Ready…Jedi…Go
Nick Gillard feels the Force will be strong in Star Wars: Episode III. “It’s going to be the best prequel. I can’t see how it won’t be,” says Gillard, the veteran stunt co-ordinator whose outstanding fight sequences have been one of the undisputed highlights of the new Star Wars trilogy.

“Episode III has got everything the other films had and more! The movie is 60 to 70 per cent fighting. Ewan [McGregor, Obi-Wan Kenobi] had 1,000 moves to learn, as opposed to the three pages he had to learn in The Phantom Menace. There’s tons of fighting in this one.”

“Episode III also ties in beautifully with all the other movies. And when I read the script, I was really surprised by how emotional it is.”

“Everyone working on the film took so much care with it,” he states. “Nobody wants to get it wrong.”

Fighting Talk-
Set three years after events in Attack of the Clones, Episode III focuses on the fall of the Jedi, the rise of the Empire and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader. As the film is currently in the early stages of post-production and won’t be released until May 2005, Gillard is understandably reluctant to give too much away about specific plot points at this early stage. But he does confirm that the movie features the long-awaited lightsaber duel between Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and his former mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“It’s a monster of a sequence,” reveals Gillard. “I had a couple of years to think about it and think about what George [Lucas, writer/director] had told me about it, and it was daunting because I knew how important that sequence is. I spent probably a year deconstructing the Jedi style of fighting to make it work. I had Hayden with me eight weeks before we started shooting it and I had Ewan six weeks, which wasn’t really enough time, so we often had to rehearse at weekends during the filming.”

“If it comes out like I saw it being shot, it’s going to be phenominal,” he promises.

Gillard also reports that the duel will explain how Obi-Wan is able to defeat his protege, even though Anakin has been established as the most powerful Jedi who ever lived. “Obi-Wan taught Anakin and Anakin has gone past him,” he notes. “But when you get to that duel, it’s emotional. That’s where the mistake will be made. And if you know the characters, you know Obi-Wan isn’t going to get emotional and he doesn’t make mistakes.”

Anakin’s grisly demise at the end of the duel is set to be one of the most chilling moments in the entire saga. It will also help make Episode III the most intense Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back.

“Episode III is really dark,” confirms Gillard. “There’s rumours of it being a PG. I’ve made it as violent as I absolutely possibly can. If something had to be cut off in a scene, it was a painful thing!”

In-between choreographing Episode III’s epic action sequences, Gillard also filmed a cameo role in the movie. “I am in it as a hologram. George said I had to be in it. He wanted to call me “The Troll’, but I managed to change it to ‘Cin Drallig’, my name backwards—though I will probably end up as The Troll.”

“It was nice to do, and I think I will become an action figure eventually–they laser-beamed me along with everyone else.”

Duel Purpose-
A veteran stunt co-ordinator whose credits include Indiana Jones and the last Crusade, Interview with a Vampire and Aliens, Gillard began working on the Star Wars prequel trilogy in 1997, when he joined the crew of Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace. His first task was to develop a new style of lightsaber fighting for the trilogy’s characters.

“I loved the original films,” he says, “but once I took the job, I looked at them and thought, “Things have moved on. I can’t make the fights the same as they were back then. I have to up the ante’.”

“I developed different styles for the characters, and gave each of them a flaw or a bonus. So with Obi, for instance, he’s got a very business-like style–when he was younger he could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit, because he was taught by Qui-Gonn. Qui-Gonn was brash, that rubbed off on Obi and Obi then taught Anakin, who was way too old to learn anyway.” “I think the style really worked well. The Jedi style of fighting is an amalgamation of all the great swordfighting styles. Melding them together is the difficult part–to move from a Kendo style to, say, Rapier requires a complete change in body and feet movement, and this must look effortless. The style moves seamlessly between the different disciplines, but remains technically correct throughout. It’s unlike any other style of fighting and I think it’s beautiful to watch.” In addition to developing the character’s fighting styles, Gillard trained the actors to bring them to life, in a deliberate effort to avoid using stunt doubles. He is full of praise for everyone’s efforts on the movies, especially those of his leading Jedi. “Ewan McGregor can just do anything,” he notes. “I’ve known Ewan for years and whatever you give him to do, he can do it. I would have thought that no one could have become better than Ewan–after Phantom and Attack of the Clones, he just looked like the best. But Hayden learned fast and is now leagues ahead of everybody. He is terrifying!” Gillard’s work on the films’ lightsaber duels doesn’t end with the principal photography, though. He is heavily involved in the development of the fighting styles employed by the movies’ computer-generated character, including Jedi Master Yoda. “I worked with Rob Coleman and John Knoll at ILM on the Yoda stuff in Clones,” he explains. “I think we did alright with it. It came up very quickly, because originally the fight between Anakin and Dooku was going to be much longer and we shot a much longer sequence, but that was dropped for the Yoda fight. At the time I thought, ‘ Oh no, it’s going to look so bad….’, but I was quite impressed when I saw it. I think if I had been six or seven years old, I would have been blown away. And it won Best Fight at the MTV Awards!” Reflecting on the first two Star Wars prequels, Gillard is aware that neither The Phantom Menace nor Attack of the Clones seem to have captured cinemagoers’ imagination in quite the same ways as the original films. But he maintains that they are worthy additions to the saga, and is proud of his own contributions to them. “The prequels were never going to be what people remembered, because they were a lot younger when they saw the original films. It’s a personal thing,” he notes. “But I liked both of them, I actually liked Phantom Menace more than Clones–I know who George makes these films for: he makes them for children.” “I’m happy with my work on the films,” he continues. “You always want to do more, of course, and you don’t have any control over editing and stuff. But I think it’s great.” Following the completion of principal photography on Episode III at the end of September, Nick Gillard is aware that the bulk of his work on the Star Wars prequel trilogy–is done. He also feels that his time in a galaxy far, far away will always hold a special place in his heart. “It’s been an amazing experience,” he declares. “It can spoil you for other things, because it’s not studio backed and Rick McCallum is the best producer in the world–he will give you anything you want, anywhere you want it, any time. When you go to America, you’ll walk into a shop and people will know who you are and that you worked on Star Wars, even though you’re just the stunt co-ordinator. And, of course, you get offered everything after doing Star Wars without an interview–although when you meet the filmmakers, they don’t want to talk about their films, they just want to talk about Star Wars!” “It’s been a fantastic seven years. It was weird getting the job and realising I’d be doing it for seven years, but I’m really happy to have done the three films. I would have hated it if anyone else had done them.”

Your character in Shattered Glass was a liar and very unlikeable – why on earth did you want to play him?
Those are the fun ones! I think that every actor wants to play a con.

Aren’t actors paid liars anyway?
Yeah, I guess so. I mean, what we do isn’t so much about lying, but about trying to connect with some sort of truth and applying that to a false reality. So, it’s trying not to lie. But I think all actors feel a bit like a con. We always feel like we’re kind of getting away with something and wondering, “Are people buying us, are they believing us in this role?” I think that those are sort of similar thoughts that percolate in a con man’s head.

Are you a good liar?
I used to be when I was younger!

Do you mean getting out of school or some other kind of lying?
Yeah, getting out of school and stuff like that. I think kids are probably the best liars and also the most honest at the same time which sounds like a bit of a contradiction.

