Star Wars Episode II June 2000 news

30 June, 2000

Jonathon Hales worked with George Lucas in creating the screenplay for Episode II. He has worked for LucasFilm before writing for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He's a fan of Star Wars like anyone else so he was delighted with the opportunity to work on one of the movies.

"My personal goal was to make it the best screenplay that ever was, so that it will be the best movie that ever was. You just do your very best," Hales explains of his approach. "I tried to forget, in a way, that it was Star Wars, in a sense that I didn’t want to think ‘Oh my God, there is a world out there waiting to see this stuff.’ I just tried to concentrate on it and what it was, and forget about that terrifying dimension that’s out there."

So what will the new movie add to the existing series? "It will add political complexity," explains Hales, "but it will also add an interesting and a fascinating love story."

Hales will be joining Lucas in Australia shortly. "He and I will sit down and he’ll tell me what more thoughts he’s had about the screenplay, and I will tidy that up," explains Hales. "I shall only be there for a couple of weeks, anyway. There’s nothing more useless than a writer on a soundstage."

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29 June, 2000

It was reported on Monday that Joel Edgerton had been cast in the movie but with no word as to his role. Now we know. The official site updated today with word that Edgerton will be playing the part of Owen Lars, the man who would eventually raise Luke Skywalker. The part was originally played by Phil Brown in A New Hope.

Edgerton has performed in Henry III and Henry V onstage as well as appearing in the movies Praise, Erskinville Kings, Dogwatch and Sample People.

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27 June, 2000

The first day of shooting is done and the official site updated today with some notes from it. Filming for Episode II began exactly three years after the first day of shooting for Episode I. Oddly enough both times the filming centered on Ian McDiarmid playing Palapatine in front of a bluescreen for a scene on Coruscant.

George Lucas was quoted as saying, "It's hard for me to remember if I'm still shooting Episode I, the Special Edition, the DVD, or Episode II." I guess that means he has been working on a DVD, finally?

Sound editor Ben Burtt had the best comment though, "The thrill for me today was seeing C-3PO reborn. I got to put the faceplate on Anthony Daniels. The character suddenly came alive."

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26 June, 2000

With shooting about to begin today, the official site finally updated with a list of new actors appearing in the movie. Eight new names have been announced along with some tiny amounts of information on who they will be playing.

First up is Jay Laga'aia who will be playing a "loyal security guard." He has appeared on Xena: Warrior Princess in the role of Draco and has a regular part on the Australian TV series Water Rats. He is described as having a powerful physical presence.

Leeanna Walsman will be playing the role of a "skilled bounty hunter." The smart money is that she will be playing the role of bounty hunter Aurra Syng, who was glimpsed briefly during the pod race scene in Episode I. Casting director Robin Gurland had this to say about Walsman, "The bounty hunter is an extremely physically oriented role. One evening I was at a play in Sydney and saw this actress hanging from a bar with one arm while delivering a stunning performance. It was amazing! Leeanna was just who I envisioned for the role. She has this wonderful pixyish, femme fatale look." She has appeared in the movies Blackrock and Looking for Alibrandi.

Rose Byrne will be playing a handmaiden, presumably Amidala's. She has appeared in the TV series Echo Point and Heartbreak High as well as the movies Two Hands and My Mother Frank.

Veronica Segura will also be playing a handmaiden. She has appeared in the movies The Office, BPM and Mr. Drug Buddy and the TV mini-series Tribe.

David Bowers will playing the part of a "high ranking Senate official." A former member of the Australian Special Air Service, Bowers has appeared in a number of roles in Australian TV series such as Grass Roots, Above the Law, Water Rats and Wildside. He has also appeared in a couple episodes of Farscape.

Matthew Rowan will be playing an "indulgent politician." He has been a stand up comic and appeared on stage in The Would-Be Gentleman and Three Sisters.

