Star Wars: The Clone Wars film information, trailer, behind-the-scenes and release dates

Ok, here we go. Everything you wanted to know about the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Genres
Animated Science Fiction Fantasy Action Adventure Thriller

Synopsis
The Grand Army of the Republic, led by Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other Jedi Knights, fights the New Droid Army of the Separatists. (Expanded synopsis below, in the press release.)

The August 15 feature film will set the stage for the spinoff TV series, which will begin airing on Cartoon Network, followed by TNT. International release dates for the feature and TV series are still being set.

The movie is expected to run around 100 minutes and pick up between Episodes II and III. Anakin Skywalker has not yet become Darth Vader. The story will then continue in 30-minute TV installments.

Directors
Brian O’Connell, Dave Bullock (multiple episodes), Rob Coleman (multiple episodes), Dave Filoni (supervising), Justin Ridge, George Samilski (one episode)

Writers
Kevin Campbell, Henry Gilroy, George Krstic, George Lucas, Scott Murphy

Producers
George Lucas, Sarah Wall, Catherine Winder

Cast
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO (voice), Greg Ellis as Turk, Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine, Matthew Wood as General Grevious (voice)

Release Date
The first animated project from Lucasfilm Animation will be released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on August 15, 2008.

Country
USA

Website
www.starwars.com/theclonewars

Trailer
www.starwars.com/video/view/000478.html

CLICK HERE for behind-the-scenes video interview with Star Wars: The Clone Wars Supervising Director Dave Filoni

Lucasfilm is launching an online documentary about the project at www.starwars.com.

NEWS AND NOTES
Unlike the previous Clone Wars televised animated show, this tv series is supposedly putting a lot of effort into maintaining continuity with the rest of the Clone Wars EU (from Dark Horse comics and the Del Rey novels).

Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting announce deal to release Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2008.

George Lucas financing 200 episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Lucas says the upcoming animated series is so far removed from typical animated TV fare that “we’re still trying to figure out how to put it on the air.” In an interview with the online edition of TV Guide, Lucas said that the series would be rated PG-13 if it were a movie. “Everybody’s got the same conundrums – ‘How do we program it? Where does it live? Where can we put something like this?’ You know, it has to go [on the air] after 9:00 p.m. and it can’t be on a kiddie channel.” But while the series doesn’t fit into a convenient “niche” for advertisers and programmers, Lucas said, “It’s Star Wars and it’s really good, so I’m sure somehow or another, people will also start thinking outside the box and it will find its home.” Lucas indicated that he is independently financing 100 episodes of the animated series as well as 100 episodes of a live-action Star Wars-based series that has not yet begun shooting. “We’re just doing them on the faith that we’re going to [sell them],” he told TV Guide. “But I have enough confidence that this is good, and I’ll make it really good, so I’m not too worried about that part of it.”

Why Warner’s and Not Fox?
Lucasfilm said Warner Brothers’ cable and theatrical resources made it an especially good fit for the project. “We’re trying to do something unprecedented, marrying a TV series and theatrical release,” a rep for the company said.

The Asian Connection
Lucasfilm’s computer-animated The Clone Wars, is being produced not only at the company’s headquarters in Marin County but also in Asia, where 100 employees are working on the project at a 40,000 square-foot facility in Singapore, the LA Times reported. Executive producer Catherine Winder told the paper that the company employs specialized workers in 33 countries.

Lucas on Why He Has Revisited the Star Wars Universe Again
Lucas has told media he mounted this new spin-off because he “felt there were a lot more ‘Star Wars’ stories left to tell.” He also said he wanted to tell them through animation, pushing the technology forward at the same time.

Official Press Release from LucasFilm and Warner Brothers

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 Padme Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains – led by Palpatine, 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.

The first in a planned series of special web-only documentaries that chronicle the development of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS debuts online today, and can be found at www.starwars.com.