You’ve just been in Australia again shooting the last Star Wars instalment. Do you have a favourite place?
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t actually make it outside of Sydney which I think is sort of despicable. I stayed in Bondi both times that I was there. I really took a liking to living in a beach community. There was this Turkish family who owned a local juice bar. I’d go over to their house every now and then, and she’d cook me a traditional Turkish dinner and that was really neat.

Did you go surfing?
I tried it. I wasn’t successful! I stuck with a boogie board, but I really like Sydney. The people have a certain kind of ease and pace that they live that’s not too dissimilar to the Canadian lifestyle [Hayden is from Toronto]. That’s a good quality of living and I think that poverty there is the lowest I’ve seen. I would spend a lot more time in Sydney if it wasn’t so far away.

Were you recognised there?
Yeah. Honestly though, there was not as much attention around us being there as there was when we were doing Episode Two.

They’re bored with you already?
Maybe! Or just more respectful of the fact that we were working.

How is it at home in Canada?
I can live the life of a reclusive hermit, if I want. I can go home to Toronto at just chill. I still live with my parents.

Why?
Because I like it. It’s familiar.

You don’t want to do your own laundry?
Yeah, that too!

What do you do to escape from your life as a film star?
I still play a lot of tennis. When I’m back home in Toronto, we’ll organise some hockey games if it’s winter time and we’ll go out to the pond and play ice hockey or even street hockey in the summer time and that’s an all day event.

Do you like doing the red carpet thing?
That’s still something that I’m getting more and more comfortable with. I still get nervous when people take my picture. I’m definitely not half as nervous as I used to be.

How are you dealing with fame?
I get a real kick when little kids come up to me and can’t really separate me as Anakin from Star Wars and me as an actor. I sort of physicalise their dreamland for them, and that’s really kind of special.

Do your friends tease you about being a heart-throb?
Every now and then. It’s embarrassing to talk about, what can I say?!

But you have thousands of female fans – how do you feel about it?
It’s flattering. It’s very separate from the type of the flattery you receive from doing good work, which is more gratifying. It’s one of those things you just take with a grain of salt.

Are you seeing anyone right now?
I think so! You never really know, do you? Not right now – that’s my official answer!

Is it easier to date other actors?
Not necessarily. It’s all specific to your own personal experience.

You must get the fan letters…
Yeah, but you’re not going to call them back and say, “So I, er, got your picture…”!

So who is your ideal woman?
Smart, I like a girl with a mind that she takes care of. Obviously I would like to be physically attracted to them. And kindness is first and foremost. It’s an important quality to look for. Someone who likes to be adventurous and spontaneous and who likes to have a good time.

You grew up in a house full of women.
Yeah.

Do you it’s helped to have a more understanding of women?
Yeah, without question. Yeah, you grow up with a houseful of women and you know how to cope! And you know how to keep them happy.

Does your career make it hard having a relationship
Yeah, I think that just the logistics of not being able to stay in one place for too long isn’t good grounds to form a serious relationship on. I take it as it comes. If I fall in love, maybe I’ll decide that I want to take some time off and stay in one place for a little while, but that’s not now.

Do you like the lifestyle you lead? You’re kind of living out of a suitcase.
Yeah, it suits me well. I think if I weren’t doing this I’d find another profession that accepts vagabonds. I like exploring new cities. It’s thrilling. I think that’s what you do in your early 20s – you leave home and go and explore the world. And my job takes me there, which is kind of neat.

Source: NW Insider Magazine

The young person Darth Vader of ‘ the war of galaxias’ again opens his dark side like mentiroso journalist in ‘ the price of verdad’

-Do you know how many interviews will have to make to promote ‘ Star Wars III ‘?

- I have not calculated them. For the second episode, we began in Los Angeles: sixty interviews to the day. Later I did fifty or sixty a day during two weeks around the world. Press conferences and appearances in televising programs aside.

Hayden Christensen was able to be Darth Vader at 19 years old. George Lucas passed over four hundred other candidates, among them Leonardo DiCaprio and he fixed the life to him for always to this Canadian that now he is 23 years old and one complete agenda for 2005: the opening of the third and last episode of “Star Wars” in May will take to all the covers.

Before confronting with “immense laziness” marathon promotional, Christensen presented/displayed in the recent festival of cinema of the Palms of Great Canary “Shattered Glass,” the fascinating chronicle of the fall of journalist Stephen Glass. Star of ‘ The New Republic’ in the 90s, the more prestigious political magazine of the U.S.A., Glass was defensive when being discovered that almost all their invented exclusive rights were patronized. Another opportunity to open the cloudy facet of Christensen, by something Lucas saw seized in its innocent facade the dark side of the Force.

- Glass took to the end the value of the competitiveness, that in the U.S.A. inculcate from the institute.

- Yes. There, the importance of the person resides in the statue that reaches. In the institute, they concern notes and, mainly, your prestige, not the knowledge that you acquire. There is a mentality to stop ways: if something can be obtained of easy form, shortening distances, it becomes. From very small, the Americans learn to create figures. To emphasize is an obsession.

-Did you know Glass?

-No. He refused to participate from the beginning in the film. Later he has promoted a book that he wrote already called “The Fabulist’ that had digested its own personage (‘. Ed. Planet). I have not nor wanted to read it. It scares me that somebody is able to elaborate lies thus.

- How was it?

- An educated uncle. One always remembered details to please.’ The coffee without sugar, like you gustá. ‘What feels that blouse well you? She is new, right?’ Things thus. But it’s in a very different era.

- Why did it make news?

-Suppose that by an excessive and insane ambition. His family did not want her to be a journalist, but lawyer. Glass yearned for that they accepted him being successful. And he became a pathological liar. He was profuse in the details and it connected a lie with another one. Perhaps who knows, it needed a screw.

A pile of children

- What perception has a star of cinema of the journalists? Be sincere.

- The truth? No actor feels proud of the promotion work. We are the vaguest people in the world. Our work is the opposite of the office life, from nine to five. We have long free time. And we feel certain disdain towards those who come to us with a recorder. Because then we are not interpreting, we are not creating. True, that also there are actors who love to speak of themselves for three days. They are pure vanity.

- Have there been invented news on you?

-True. Recently, I read that during the running of ‘ Star Wars’ in Sydney I burnt the hands while maintaining the lightsaber for a long time. In fact, it is a wood that later the special effects turn laser. The press has invented me appointments, fiancées. If beams case to newspapers, I lead a most interesting life.

-and it does not infuriate to you?

-Me the volume with tranquility, because I assume that I comprise of the entertainment industry. You know? To disassemble the rumors also is amusing.

-If the journalists are competitive, neither the actors already nor your story.

- No. Passes the opposite right. The actors we have a very passive paper.My work depends on other actors, reason why he would be very little productive who tried to be a self-seeking one.

- Good values have been instilled in him..

-My older sister is actress. She introduced the passion to me. My family understood that I didn’t go to university and dedicated myself to a vocation that consumed me. They help me to remember who I am. We are very united. I’m dying to have my own family, a fixed house with a pile of children who hope to me. Now alive like in a soccer match, where everything happens to vertiginous rate.

- What race interests more to you like mirror in which to be reflected: the one of Tom Cruise or the one of Johnny Depp?

- I would like myself to benefit from the best thing of both: to roll the films of Johnny Depp but to count on the options of Cruise, that has its own producer (“Shattered Glass”‘ is produced by the star of ‘ Top Gun ‘).

