Star Wars News Central

George Lucas' final "Star Wars" movie scored the second-best three-day weekend of all time on Sunday, but the Force was not strong enough to prevent overall ticket sales in North America from posting a year-on-year-decline for the 13th consecutive weekend.

"Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" sold an estimated $108.5 million worth of tickets for the Friday-to-Sunday period, taking its total to $158.5 million since it opened after midnight on Thursday.

Its four-day haul sets a new record, surpassing the $134.3 million tally of 2003's "The Matrix Reloaded." Its Thursday tally of $50 million also set a one-day record, beating the $44.8 million sum for "Shrek 2" last year.

The three-day weekend record is held by "Spider-Man," which opened to almost $115 million in 2002. "Revenge of the Sith" narrowly pipped "Shrek 2," which opened with $108 million. Rankings could change when final data are issued on Monday.

Spielberg a "Guest Director" on Episode III?

"StarWars.com divulges some fairly fascinating news in their interview with "The Making of Revenge of the Sith" author J.W. Rinzler: Steven Spielberg helped put some sequences together? "As George [Lucas] explains in the book, he gave Spielberg a few scenes to play with at the animatics stage: a bit of the Mustafar duel, and Yoda's duel with the Emperor, along with a couple of others. How much of Spielberg's contribution made it to the final film, only Lucas or Spielberg could say, particularly as George revised and reinvented every scene in the film so extensively in editorial."

Star Wars Fans Flock to Paris

Darth Vader has been spotted working the crowd in Paris, posing for photos on a red carpet behind a velvet rope line to the glee of adoring European "Star Wars" fans.

The French aren't about to be outdone in the mania over the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith." At least 3,000 fans of the famed sci-fi series flocked to a Paris movie theater Friday for the start of a three-day convention ahead of its release this week.

The convention is billed as the first of its kind in Europe and a first in a country often known for shunning Hollywood hype.

President Jacques Chirac has promoted the idea of France's "cultural exception" a policy of state support for homegrown art, cinema and music to counter the influence of American pop culture.

"'Star Wars' is really different," said Romain Berteau, 23, a social housing manager outside Paris, wearing a Jedi robe. "In some ways, it's flattering to France to draw all these fans from around Europe."

Dozens of "Star Wars" buffs, many wearing storm trooper gear or wielding ersatz light sabers, kicked off the festivities Friday by parading along a Paris boulevard to the Grand Rex theater for a concert of series theme music performed by the Paris Cinematographic Orchestra.

The three-day pass cost $101 a pittance for fans accustomed to paying thousands of dollars to reconstruct Darth Vader costumes or build up figurine collections. Some traveled from thousands of miles away.

Fans were treated to special effects demonstrations, mock light-saber fights, home movies based on a "Star Wars" theme, and question time with actors Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett).

"It's just the craziness of it all," said James Cork, 21, a decorator from Montreux, Switzerland, dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi, as he showed a plastic light saber that he sculpted. "I had to come."

Others were looking for business.

Abel Lasserre, 30, and partner David Guivant, 29, made the trek from France's South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia to distribute trailers for Star Wars spinoff films they have dreamed up.

Lasserre said he put more than 500 hours into assembling his authentic-looking Boba Fett costume out of plastic resin weighing more than 30 pounds.

While France is accustomed to its art-house films, Guivant said big-budget entertainment films like those in the Star Wars series have their place, too.

"It's rare to see films of this magnitude in France," he said nostalgically. "Sometimes it's nice just to be entertained our French films sometimes lack a little razzle-dazzle."

Star Wars III to open Cannes

The final Star Wars film will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is expected to be the year’s biggest blockbuster.

Stars Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman will be in the South of France for the long-awaited screening of George Lucas’s sixth and final instalment.

Revenge of the Sith is one of the major films being shown out of competition.

Will There Be Two Different Version of "Sith"?

Reliable 'Star Wars source TheForce.net shares some prequel news, courtesy of Empire Magazine. In an interview with the mag, producer Rick McCallum says 'The digital version of the movie (Episode III) will be different from the version that goes out on film. That has to be locked down so much earlier, whereas the digital can go right up to a week-and-a-half before the film comes out.'No word on HOW different the two versions may be, but I suspect Mr. McCallum and Mr. Lucas wouldn't mind you seeing the movie twice...just to make sure.

Also check out Star Wars: Episode III Production Notes

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