The anticipation of the fans is limitless. 500 days amounts to the waiting period for the continuation of "The Phantom Menace" and young Jedi knights are tearing around each snip of new information. Reason of enough for us to also heat things up, with exclusive photo material and information gathered at the Tunisian set to present to the rumour mill.

"The Rise of the Empire" could not be a more suitable for the title of Episode 2, the continuation of George Lucas' space saga. Nevertheless in 1977 "Star Wars" was not insignificantly involved in the establishment of his own house power in Hollywood. Perhaps, therefore, the crew turned back to the original locations of 1976, but it is more probable that it is his attention to detail which lured George Lucas and team again to Tunisia. There nevertheless were all the locations of the action-packed Tatooine, which is to play a substantial role in Episode 2. Therefore with the necessary detail sets were again built, like the farm of Luke Skywalker's uncle, Owen Lars. Here Luke Skywalker fixed up two droids, in order to find Obi Wan Kenobi. This time its different - it's his father on the desert planet. And also the spaceport Mos Espa was raised from the ground.

In June 2000 preparations had already begun at the Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia where all the stages and sets were built. There were nine weeks of frantic activity, before the turning point on 25 August when all the filming was completed for the time being. Tunisia was as action-packed and Tatooine the next destination. Afterwards the sets for the Palace of Naboo were built in Italy.

The reason for revisiting the old sets is the return of Anakin Skywalker to Tatooine, where he is to begin his training as a Jedi. There's also the Clone Wars, which had been already mentioned in Star Wars Episode 4 by Obi Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness), plays a central role in "Rise of the Empire". They apparently represent the attempt of Chancellor Palpatine to avenge the loss of trade privileges of the Trade Federation with the destruction all Jedi Knights by a clone warriors. While Anakin and Queen Amidala fall in love with one another, with the results of the fruits of their loins being the basis for Episodes 4 to 6, Darth Sidious destroys the Old Republic and creates the Empire.

Beyond this short action outline, however, little is known of the contents of the film. Only the appearance of Boba Fett and answering the question "Why didn't Qui-Gon Jinn disappear after his death?" just like late Obi-Wan Kenobi, are to some extent surely acknowledged rumours. Anyhow, the master again personally holds the director's chair, and other than the inclusion of Anakin (Hayden Christensen) in the film it they aren't revealing much. Except for Ewan McGregor as young Obi-Wan, fans may particularly look forward to a more central role for Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L Jackson), and also Natalie Portman (after unconfirmed rumours of it being her last appearance) is to be seen in Episode 2 without her fantastic costumes. It seems that George Lucas believes, at least outwardly, in long-proven storylines. Beyond this relatively basic initial information the rumour mill is, however, at boiling point: the original Count Dracula, Christopher Lee, has been cast as a dark Jedi. Likewise is the discussion (and acknowledged by the official cast list) that martial arts icon Maggie Cheung is an apprentice of the dark side. Rumours abound but the saddest truth is the knowledge that Jar Jar Binks will again be in the new film for a small scene. Surely it is the question of whether our desires will be fulfil despite the unexplainable silence of the director.

The responses to these and other questions are attempted to be answered on innumerable official and unofficial web pages (in some cases from inside sources, albeit incorrect), but in the long run only George Lucas knows where his most famous story will lead it. He has already acknowledged the desire to sit in the director’s chair for in episode 3: "It is such a personal project that I cannot explain it to someone else at all; it is easier for me to make it. The work on Star Wars means that I have been limited for nine years and have not been able to work on any other projects and that I have to wait until it is all over. It is an enormous project, and I take it very seriously." George Lucas will do well, because one cannot help thinking that his representation of the Clone Wars will deliver a faithful copy of the original episode - undisputed among fans.

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written by Christopher Büchele, pictures by Falk Engelbert 
Extract taken without permission from Hollywood, December, 2000