- Today several canary fanatics of ‘”Star Wars” have assaulted you to request your autograph. What do you think of them?

- I do not want to judge to them. While they are pleasant with me I have some anecdotes with those obsessed fans. There was a priest who was sending harangues against me for a whole year. Like measurement to prevent, attempt to avoid the commercial centers. Of course, I never accept invitations to present/display myself in conventions of fans.

- Do you admire George Lucas?

- Yes. He has a very progressive mentality for which is to be accustomed to in Hollywood. He has an own world and he has developed a technology in his company that is a model. And, mainly, he is an amiable uncle.

- It always does not worry you to be Anakin Skywalker, the young Darth Vader?

-The classification does not worry me; if only there were three or four blockbusters to the year .Today, an actor is classified if he works six years in a television series. In addition, Anakin is only a stereotype.

-’Bowling for Columbine” offers an idyllic vision of Canada. He is really right’?

-Yes. It is certain that people do not have necessity to close their houses with a key. Michael Moore pays attention to the metropolitan districts, and Canada is something more than great cities. But there exists a general sensation of security.

- Do you like John Kerry?

- I have my own political ideas, I know who is doing things well and who badly. But I am not going to share them with you.

An actor can’t play more different roles than Star Wars’ Anakin Skywalker and tainted journalist Stephen Glass who was fired for making up most of the news stories he created. Hayden Christensen is thrilled for the opportunity. The young, Canadian-born actor started in the biz at age 7 in commercials then appeared in a soap and a t.v. series before landing the coveted Anakin role and receiving SAG and Golden Globe award nominations for his touching turn as a troubled teen in Life as a House. The soft-spoken, thoughtful actor finds satisfaction as a performer in both huge epics and smaller, more character-driven movies like his new film Shattered Glass.
When we sat down to chat with Hayden at L.A.’s posh Mondrian Hotel (where the famous Sky Bar is located), the actor was scruffy-handsome in brown tee and black jacket. His hair is blonde-tinged and longer than we’ve seen it in the past. He spoke about spending some downtime playing tennis and hockey, his fascination and difficulty with the Glass character, his respect for journalists, his joy at having more intense acting opportunities in the new Star Wars film and a role in a new, romantic period movie.

AGW: A lot of teens and young adults are faking reports in school and may carry this behavior out through their lives. So after having played this part, what kind of a message would you have for them?
Hayden: I’m not usually one to give advice. But it’s a danger. You’re going to cut off your nose to spite your face if you start. It might get you the grade, but that’s not what you’re there for, really. That’s the misconception I think. You’re there to get a grade to get into university, and everyone’s sort of got this convoluted idea that sort of has veered away from the fact that you’re [really] there to better yourself. By lying and cheating on a test, you’re really just doing yourself a disservice. Not saying I didn’t do it myself [laughter].

AGW: Did you ever meet with the real Stephen Glass?
Hayden: I never met with him. I never got to speak with him. So my interpretation wasn’t an imitation. I had all of his articles so I had an idea for the kind of storyteller that he was and how colorful his lies were. And I talked a little bit to some of the people that worked with him. He was perceived in the office as being this guy who lacked self-confidence, [always asking] ‘are you mad at me?’ There was a lot of pressure from his family put on him, and they weren’t really so happy with his chosen line of work. I could never speak with him about why he did it, so I had to come to those conclusions on my own.

AGW: Did you do more research on him?
Hayden: I spent some time in different news publications getting a feel for general banter in the pitch meetings and the sense of this ambition to always up yourself from your last one, which was I think really indicative to how Stephen got away with it. Maybe starting off with a very small lie and letting that land on people. Then it was required of him to come up with one that was even more creative and more elaborate.

AGW: Did you watch the interview with him on 60 minutes? And, if so, did it confirm to you that you nailed the part?
Hayden: That was all after we had done the film. But, honestly it was a bit of a sigh of relief. I was somewhat nervous about playing a real person and not getting to meet him. I had a couple of pictures of him that informed how I dressed and how he smiled. There was sort of a distant gaze in his eyes, and that made me think there was something pathological about him, that wasn’t quite right.

AGW: Did you ever feel sorry for him at all?
Hayden: All the time. When you’re playing a character that’s flawed, the first rule is you can’t be judgmental, otherwise you’re playing him with that bias, and you’re projecting onto your character instead of just letting him be. So I was very sympathetic. And that sympathy and that sense of insecurity by the end of the film really got under my skin and I was really eager to be finished with it all. It’s not the most confident place to exist as an actor. You go to work every day wanting to connect with something real and honest, and when your task is to lie through your teeth every day, and still gauge how people are reading this, it’s a little nerve wracking.

AGW: Have you ever told a massive whopper that you got in trouble for?
Hayden: Sure. Not recently. Actors feel like, to a certain extent all actors feel like a con man. We’re always wondering if we’re getting away with it, if people are buying our bull****. That was the insecurity that I let blossom in me to play the role. It’s been a while since I’ve lied. Honesty is important.

AGW: Do you know all the lies being written about you in the tabloids, or do you just ignore that?
Hayden: I catch a bit of it. I find out about people I’m dating. It’s all really amusing. My brother and I were renting this house. The guy who we were renting from wanted to sell it, and we didn’t want to buy it. We were like, ‘that’s all right, we’ll move, find a different place’ and now [I'm reading that] I can’t afford to pay my rent [laughter].

AGW: The real Glass is sort of enjoying the press now. He wanted to be famous for the sake of being famous. Do you feel you are now aiding that?
Hayden: I struggled a bit at the beginning when I was deciding if I wanted to do the film. Putting all of someone’s lies, the worst times in their life and committing that to film for someone to go to a video store and rent whenever they so please. I was like, can I really do this with a good conscience? But then, you need to be held responsible for your actions. I came to the conclusion that there was a large part of Stephen that sought the spotlight, and that’s what motivated him to do all these sort of misdoings. And I think it’s become even more clear when he’s come out with this book now, and he’s doing all this press for his book. I don’t really feel so bad about it.

AGW: Do you have any desire to meet him at this point? Would you dread meeting him?
Hayden: I wouldn’t dread it, I’m not gonna try to make the introduction either. I’ve played the part now, and if I saw him at a party absolutely [I would walk up to him]. The one thing I could never really get around was intent. I never got to ask him why. I’m really curious. I’ve made up my own reasons and then there were opinions floating about. But I don’t really know, and I’m not saying he would give me an honest answer.

AGW: Do you ever think about being a journalist? It’s so competitive. Do you ever see why a journalist might do something like Glass did?
Hayden: Definitely. It’s a difficult line of work to report on something accurately without instilling your own bias. The line between journalism and newsworthy stories and entertainment is sort of getting blurred a little bit, and that’s something obviously that you guys have to compensate for. There’s a fine line. I have a great respect for what you do.

AGW: Okay, the Star Wars questions. Can you talk a little bit about the differences between doing something as small as this and something as large as Star Wars?
Hayden: Day and night. A film like Star Wars, you go and live in your imagination and for three months you’re in fantasyland. Blue screen, a majority of the film is done in entirely blue set. You go to work every day and it’s the exact same environment. It’s almost like Groundhog Day only you’re saying different lines [laughter]. The cameras are in the same place, everyone’s kinda looking at the exact same thing. When you get to do a film like Shattered Glass everything that is going to motivate you, all your stimulus is provided for you. When you’re on a big budget movie that has so many different aspects involved that are digital, the focus is a little scattered at times, and it can often get a little chaotic. They’re each their own demon, and each their own blessing. I think I’ve learned the most from those [Star Wars] films, in all honesty, I do feel very privileged to be a part of it just because there won’t be very many other films made the way they made those.

