since there's still no script that anyone has seen yet. These people are pumped about this film. This is where the amazing visuals of the prequels meets the story we loved so much in the classics.
 

November 18, 2002; StarWars Insider #64 Tidbits:
• "We're really moving now," he says, "I just did a round-the-world trip. I finalized the deal at the studio in Sydney. We met some new crewmembers who will be joining us, including a new set decorator, Richard Rogers. Peter Russell, our Art Director, has already started, but the main bulk of the team will begin in January."

• The magazine says that the concept designers are hard at work designing the worlds of "Episode III" and the images should be leaping into action as you're reading this. "We've got our animatics artists starting to work soon... They'll start working on the first of the action sequences for Episode III. Then the pedal will be to the metal all the way through to the time we start shooting."

• All of the work, however, is proceeding without a finished script, but that doesn't stop the veteran producer. "Obviously, I would give anything in the world to have the script. But I don't have it. That's the reality I have to work under. That's the challenge for all of us - not to lose our minds before we get it."

• The article goes on to say that Costume Designer Trisha Biggar has been hard at work with Concept Designer Ian McCaig at creating costumes for the next prequel. The costume department began work in mid-November in Sydney, Australia. "We'll probably make another 1,200 costumes, so it's a serious operation," says McCallum. "George has approved about 10 of them". Lucas only consults on those costumes designated for the principal characters.

• Designer Gavin Bocquet has another big task to face. He recently visited Skywalker Ranch to confer with McCallum and the other filmmakers, and now he's off to work on two new vehicles at Elstree Studios. McCallum says that Bocquet has "lots of planets and vehicles" to work on. "Remember, everything has to be designed in a Star Wars world".
 

November 21, 2002; Lucasfilm Casting Confirmation on Hayden:
Lucasfilm as always refuses to comment on rumors, but this is one time they were quick to squash the obviously errant rumors from around the 'net. Lucasfilm was pleased with Hayden's performance and "he definitely is in for Episode III."
 

November 24, 2002; Variety Article on Lucas:
Lucasfilm editors supervised the cuts for the recent Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones IMAX release, with little involvement from George Lucas, says Fox distributing president Bruce Snyder.
"You don't lose the continuity of the story by the scenes that have been taken away or shortened," Snyder stresses. A Lucasfilm spokeswoman said Lucas delegated the scenes' editing because he's "consumed with writing 'Episode III.'"
 

December 02, 2002; UK Film Magazine Interview with Chris Lee:
"I'm committed to doing the next Star Wars picture, although I have no idea what I'm going to be doing. The only information I've been given is that I'm in it."
 

December 03, 2002; Sydney Morning Herald Interview with Rob Coleman:
Coleman will be supervising animation on the next Star Wars film, which takes over Fox Studios next year. Lucas is still writing the third episode, but Coleman expects him to bring back Yoda.
 

December 03, 2002; SW Con Comment on Ackbar by Tim Rose:
...Tim rose is "creature player" and help among other things Admiral Ackbar to the life. Computers are quickly replacing people in this role of puppeteering and a younger version of Ackbar is to appear in Episode 3 as CGI animation.
 

January 04, 2003: Rick McCallum Production Update SW.com:
"We have a production art department in London that's started, feverishly. We have a costume dept. that starts next week in Sydney, and then the production art dept. moves to Sydney in the beginning of 2003. So all systems are go. We start our basic construction of the things that are needed in each dept. (in Australia). In about two weeks, we'll have our new set director Richard Roberts, come into Sydney to scout locations and service companies. This is just the beginning of the pre-production on the film." The conceptual art dept. at Skywalker Ranch is in full swing. About twenty artists are now at work on Episode 3 and as of Nov. 2002, they'd already created 1,500 illustrations. McCallum says "we'll reach 10,000 before we start shooting." So far, they're of "paintings and sketches for all the costumes - of which there'll be about 1,200 different ones." The next big step for graphic design was scheduled for Dec. 2002 with animatics expected to begin from early script pages. McCallum adds, "We won't have a completely new camera, we'll have a much more sophisticated, hot-rodded camera. It's much more sophisticated now with better resolution, better picture quality and color imagery." When asked about more EP3 questions, he says "I can't talk about that yet. This is a bad month (for news). Everything is about to happen."
 

January 09; 2003; SW.com Reports On Returning Characters:
"Look for most of the actors from Episode II to return with the story focusing on the characters played by Hayden Christensen (Anakin), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan), Natalie Portman (Padmι) and Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine)."
 

January 23; 2003: James Earl Jones Talks Ep3:
James Earl Jones talks about his role being about 5 minutes in length, "right after Anakin goes bionic and falls into a volcano."
 

January 26, 2003: Clayton Watson Cast in Ep3:
Aussie actor Clayton Watson, he said that he had landed a role in the "third Star Wars prequel at the request of George Lucas".
 

January 31, 2003: Sam Jackson Hints on Mace Windu while on MTV:
"I did get an e-mail from the stunt coordinator," he explained, "who said he'd like for me to show up a little early because he has some things we want to work out. So I guess that sounds like I'm gonna go out in a blaze of glory. I'm looking forward to it."
 

February 01, 2003: UK LOK Magazine, Lucas Comments on Jar-Jar's Fate:
• On page 25, a reporter brought up the character Jar Jar Binks and how he added silly comedy to Episode I and how he added drama to Episode II. The reporter then asked what does he add to Episode III and what happens to him. Lucas commented that Jar Jar would not die on screen in the film or not even die at all.

• He said that he created the character to add to the story, not to be created to then be killed at the end. The reporter then asked why Jar Jar isn't in the original trilogy. Lucas said that Episode III will explain everything that needs to be explained.
 

February 18, 2003: Ep3 Info in SW Insider from Rick McCallum:
• (Will we see new trooper designs? )

"Yes. That's all I can answer."

• (How about Vader's armor?)

"Too early to tell."
 

March 10, 2003: Gavin Bocquet (SW.com) Talks Set Construction:
• In addition to the Jedi Council chambers, the Senate Rotunda and Palpatine's office, two environments from the original trilogy are being carefully recreated for this earlier era in Star Wars history, much like the Lars Homestead was faithfully reconstructed for Episode II