“Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” won’t open until May 19, but fans and Web sites already are gearing up for the final film in George Lucas’ space saga.
“Everyone is getting really, really excited,” says Jewels Green, 33, a Philadelphia stay-at-home mom who plans to be one of the first in line, three weeks before opening night.
Lucasfilm has created stir by slowly releasing details, including a Sith “teaser trailer” that premiered last month with “The Incredibles.”
“Ever since the trailer came out, the fans have really been revving themselves up,” Lucasfilm fan relations chief Steve Sansweet says by phone from Spain.
He is there talking with fans at Sitges Film Festival.
The dark plot of “Sith” follows Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) transformation into Darth Vader.
While the first two Star Wars prequels grossed $431 million and $311 million, respectively, many fans didn’t believe they lived up to expectations.
Lucasfilm is launching a force of publicity behind “Sith”:
Hasbro rereleased a line of classic “Star Wars” toys and action figures to coincide with the fall release of the original trilogy DVD box set.
The Millennium Falcon and the Darth Vader Voice Changer mask have been hot holiday sellers. The hard-to-find mask retails for $35 but is selling on eBay for $150. In February, Hasbro will introduce a preview line of “Episode III” action figures.
This month, the official StarWars.com began offering new “Sith” stuff, including mugs, hats, T-shirts and a Christmas ornament with Yoda dressed in a Santa suit.
A new season of Cartoon Network’s Emmy-winning animated series “Star Wars, Clone Wars” will première March 21. The series bridges the gap between “Episode II” and “III.”
The “Sith” theatrical trailer and poster will be released in March.
About 30,000 fans are expected to turn out for Star Wars Celebration III, a fan convention April 21-24 in Indianapolis. Four-day admission is $40 to $95.
In New York, 350 members of NYLine.org will hold a “Star Wars”-themed sidewalk party outside the Ziegfeld Theater beginning April 30.
“The event aspect surrounding ‘Star Wars’ has always been there, but even more so this time with the final chapter of the saga,” says Green, a member of NYLine.org.
“It may be the last ‘Star Wars’ film that George makes, but it’s not the end of ‘Star Wars’,” Sansweet says.
Lucasfilm is eyeing future possibilities including games, comics and television, he says.
“As long as fans want it, ‘Star Wars’ will be there for them.”
Source: Tucson Citizen
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