AGW: How are you dealing with being a part of a huge cult phenomenon? There are thousands of kids with light sabers running around.
Hayden: I get such a kick out of that. When the little ones come up, when you have ten year old kids, nine year old kids that can’t differentiate between Anakin and the actor who’s playing Anakin, then you bring [that] to life. You make their fantasyland tangible, and to be a part of that is a privilege. Star Wars obviously has had quite an impact on popular culture, and to have my name associated with that is …neat.

AGW: Do you have your doll/action figure?
Hayden: Honestly, I do have the doll. They send you one of everything that’s made to do with the film, so you get these boxes every few months. But the dolls are something that will stay in the boxes for a while, because that was like, I’ve got my own action figure, that’s the coolest thing. And the thing doesn’t look anything like me!

AGW: You mentioned that one of the things about doing these films is that they’re so big that sometimes the performance is not the primary focus in making it. Do you feel like the third film, with Anakin’s transformation to Vader will be an exception?
Hayden: I hope so. There’s no question that there was an excitement on this film that wasn’t as prominent on the last. Particularly, George [Lucas]‘s approach was much more hands on this time, And just the inherent art of what Anakin’s journey is, is more enthralling than the last [film], and there was more for me to sink my teeth into. And that final transition is one for the books. It’ll be a neat film, definitely.

AGW: What is next for you?
Hayden: I’m gonna do a romantic period fable piece. Early 20th Century. It’s like a bit of an homage to the “Princess Brides” of filmmaking. It’s a Jillian Armstrong film that will go sort of middle of next year. So I still have a bit of time before that starts. I hope to do another film in the interim.

ROSARIO DAWSON: Yes, I was 15. They were shooting a Vibe commercial on my block, and my dad said to go hang out downstairs because I might get cast. So I stood down there the whole weekend and ultimately ended up being checked out by Harmony Korine and Larry Clark [the writer and director, respectively, of Kids (1995), who were scouting locations for their movie].

HC: You were ultimately cast in Kids. That must have been an interesting initiation into filmmaking.

RD: Yeah, I remember being very quiet and shy and excited about the whole thing. I was supposed to play this very lippy, precocious, sexual girl, which I was not at that age. Finally, I just owned it, and it got me really excited about taking on a persona that wasn’t necessarily my own.

HC: You’ve done a number of indie projects, as well as big-budget studio fare like this month’s Alexander and the forthcoming Sin City. How is it to navigate those two worlds?

RD: I like the risks that independent projects sometimes take, but I’ve also worked on some great big-budget stuff. I’ve never had a particular loyalty to any one type of filmmaking. And it’s been great to participate in some other things. It brought in a lot of new experiences as well as different types of directors and approaches, which I probably wouldn’t have had if I’d stuck to just one thing. Plus I always wanted to work with Oliver Stone [Alexander's director].

HC: In the film you play Roxane, the wife of Alexander. Tell me about the role.

RD: It was a kind of character I’d never played before–she lived in a time and place where everything was life or death. And it was interesting to play a woman who was so fierce and strong, but so limited in her power. She couldn’t be persuasive, so she had to be manipulative. And because the film takes place from 350 to 285 B.C., you had to be in a bubble making it; we were out in the middle of the desert in Morocco for three months, totally away from everything.

HC: What do you think it was about this story that made Oliver Stone so committed to bringing it to the big screen?

RD: You can’t learn about a character like Alexander and not be moved. I think it’s why his story is still so relevant. It’s not about trying to match the politics of that time with what’s going on in the world today, though it’s easy to do. It’s the reason why history persists.

HC: I understand that Sin City is based on the graphic novels of Frank Miller and that you had to do a lot of green-screen work. Sounds like it couldn’t have been more different from Alexander.

RD: In some ways Sin City was equally extraordinary, but in a completely different way. The film is going to be black and white, but with spots of color, like red lips or a red dress–very surreal and film-noirish. But the other thing that’s so incredible about the film is [co-director] Robert Rodriguez’s dedication. Frank Miller is considered a god in the comic world, and this is going to be the most fully realized comic adaptation in history.

HC: So, tell me about politics, jail, and the dangers of wearing masks. [both laugh]

RD: Oh, goodness. Stephen Marshall, who is one of the creators of GNN, which stands for the Gorilla News Network, wanted to do a remake of this old film called Medium Cool (1969), which takes place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. His version [called This Revolution] takes place at the 2004 Republican convention and deals with issues of journalistic integrity. What happened is that we were shooting footage during the convention, and one of the crew started talking to someone from BET [Black Entertainment Television]. I didn’t want to be identified, so I put my mask up to hide my identity. Then cops grabbed us and pulled us over and were like, “You’re wearing a mask. That’s against the law.” But when I turned to the cop and said, “We’re making a movie. We have permits,” he arrested me anyway. Contextually, I completely understand why they responded the way they did, but there were a lot of people who were arrested who weren’t doing anything. It only amplified the reason why I was doing the movie, and the reason why I’m involved with the [Lower East Side] Girls Club [a group that helps provide services to financially disadvantaged girls]–trying to empower people to know their rights. That’s another thing I got from Alexander. You look at people like Socrates and Aristotle who participated governmentally and philosophically and in the arts. They understood what it was to be a free man, and they respected it in a way that we just don’t nowadays.

According to The Sun, the movie promises to send adrenalin pumping with a thrilling lightsaber clash between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) while they surf on lava.

“Anakin and Obi-Wan fight on platforms on the lava. They control these like surfboards,” a source was quoted as saying.

“There’s going to be a big announcement soon. They’ve tried lots of titles but the most popular is Birth Of The Empire,” he added.

The movie which will be out next May also features Anakin’s transformation into evil Darth Vader and his baby son, Luke, being smuggled to safety to the desert planet Tatooine. (ANI)

Hayden Christensen and his brother Tove Christensen have teamed with Emmy-winning documentarian R.J. Cutler to produce a reality project for FX. The project, tentatively titled “Masterpiece,” is going to chronicle a young artist’s rise to fame. A talent search is under way for a budding artist to star in “Masterpiece,” which has received a pilot presentation order from the cable network. The unscripted project marks Hayden Christensen’s (“Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones”) first foray into producing. Tove Christensen served as a producer on the Hayden Christensen starrer “Shattered Glass.” The Christensen brothers are not complete strangers to reality TV. The two competed in Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge Fiji Islands.” In addition to “Masterpiece,” Cutler is developing another reality series project for FX that will tackle race relations in today’s America (HR 4/29). Hayden Christensen, Tove Christensen and Cutler are repped by CAA.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) – Hayden Christensen is getting into the “Star Wars” spirit. The actor who plays the future Darth Vader in “Attack of the Clones” and the upcoming “Revenge of the Sith” will make a cameo in the new “Star Wars” trilogy DVD boxed set, report news sources.

Christensen will appear as the spirit of Anakin Skywalker at the end of the new version of “Return of the Jedi” DVD, replacing the face of Sebastian Shaw.