Daniel Logan has been cast to play "a mysterious young boy" in Episode II. The thirteen year old has appeared in the TV series Hercules and Shortland Street plus numerous commercials. This could be the part that was rumored to go to Tupoutahi Winitana, as the younger version of Temuera Morrison.

Joel Edgerton has been cast as well although at this point no details are available on his character. He has appeared in the movie Sample People.

In other news, TheForce.net is reporting that Temuera Morrison is officially cast in the movie and has been seen with those of pigtails of a Padawan learner.

Dark Horizons ran a rumor last week that there is no younger version of Temuera Morrison's character. Instead that young actor will be playing Morrison's son. The wild part of the rumor is that this child is Boba Fett. This is completely unconfirmed but a fascinating concept.

22 June, 2000

Gabriel Byrne spoke to ShowBiz Ireland about the rumors that he will be in Episode II. He confirmed that he had been offered a part, saying "The people from Star Wars called the other day to offer me something, but I don't know what it is yet. It's probably already been announced on the Internet, but I still don't I know myself."

Byrne has indicated in the past that he might not want to do another big budget film after his work on End of Days. However, he might do it for his kids. "My children are too young to see this (Moon For The Misbegotten), so they'd probably prefer me to do a Star Wars Picture."

According to the official site, George Lucas arrived in Australia on Monday. Shooting is scheduled to begin next Monday, June 26. Producer Rick McCallum said that shooting in Australia should continue to the end of August. After that a month will be spent filming in Tunisia and Italy.

The reborn Prequel Watch received a tip that stormtroopers might make their first appearance in this movie. It remains to be seen if this is true or not.

"Around the set is buzz about Stormtroopers in Episode 2. This is actually what they are being called. I have yet to see any solid designs myself, but I've heard talk. One bloke claims that many of the "stormtroopers" will be CG. No telling if these are battle droids or actual stormtroopers. More as I find out."

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12 June, 2000

The Evening Post in Wellington, New Zealand is reporting that Temuera Morrison has been cast in a major role in the movie. What's really interesting is that child actors Tupoutahi Winitana and Tihoi Taylor have also been offered roles as younger versions of the character Morrison is portraying.

Morrison has appeared in a number of American films such as Speed 2, Six Days Seven Nights, and The Island of Doctor Moreau but not in major roles. His best known work was playing an abusive drunk in Once Were Warriors.

Apparently George Lucas is tramping through South America to get some filming done. Exact locations are unknown at this point.

According to Ain't It Cool News, Christopher Lee has been cast in the movie. That's all. No idea was provided as to what part he might be playing.

6 June, 2000

George Lucas and Samuel L. Jackson stopped by the British TV show The Big Breakfast for a quick interview. Jackson stated that he begins work on the movie on July 6th. He also indicated that he has a big fight scene. Lucas commented on the fight scene, saying, "He'd know more about it than me, he's actually done the fight, I just get to see it on tape, I've not been over to Australia yet." This apparently refers to a tape of Jackson rehearsing the fight.

Lucas also put an end to the rumor that Darth Maul might return. "Not a chance, he's gone, out of it. Ray will be in the movie but not as Darth Maul," said Lucas. Apparently Ray Park will be playing a different role this time around.

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2 June, 2000

A story from Reuters indicates that Tatooine will once again appear in a Star Wars movie. According to the article, Lucas will be back in Tunisia for filming in October or early November. The locations is called Tatouine (note the spelling) and sits about 300 miles south of Tunis.

Meanwhile, the magazine Star Wars Insider talked to production designer Gavin Bocquet about Boba Fett. He says, "Yes [character design has begun]. Most of the character designs and costumes have evolved from [WARS conceptual artist] Doug [Chang's] group and the concept group, but we're already moving into looking at Boba Fett's ship and slight derivations of that, as well as Fett's apartment and other environments that Fett exists in. It's very interesting going back to a character that is such a favorite. I think people will know a lot more about Boba Fett after this film."

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