‘Star Wars’

I "The Phantom Menace" Release date: May 19, 1999 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: 2,970 Reported budget: $115 million Worldwide ticket sales: $925.5 million Signature scene: Anakin's pod-racer victory, a blueprint for the inevitable video game the movie spawned. Memorable quote: "We waited 16 years for that?" -- response of many Star Wars fans. Whatever happened to: Jake Lloyd, who played the young Anakin Skywalker? Elsewhere in the world: On May 19,1999: Hubble Space Telescope astronomers report a Martian cyclone four times the size of Texas. II "Attack of the Clones" Release date: May 16, 2002 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: 3,161 Reported budget: $120 million Worldwide ticket sales: $648.3 million Signature scene: Anakin's petulant confession to Padme of his vengeful killing rampage. Memorable quote: "Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?"-- Obi-Wan to Anakin, who will be as Vader. Whatever happened to: Gonk, an android whose cameo appearances provided more trivia for Star Wars buffs? Elsewhere in the world: On May 16, 2002: A report claimed President Bush was warned about Osama bin Laden's plans to hijack airplanes in advance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. III "Revenge of the Sith" Release date: May 19, 2005 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: Around 3,700 in the U.S. and Canada Reported budget: According to Los Angeles-based BoxOfficeMojo.com, about $113 million Worldwide ticket sales: Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co., estimates $600 million, with an estimate of $80 million being made in the first weekend. Signature scene: We don't know what the signature scene is, but expect plenty of lightsaber battles against the evil Sith, with Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda facing serious Dark Side forces they might not be able to defeat. IV "A New Hope" Release date: May 25, 1977 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: Two theater screens in the United States; expanded to 43 on May 30, 1977 Reported budget: $11 million Worldwide ticket sales: $797 million Signature scene: Luke's flight through the Death Star's mecha-valleys to deliver an explosive payload, setting the standard for video games forever. Memorable quote: "The Force will be with you, always." -- Obi-Wan Kenobi Whatever happened to: George Lucas' desire to direct episodes V and VI? Irvin Kershner handled "The Empire Strikes Back," while Richard Marquand directed "Return of the Jedi." Lucas resumed those duties for the prequel trilogy. Elsewhere in the world: On May 23, 1977: "The Brady Bunch Hour," a variety show spinoff, ended its run on ABC; Muhammad Ali knocked out Richard Dunn to defend his heavyweight championship. V "The Empire Strikes Back" Release date: May 21, 1980 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: 126 Reported budget: $18 million Worldwide ticket sales: $533.9 million Signature scene: Luke being pushed to the limit by Yoda's training; Luke and Vader's confrontation. Memorable quote: "Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder." -- Leia, when Han makes a pass. Han's reply: "Who's scruffy-looking?" Whatever happened to: Clive Revill, who voiced the Emperor in this film, then was replaced by Ian McDiarmid in subsequent episodes? Elsewhere in the world: On May 21, 1980: Navy Ensign Jean Marie Butler is the first female graduate of a United States service academy. VI "Return of the Jedi" Release date: May 25, 1983 Number of theater screens movie premiered on: 1,002 Reported budget: $32.5 million Worldwide ticket sales: $573 million Signature scene: The Forceful trinity of Yoda, Obi-Wan and a pre-Vader Anakin Skywalker smiling at Luke's success from the afterlife as Ewoks dance in triumph. Memorable quote: "Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." -- Yoda, on his deathbed. Whatever happened to: Women besides Leia actively leading the galactic revolution? Elsewhere in the world: On May 25, 1983: First national Missing Children's Day is proclaimed in the United States; France performs nuclear testing.

The People Obi-Wan Kenobi Played by Ewan McGregor Padme Amidala Played by Natalie Portman C3PO Voiced by Anthony Daniels Chewbacca Played by Peter Mayhew Count Dooku Played by Christoper Lee General Grievous Voiced by Matthew Wood Senator Bail Organa Played by Jimmy Smits R2D2 Played by 3-foot-8 British dwarf Kenny Baker Mace Windu Played by Samuel L. Jackson Yoda Voiced by Frank Oz Jango Fett Played by Temuera Morrison. Died in "Episode II." His clones all work for the Dark side. Boba Fett The only unaltered clone of Jango Fett. He was the Bounty Hunter in "Episode V." George Lucas The mastermind behind this six-part saga. Fun facts » Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., an outplacement firm, estimates that about $627 million will be lost in productivity with the amount of people skipping work Thursday and Friday to catch "Episode III." » "Episode III" was shot in China, Thailand, Switzerland and Tunisia, plus on soundstages in Australia and the United Kingdom. A crew also went to Sicily, Italy, to shoot footage of the erupting Mount Etna for scenes set on the volcanic planet of Mustafar. » As part of his training, Hayden Christensen did six hours of sword-fighting, one hour of weights and one hour of cardiovascular work. Daily. He gained more than 20 pounds of muscle to play the role and convincingly wear the Darth Vader suit. » When Christensen first appeared on the set in the Vader costume, work on the Fox Studios lot came to a standstill as hundreds of people came for a look. » Knowing this was his last chance to match his performance with Sir Alec Guinness, who originated the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan McGregor said, "For three weeks, I had his scenes from the first three movies playing nonstop in my dressing room as inspiration." » A Best Actress Oscar nominee turns up in a cameo in "Revenge of the Sith." Keisha Castle-Hughes, a New Zealander who was 13 when nominated for "Whale Rider," portrays the Queen of Naboo. » Lucas originally imagined C-3PO speaking with a Brooklyn accent and acting like a used-car dealer, according to a "Revenge of the Sith" scrapbook by Ryder Windham. However, actor Anthony Daniels imagined him as a nervous English butler. Daniels is the only actor with a speaking role in all six films. » When Lucas started planning the first "Star Wars" in 1975, he asked a young sound designer named Ben Burtt to find real noises and sounds that would work in the movie. Among his marriage of image and sound: Lightsaber sounds were a combo of the hum from the back of an old TV set and an old 35 mm movie projector, and Luke Skywalker's landspeeder noise is actually traffic on the Harbor Freeway in Los Angeles, as heard through a vacuum-cleaner pipe. » The final time Lucas quietly said, "Cut -- that's a wrap" on a "Star Wars" picture was at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England. Things to look for in 'Episode III' » George Lucas in blueface at the opera as Baron Papanoida. Lucas' daughters Katie and Amanda -- both of whom persuaded their daddy to join them in the shot -- are also in the scene. » A hot rod driven by Sen. Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits). It's based on the front of a Tucker that is parked at Skywalker Ranch. "George is an avid car fan, and when they were designing that car, he actually sent them over to the garage to take pictures of the Tucker," says Rob Coleman, animation director on the film. » A duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin marks the first (and only) time in a "Star Wars" movie that two characters fight each other using the same color lightsaber. » A Peter Cushing look-alike. At the end of the film, there's an actor who bears a strong resemblance to the late actor who played Grand Moff Tarkin, the villain in the original "Star Wars" movie. » Listen for Anakin's first mechanical-sounding breath as Darth Vader (toward the end of the movie). » Padme changes her hairstyle, now wearing the bun style like Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars." » Leia's blockade runner, which is attacked at the beginning of the original movie. » Jett Lucas, the director's son, as Zett Jukassa, a Jedi. » Jar Jar Binks, luckily with his mouth closed. A duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin marks the first time two characters fight each other using the same color lightsabers. Look for Princess Leia's bun-like hairstyle on Padme. Previously WAY behind the scenes Sci-Fi fills mythological role 'Star Wars' in LEGO Jedi nuts flip for 'Episode III'