Other similar changes have been made to reflect casting continuity, including changing the holographic broadcast of the Emperor in “The Empire Strikes Back” to look and sound like Ian McDiarmid, who plays the role in “Jedi” and the first two prequels. In “A New Hope,” the digital image of Jabba the Hut that was added in 1997 has been recreated to look more realistic.

Despite these minor alterations, the most significant thing fans will notice is the improved visual quality thanks to a thorough restoration. Bonus features include rare production photos, TV commercials, trailers, posters, clips of actors who auditioned for but did not land the parts of Han Solo and princess Leia and a preview of “Episode III,” which will be released in May 2005.

The “Star Wars” DVD trilogy four-disc box set will hit retail shelves on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

Besides the “Star Wars” movies, the 23-year-old Christensen has also starred in “Shattered Glass” and “Life As a House.”

Source: Zap2It.Com

Or so one film distributor argues, and the latest to get that special treatment is Hayden Christensen, star of Billy Lay’s Shattered Glass.

“I feel very privileged, very lucky,” Christensen says in an interview held in a sumptuous room at the Park Hyatt hotel overlooking the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.

“This is where I stayed last time here. Everyone here is very nice. I really like the hotel. It wasn’t a response to the Lost in Translation film,” he grins, referring to the film that was largely shot in the hotel.

What about Kobe beef?

“Kobe beef is just something you don’t have very often in North America, and it’s delicious. So I wanted to make sure I’ve got some of that meat before I leave.”

Shattered Glass tells the story of Steven Glass, who was once a star journalist before being found to have fabricated more than two dozen articles published in such prestigious magazines as The New Republic and Rolling Stone. Christensen plays the lead role of Glass himself. But did the Canadian actor enjoy portraying someone falling from grace?

“Very much so,” he says.

In what respect?

“Your character goes through some sort of evolution…to start at one place and end up somewhere completely different is always more intriguing because there’s more to do, because there’s more to portray,” he says.

In the movie, Glass keeps his big lie from colleagues, who respect him as one of the best journalists around. The movie does not make him out to be a professional con man, but portrays him as a caring and introverted young man.

“You have all these sensibilities that you’re trying to juggle,” Christensen says. “Trying to make it seem real enough that this person you’re creating could pull all these things off was daunting at times.”

In preparation for the role, Christensen spoke to Glass’ former colleagues at The New Republic and read all the articles Glass wrote, which he says, gave him a good sense of what kind of storyteller Glass was.

But he couldn’t meet Glass himself.

“He didn’t want us to make it,” he says. “I mean, for a good reason…Imagine you’re going to a video store and seeing sort of the worst time in your life put on a cassette on a video shelf for someone to go and rent whenever they please.”

Christensen says Glass even threatened to file a suit against the filmmakers if they went ahead with the production. “Glass said, ‘If you make a movie, I’ll sue you because it’s not true and I didn’t actually do any of this,’” he says.

In the end, however, Glass went to see the movie.

“Apparently he said it was very painful to watch because it’s re-creating a very painful time of his life. But he thought we did a good job. He thought we approached it with integrity and told the story as it happened. We didn’t sensationalize the story. Nor did we attempt to villainize him, either. It felt real to him, he said,” Christensen explains.

‘Star Wars’ and star status

Christensen acquired stellar status in Hollywood after his role in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of Clones, in which he plays Anakin Skywalker, later known as Darth Vader. He landed the part in competition with about 400 other actors who auditioned for the role.

“To get a part in Star Wars was a huge shift in my career. It was big news for me,” he says. “Things are very different. My career’s obviously different. It’s been a very rapid change in a small period of time. I was very young, still I’m very young, but…a lot is coming at me.”

With the buzz gradually building up ahead of the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, our talk inevitably shifts to the third and final installment of the Star Wars prequels.

“We’ve just finished” the shooting of Episode III, he says. “We finished principal photography a little over a year ago. We were back in London, doing reshoots and got to see a little bit of the film. It was very exciting and the third one looks everything we hoped it to be.

“I think this is the one everyone is really looking forward to. It’s a Darth Vader story. It’s sort of that final evolution into Anakin becoming the greatest villain of all time,” he says.

Come to think of it, Anakin is also a character who falls from grace–in this case from a noble Jedi to the evil Darth Vader. Maybe that’s exactly the right kind of part for Christensen.

Source: Daily Yomiuri On-line

The title was unveiled right at the end of the presentation, after Star Wars Fan Relations guru, Steve Sansweet had conducted an interview with producer, Rick McCallum and Darth Vader himself, Hayden Christensen. A brief Q&A followed, during which Christensen revealed that the Anakin-Obi-Wan relationship is the true fulcrum of the picture, McCallum hinted that Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu is the pivotal point that begins Anakin’s descent toward the Dark Side, and in which we got to see Christensen don the Vader armour for the first time, to tumultuous cheers from the audience (many of whom were suitably dressed for the occasion). Christensen wouldn’t be drawn, though, on how long he would be spending in the Vader suit.

Then came the title, revealed in a montage displaying the titles of the previous five films, one by one. Then, as III was displayed on the screen, the word ‘Revenge’ flashed briefly on the screen, before pulling out to reveal ‘Revenge of the Sith’. And lo, the approval was great. Even the guy who told McCallum that Jar Jar had ‘ruined the series’ must have been pleased. And the good news for those who fear that George Lucas might do what he did with Return of the Jedi and delete the word ‘ revenge’ at the last minute? “This time,” laughed Sansweet, “George tells us he’s going to keep ‘Revenge’ in the title. ” Too bloody right.

Source: Empire Online

After panning across a plywood set and watching Lucas and Rick McCallum play ‘draw’ with blaster pistols, we are introduced to the challenge of segueing from the last of the prequel trilogy to the first of the original films. “We’re in one world trying to link two basic films,” explains McCallum. “We have to deal with Episode III but, much more importantly in a lot of ways, we have to make sure that everything we do in III rings true for Episode IV. ”

Cut to Lucas surveying a table full of lightsabers. “Well, is this the one that’s given to Luke?” He asks, while pawing a distinctly familiar weapon. “So this is the one that Obi-Wan takes, he takes it with him after that fight. So that’s basically the way it works; we just have to go from Ewan to Alec.”

A hop, skip and jump to the Creatures department reveals the eight foot (at least) hirsute frame of a wookiee character having his (her?) lustrous mane groomed by one of the modellers. “This isn’t Chewbacca, I don’t think,” observes Lucas. “This is somebody else. It was funny because when we first did it [Peter Mayhew, who plays Chewbacca] was the tallest guy we could find in England. Now, just take any basketball team and they start at seven foot six.”

We then take a look inside Ewan McGregor’s dressing room as his make-up is applied and the director muses on the challenge of bringing the Scotsman’s images one step closer to Alec Guinness’s in Episode IV. Keeping with the grooming theme we are subsequently treated to a look at young Hayden Christensen sporting a wig that screams ‘Def Leppard’ louder than it does ‘emergent Sith Lord’. “You know, I actually thought Mark Hamill’s haircut was really cool,” says make-up supervisor, Nikki Gooley. it takes all sorts.

Natlie Portman, Hayden and Ewan perform on-set read-throughs, the latter two engage in some lightsaber sparring and Anthony Daniels clunks around in his shiny Threepio outfit. This is all very entertaining but the highlight of the entire featurette has to be Costume Props Supervisor, Ivo Coveney’s references to Anakin’s final costume.

