Filed under: Movie News

More ‘Star Wars’ Set for Theaters… 3-D Style

This time in animated form...

You just can’t keep the Force out of movie theaters as the upcoming animated tales of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set to hit theaters this August in 3-D before moving to the smallscreen in the fall.

Warner Bros., not Fox, will be in charge of the release, which has been set for August 15th, with it hitting Cartoon Network shortly thereafter and then moving to TNT. Of course it will then move to DVD under the care of Warner Home Video.

The Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie is expected to run around 100 minutes and pick up between episode II and III. Anakin Skywalker is not yet Darth Vader. The story will then continue in 30-minute smallscreen installments.

Franchise creator George Lucas serves as exec producer on the project, which will primarily employ voice actors. The only original actors returning are Anthony Daniels as C3PO and Matthew Wood as General Grievous and the battledroids.

Dave Filoni is directing and on Tuesday, Lucasfilm has already launched a website for the film at Starwars.com. You can watch a behind-the-scenes video here and the teaser trailer here.

The official press release follows:

A new era of Star Wars entertainment begins in 2008 when Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from creator George Lucas, premieres as an all-new feature film in August, followed by the television series debut in the fall, in a partnership announced today between Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes audiences on incredible new Star Wars adventures, combining the legendary storytelling of Lucasfilm with an eye-popping, signature animation style. Star Wars: The Clone Wars will open in North American theaters Friday, August 15. International release dates will be announced soon.

“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” said George Lucas, executive producer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”

The theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is only the beginning of all-new Star Wars adventures that continue in the fall when the long-awaited television series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. Details regarding international broadcasts will be announced shortly. Star Wars: The Clone Wars showcases an entirely new look and feel to the galaxy far, far away — combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars Saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation. Each week, viewers will see a thrilling, 30-minute “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation.

On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains — led by Darth Sidious, Count Dooku and General Grievous — are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

“Warner Bros. and Turner are uniquely positioned to deliver on the enormous potential of The Clone Wars because together they offer a world-class opportunity: the theatrical and home-video distribution of Warner Bros. and the broad reach of the Turner Networks,” said Micheline Chau, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lucasfilm Ltd. “This terrific combination hits the key demographic groups, ranging from kids to adults, that make up the Star Wars audience.”

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, added, “This is a breakthrough project — returning Star Wars to the big screen in a completely new way while beginning an exciting new chapter in George Lucas’ legendary saga. We immediately felt that it would be a fantastic theatrical event and are thrilled to be bringing it to moviegoers.”

“Nothing like this has ever been produced for television,” said Stuart Snyder, President/COO Turner Animation,Young Adults & Kids Media. “For 30 years, Star Wars has shown that it appeals to a huge breadth of fans. The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network will be appointment television for everyone in the family. We’re thrilled to be working with Lucasfilm again and very excited to be playing a role in bringing this remarkable adventure to viewers.”With a new story each week, Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues the tradition of thrilling stories, astonishing visuals and extraordinary music that have always been the hallmarks of the Star Wars Saga.

Lucasfilm Animation, which is based in Marin County, Calif., with a studio in Singapore, has produced more than 30 all-new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and production continues on even more exciting episodes.

Related post categories: Movie News :
Click Here to add an
Avatar to Your Account
Post #1
Gravatar

Yeah baby! Woo hoo! I am so excited! However, I will not be able to see the movie or any of the episodes for over two years, because I will be going on a two-year LDS mission in May or June. It’s great that Daniels and Wood are voicing their characters, and there is a possibility, reported by MTV.com, that Samuel L. Jackson might voice Mace Windu. Either way, this is a great idea, and should be a fun series. Hopefully much of the story comes from the excellent source material of the Del Rey novels and Dark Horse graphic novels concerning the Clone Wars time period.

- Rcwilkinson123
( February 12th, 2008 | 4:40 pm )
Reply to this comment
Leave Your Feedback
(required)
(will not be shown) (required)
ADVERTISEMENT
Is what you've got never enough?
First midnight... Now the weekend...
Blue aliens and spiked hair drawings
It's based on the comic, not the movie, as if that makes a difference
Kids will like the pretty colors, but this movie offers little to keep the attention of thinking audiences
I wonder if the main characters are even in this flick
How much will Twilight make? Under $70m.
You've seen digital snaps, here are the real things
You all are going to love this movie
Yet, he may be just the man for the job
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a wait and see scenario
This one's strictly for the fans
Damn, that stop-motion animation is impressive
From Best Picture to Original Screenplay...
Another look at the same question with a different approach
Looking for meaning in a fanboy world
HUGE update today... One guess at what Eastwood's next is rated...
This film is going to be a bust or a blast
Creator of 'The O.C.' and 'Gossip Girl' gets mutant gig
'Narnia' scribes pull duty on 'The First Avenger'
The original wasn't even all that good
Mickey is easily the front-runner and some more early Oz reviews arrive
Will Cruise ever step out of the shadow he created for himself?
Sounds like its a winner... for the most part
You ever think they are just trying to piss the guy off?