SAN FRANCISCO -
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 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 http://www.starwars.com.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and
programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media
environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the
world.
Lucasfilm, STAR WARS, THE CLONE WARS, Lucasfilm Animation and related
character names, vehicle names and properties are trademarks and/or
copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd.
and/or its affiliates. TM & ©
Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names
are properties of their respective owners.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
John Singh or Lynne Hale, 415-623-1962
publicity@lucasfilm.com
or
Warner
Bros. Pictures
Marc Cohen, 818-954-6651
marc.cohen@warnerbros.com
or
Warner
Bros. Pictures International
Lance Volland, 818-954-6932
lance.volland@warnerbros.com
or
Turner
Broadcasting (Cartoon Network)
James Anderson, 404-885-4205
james.anderson@turner.com