Leafing through photographs of a deeply familiar suit of black armour, Coveney muses on Vader’s various incarnations. “You can start to tell the difference between some of them on these [chest] plates right here. For Return of the Jedi they’d resculpted this.” We cut to a cast of Christensen’s head placed within a cross-sectioned Vader helm. “Although we’ve got Hayden’s head cast, until we start putting it on his body we just don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. But we know that George wants to keep the scale the same.” Looks like some serious lifts will be in order to bring Christensen up to David Prowse’s six foot seven frame.

Source: Empire Online

Allow us to take you back for a moment to the heady days of early 1996, when Jar Jar Binks was no more than a pixel in George Lucas’ eye and we had yet to be introduced to the Episode I universe.

You may recall the excitement that greeted the launch of the Episode I soundtrack, offering as it did the first taste of the most eagerly anticipated film in history. And your ears may still be ringing from the shrieks of horror from spoiler-averse fans that greeted the track listings “Qui-Gon’s Noble End” and “Qui-Gon’s Funeral”.

Yes, Lucas gave it all away on the soundtrack cover. Now, with the trailer for the Episode III game, reported here on Coming Soon, it is once again time for fans to be cautious. It may be that what you see here bears no relation to the action of the film, but it looks spoilerific indeed.

We’re not going to reveal anything more about the game, except to say that the graphics are really rather good, and the action looks impressive – Hayden Christensen apparently did the motion capture himself. That’s due out on May 5, 2005, just as excitement about the film reaches fever pitch.

The highlight of the space epic is expected to be a light sabre duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Ewan McGregor, and Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, while surfing on lava.

A movie insider revealed: “Anakin and Obi-Wan fight on platforms of lava, which they ride like surfboards.”

The movie, which is the sixth in the series, also features Anakin being transformed into the evil Darth Vader when he falls into the lava, and his baby son, Luke, being smuggled to safety to the desert planet Tatooine.

The source added: “‘Birth of the Empire’ is the favourite title so far.”

The film is due to hit cinema screens next May.

It’s right there – in small tantalizing bites, of course, but it’s there – sneak peaks of the lightsaber duel to end them all, a chilling glance at the doning of the Darth Vader mask.

George Lucas knows how to whet the appetite of his fans. He knows how to tempt and tease and stir up the anticipation for next summer’s “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith.” So we see actor Hayden Christensen fitted for his Darth Vader mask; later we see him put it on. And we watch the awe-struck reaction of the Industrial Light & Magic crew at the sight of him walking on the set.

And that’s nothing. This four-disc “Star Wars” set, long overdue in its release, is out of this world. The only downside is that these aren’t the original theatrical releases. Lucas did a bit of tinkering a few years back for the “special edition” versions; he’s done more here – most of what we could do without. A universe-wide celebration scene added to the end of “Return of the Jedi,” for instance, feels phony.

But overall, this is fantastic. The much-anticipated and highly debated lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan (the battle leading to the creation of Darth Vader) is shown as actors Christensen and Ewan McGregor practice it and then act it out in front of a bluescreen. That bluescreen footage is short but makes the point of how powerfully aggressive young Anakin has become.

Want more? Each of the three films in this middle trilogy – “Star Wars,” “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” – has commentaries by Lucas, actress Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and effects supervisor Dennis Muren. “Empire” also has commentary by director Irvin Kirshner, whose robust voice and clear memories are very entertaining.

It’s intriguing to hear Lucas discuss his shortcomings and admit mistakes, including killing off the ever-popular Boba Fett. Listen carefully: He also throws out tidbits that could be clues (or decoys) for “Revenge of the Sith.” He refers to the “death” of Anakin, something sure to ignite growing Internet debate that Anakin didn’t merely go to the dark side but that he was killed by Obi-Wan.

A fourth disc includes featurettes and “Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy,” a wonderful documentary that never bores during its 150 minutes. It includes new, very open interviews with Lucas, Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and many others.

Wondering what all the fuss is about with “Star Wars”? Check out the featurette, “The Force is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars” and hear filmmakers including Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Ridley Scott and John Singletary discuss seeing “Star Wars” for the first time and how it affected them.

Cameron quit his truck driving job to become a filmmaker; Jackson based his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy on the “Star Wars” ethos; Singletary, then 9, knew what he wanted to do from that moment on.

And Scott? It was so good, he says, that he “was depressed.” And also inspired. His next film was the sci-fi masterpiece “Alien.”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to keep the costume,” he told a gathering of 6,500 fans at Comic-Con.

Christensen immersed himself in the villain’s lore, and was such an expert at lightsaber dueling that he asked the makers of an upcoming tie-in video game to change his digital character’s stance to better reflect Vader’s fighting style.

But some questions about the “Star Wars” universe left him at a loss, including this one: “Is the dark side of the Force stronger than the light?”

He was better at answering “What was it like to be Darth Vader?” a role he said he’d been looking forward since he started working on the previous “Star Wars” installment, “Attack of the Clones.”

“It was overwhelming. That has always been the exclamation mark in the back of my head throughout this entire process. Getting to put on the dark helmet and walk onstage as Vader … It was orgasmic.”

Source: Hollywood News

The handsome Canadian can be seen lounging on a bed with slicked-back hair, an elegant black suit, crisp white shirt and black leather gloves in the new print ads.

Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, isn’t the only big name to grace Louis Vuitton ads-Jennifer Lopez was the company’s spokesmodel for their 2003-2004 season.

Source: Teen Hollywood.Com

In 2005, Christensen will square off against Ewan McGregor in the most dynamic and dramatic lightsaber duel of the saga. For fans looking to live that action, LucasArts is currently developing the Episode III video game. “It is scheduled to premiere May 5 — two weeks before the movie,” said Sansweet. “Details of the game and platforms will be released by LucasArts soon, but here, for the first time, is a look at the making of the game.”

Sansweet then screened an advance perview of Episode III: Making the Game, a documentary that is included as bonus material on the Star Wars Trilogy DVD. In it, Nick Gillard and Hayden Christensen guide the crew of artists and developers from Lucas Arts in the making of the Episode III game.

“Episode III completes George Lucas’ Star Wars saga,” said Sansweet.” It ties up loose ends and answers many of the questions that have long lingered in our minds. The movie is jam-packed with action, from the opening space battle to the closing battle — almost too painful to bear — that pits friend against friend, Master against Padawan, while the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. But at its core, it is the story of how a gifted, idealistic young man switches his allegiance from the side of light to that of the dark side, how and why Anakin Skywalker becomes the evil Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.”

With that, audiences were given a first glimpse at “The Return of Darth Vader,” an edited version of the featurette to appear in this fall’s Star Wars Trilogy DVD.

“It either scares you, or it thrills you,” said James Earl Jones, describing the Dark Lord’s presence. The documentary takes a close look at the Costume Props Department, led by supervisor Ivo Coveney, as they painstakingly create a new suit of Darth Vader armor, to be worn by Hayden Christensen in the film.

Circling back to this quip about the Episode III title, Sansweet then introduced a new piece of video cut for the Comic-Con audience. This showcase of the Star Wars saga included all the episode titles to date, including the newly unveiled Episode III title, Revenge of the Sith. For Hyperspace members, here is the video screened that day.

Before Jayson Blair, the infamous fabulist of the New York Times, there was Stephen Glass, who made up stories for The New Republic.

Like Blair, Glass was caught and dismissed in disgrace. Now Glass’s downfall is on display in Billy Ray’s directorial debut, Shattered Glass, which opens today.

Glass calls it “my own personal horror film.”

“It was extremely painful and difficult to watch. There were large chunks of it, or at least significant chunks of it, that I looked at the ground, I didn’t look at the screen.That being said, it’s a good movie. Some of the performances are unbelievable,” Glass says, singling out Steve Zahn’s performance as the online reporter whose digging led to his exposure in 1998.

“It was a tour through the worst parts of my life, the parts of my life I’m the most ashamed of – things I wish I had never done, and things I feel a great deal of remorse for.”

Hayden Christensen – far removed from his Anakin Skywalker role – plays Glass with a puppy-dog disingenuousness (“Are you mad at me?” he keeps pre-emptively asking). The movie has received mostly rave reviews.

“The one thing that the movie doesn’t get is, I don’t think there’s ever an expression of why or what it felt like to be the person doing this,” Glass says. “I think that’s the area where the movie sort of is incomplete.”

Glass, 31, didn’t profit from or co-operate in making the movie, and Ray concedes that “I’m sure if he and I would have been speaking regularly, I would have gotten manipulated into showing that inner turmoil. But I don’t think that would have made it a better movie.”

At a recent screening, the film’s writer-director urged audience members to ask themselves whether they thought Glass was a sociopath, a pathological liar or just a guy who made some bad choices.

Ray doesn’t suggest an answer himself, and his movie doesn’t offer an explanation.

“I think you could spend a long time with Stephen and come away just more confused. It also, by the way, just doesn’t interest me that much,” says Ray, whose screenplay credits include Hart’s War and Volcano.

“I’m interested in how people relate to the truth v personality. Why Stephen did what he did is almost immaterial to that story.”

Ray made the movie based on his belief that Woodward and Bernstein – The Washington Post journalists whose Watergate reporting led to President Nixon’s resignation – were heroes and their legacy must be maintained by the generations that follow.

“I think it’s tougher to maintain now because the temptations that are dangled in front of reporters to become stars are greater than the temptations used to be. There’re just so many different ways to get yourself on television now. But I think the lure of fame is very real. And I don’t think that’s a good thing,” he says.

Chuck Lane, the New Republic editor who fired Glass, says when you go back and read Glass’s stories with the knowledge that they’re fake, it’s interesting to see why they were believed.

“One of the parts of the answer that I’ve settled on is that so many of his stories revolve around stereotypes,” says Lane, now a reporter with The Washington Post.

“They fit into the pre-existing grooves that are already etched into everybody’s heads – things we think or are predisposed to believe are true.

“So he’s got stories about young conservatives who turn out to be total hypocrites about morality; he’s got stories about department store Santa Clauses who turn out to be pedophiles; and he’s got a big story about a pseudo-scientific exploration about why African-Americans are too lazy to drive taxicabs but immigrants will.”

Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Lane, also blames gullibility as much or more than the fabricator’s mendacity
.
“I think what made all of this possible for him has more to do with the public than it does him. It’s more interesting to think about why people believe people like that than why they lie. Why is our culture only interested in the hyperbolic, the entertaining, in journalism?” he wonders.

Through therapy, Glass says, he’s come to understand the root of his falsehoods.

“There’s a deep feeling of self-loathing and feeling that I was not good enough in any respect. I wasn’t a good enough journalist, or a good enough friend, or a good enough boyfriend, or a good enough son, or a good enough brother,” he says.

“And so I believe I lied to deceive people into thinking better of me.” That made him want to come up with “perfect stories”.

“I wanted stories that, frankly, don’t exist that often. I wanted stories that weren’t just, like, good stories or great stories; we’re talking about, like, home-run, grand-slam stories. And so I made things up constantly to have the perfect quote or the A-plus anecdote,” says Glass.

“And then from each of those lies I had to lie another step and another step and another step, and lie to guard all those steps as well. I kept lying at every stage. That’s how it became lies upon lies upon lies.”

As part of his effort to reclaim his life he’s been writing letters of apology to those he feels he wronged.

Lane has received one of those missives, but he concedes he finds the expressions of remorse “hard to square,” because, among other reasons, The Fabulist – Glass’ autobiographical novel _ depicts various people he’s now apologising to in “a very, very negative way, and quite inaccurately and meanly”.

Can Lane believe anything Glass says?

“I think: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Whether it’s true or not – and Glass himself admits it’s fair to wonder – Glass says he’s trying to rebuild his life, even while he sounds continually remorseful.

“I feel what I did was terrible and horrible. And it’s something I’m deeply ashamed of. And I recognise that in many ways it has defined my life. And so I think when people consider me they have to consider that – and it’s fair for them to consider that. I hope that over the course of my life I’ll do other things that will make the picture of who I am more complicated.”

He has “a wonderful personal life” and enjoys the emotional support of his family, girlfriend, a dog, four cats and various friends. He’s also at work on a second novel. A law school graduate, he has passed the New York bar exam’s written test.

But he still must pass the character and fitness committee review.

“My application will obviously require a great deal of consideration,” he says.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Hayden Christensen was 2 years old when George Lucas released his third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, in 1983. Now the actor who would be Darth Vader gets a magical cameo in the DVD version.

That’s the biggest of several changes found in the movies that make up the Stars Wars Trilogy, available only in a four-disc box set that arrives on DVD Sept. 21 ($70).

For more than a year, Web sites have traded rumors about what might be in store from Lucas, who added to the films for 1997′s Special Edition releases in theaters and on VHS. A few fans held out hope that the DVDs might include the original versions of the films. (Related story: Filmmakers pay tribute to Lucas and the movie that started it all).

But an early look at the DVDs reveals Lucas continues to exercise creative power over his Star Wars empire, and in his mind, the original versions are no more. The latest changes in the films — the most requested DVDs since the launch of the format seven years ago — are minor and mostly cosmetic:

•Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker in Episode II: Attack of the Clones and in the upcoming Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, now appears at the end of Jedi as Anakin’s spirit. He replaces Sebastian Shaw, whose face you still see when Luke Skywalker removes the iconic black Darth Vader mask. (In all three films, David Prowse wore the Vader suit, and James Earl Jones provided the voice.)

•Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In another change for continuity’s sake, the Emperor, whose face is seen in a hologram broadcast, goes uncredited, but he sounds and looks like Ian McDiarmid, who played the Emperor in Return of the Jedi and Senator Palpatine in Episodes I and II. (Clive Revill is listed as the Emperor in the Empire credits.)

•Episode IV: A New Hope. Only subtle changes here. The cantina shootout between Han Solo and the green-snouted bounty hunter Greedo is virtually identical, but now it seems their guns fire almost simultaneously. Lucas had changed the original for the 1997 rerelease because it seemed that Han had fired first. Also, Jabba the Hutt has gotten a makeover and looks more realistic in his scene with Han than when it was added in 1997.

Undoubtedly, Lucas and his crew have made many other smaller tweaks. But they go by so quickly most viewers won’t notice.

Overall, the expected changes on the DVDs aren’t as dramatic as those for the Special Editions in 1997, says Scott Chitwood, one of the co-founders of TheForce.Net, a Star Wars fan/news site. “I think a few of the changes will only make sense after Episode III,” he says.

Star Wars fan Mark Madison, 37, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and a member of USA TODAY’s Pop Culture Panel, is unconcerned about the changes. “What made these movies so great is the story and the relationship between the main characters.”

The trilogy’s major transformation comes from the restoration project that brings the look of the films into the 21st century. Using transfers made from the original films’ negatives, the Burbank, Calif., digital restoration house Lowry Digital Images cleaned up the movies so they look fresh.

The box set’s bonus disc includes a preview of the final Star Wars chapter, due in theaters May 19, 2005, which will bring to an end three decades that Lucas has spent on the space saga.

“In the beginning … it appeared the story was about Luke, but if you see all six films, then you realize the story is really about Darth Vader,” Lucas says in the commentary track from Return of the Jedi. Carrie Fisher also assists on the commentaries, as do other crew members. Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are seen in several of the extras.

There’s also a collection of trailers, TV commercials, posters and rare production photos. “It is a way of having a piece of the Lucasfilm archive,” says Jim Ward, executive producer of the DVD collection. “But it’s also a way for fans who think they know everything to become inspired, surprised and amazed all over again.”

Source: USA Today

Episode III continues to gain momentum as the May 19, 2005 date looms ever nearer. The next big milestone has been scheduled — the round of additional photography (also known as “pick ups”) that fills in the missing pieces of the current edit of the picture. As was done in the previous films, the first round of principal photography is followed by months of editing that generate new angles, scenes, and ideas. These will be captured onto HD in a brief but intense stint of additional photography.

“We’re honing in a second cut of the film for July,” says Producer Rick McCallum. Director George Lucas has shown the rough cut to select department heads and close friends, and the evolving edit currently has a number of placeholder animatics that will have to be replaced with new footage.

Starting August 23 and running through September 4, Director George Lucas will again roll cameras on Episode III, this time in the UK. “We’ve got two full weeks of shooting,” says McCallum. Among the cast members slated to work in that period are Silas Carson, Hayden Christensen, Anthony Daniels, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman.

Returning from the Sydney shoot, Creature Shop Supervisors Dave and Lou Elsey will be on hand, as will Costume Designer Trisha Biggar and Supervising Art Director Peter Russell. The rest of the small crew will be mostly new hands.

“It will be primarily blue and greenscreen shooting. There won’t be any full sets, but there may be large set pieces. This round of shooting is mostly just patching holes and providing transitions,” adds McCallum. “We do have a whole new sequence with Hayden and Yoda.”

Meanwhile, at ILM work continues at a steadily increasing pace to meet the April 1, 2005 deadline of over 2,000 visual effects shots. Joining the production as a Visual Effects Supervisor is Roger Guyett. His previous projects as VFX supervisor include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Timeline, Tears of the Sun and Saving Private Ryan. He joins Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll and Animation Supervisor Rob Coleman .

“On Episodes I and II, we had three supervisors from the very start, but this time we’re bringing them in over time,” says McCallum. “Roger will have huge sequences. John Knoll’s unit will end up having about 1,000 shots, and I can easily see Roger having 1,000 as well.”

Guyett is currently overseas shooting exotic background plate photography for what will become the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk.

Source: Star Wars.Com

Promoting a smaller film like Garden State, the popularity of the Star Wars films affords Portman the added benefit of extra exposure. “It’s a wonderful opportunity that I’ve had to be in those films because it does get people more familiar with you, and maybe, hopefully, will make them see other things that you are working on.”

With the release of Episode III looming less than a year away, Portman says she is about to go back for her final work as Amidala. “I finished principal photography on the third one last summer, like a year ago, and we do re-shoots in a month in London. I haven’t been told anything. For all I know, it could be, like, walking, or a shot of my hand… Or it could be, like, a whole new storyline, so I will be as surprised as you are.”

With all the recent rumors about the latest reworking Lucas is doing for the original trilogy’s release on DVD in September, I asked Portman if she had shot scenes for the original films. She didn’t really seem to know what I was talking about, so that probably answers that: “I don’t really know much about that, unfortunately.”

Both Hayden Christensen and Portman alike were met with some harsh criticisms in regard to their chemistry in Episode II. Portman says that having now both experienced the Star Wars world in at least one previous film, their second time around went well. “I think we both really work well with each other. He’s a great actor and he did a really great job in this. I think we worked really hard on this and we all were really comfortable. And this is also the first time that each of us has had experience in a Star Wars film before, because it’s such a different kind of movie that, you know, because of all the blue screen, you have to create so much and you have to imagine the different characters and locations and stuff in your mind, and so it’s a lot more work. It was very challenging, so I think we all put in a lot of effort on this one.”

After spending nearly a decade working on the Star Wars prequels, Portman says that, while she is looking forward to her future, she will also miss everyone she’s worked with on Star Wars. “I think everything, every end in any phase of your life, there’s always an excitement to start something new and a new phase and always a little bit of sadness in leaving the last phase, obviously. Now, having made three Star Wars films, it’s been like ten years of my life from when I signed on to when the final one will come out. And, I mean, being 23, that is really significant. It is a huge portion of my life and I’ve met some amazing people and it’s been a really unique experience so, you know, I look back on it and it’s part of forming who I am now and I am happy to start something new.”

Be sure to check out the full interview with Natalie Portman next week. The as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode III opens on May 19, 2005. Garden State hits screens next week on July 30th.

Source: Film Force

Portman added that her onscreen chemistry with co-star Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) has improved since the second prequel, Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones, because he is no longer distracted by the technical difficulties of making a Star Wars film. “Because it’s such a different kind of movie, because of all the blue screen, you’d have to imagine so much,” she said. “You’d have to create other characters and locations and sets in your mind. So it’s a lot more work, and it was really challenging. [Now], each of us had had experience on a Star Wars film before.” Star Wars: Episode III is scheduled for release on May 19, 2005.

LOS ANGELES – The teaser trailer for the next – and reportedly last – Star Wars film landed in theatres on Friday.

The short clip is a promo for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which will be released on May 19, 2005. Hayden Christensen appears at the Toronto premier of ‘Attack of the Clones’ in 2002.The movie is the third in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, and fans of the space series expect that it will tie up all of the six-part saga’s loose ends.

It stars Canada’s Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight who becomes Darth Vader.

The trailer shows glimpses of a lightsabre duel on a volcano planet between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).

It also shows an army of Wookies, the shaggy aliens that are like a cross between dogs and apes.

Natalie Portman is seen sporting a bun hairdo similar to the one originated by Carrie Fisher in the original Star Wars film, which came out in 1977.

Portman’s character, Padme, will become the mother of Fisher’s Leia in Revenge of the Sith.

The trailer is available online to members of Hyperspace, the Star Wars fan club, and AOL subscribers. It will be available for free starting Monday.

It is also being shown in theatres this weekend ahead of The Incredibles, the newest animated feature from Pixar.

Already, Star Wars devotees are dissecting the trailer in internet discussion forums, pointing out such arcane facts as the name of the volcano planet: Mustafar.

Lucafilm and 20th Century Fox have released the official teaser poster for director George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Darth Vader is in the foreground while Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is seen in the background holding his red lightsaber.

The third and last prequel in the “Star Wars” saga will be opening on May 19 and picks up when the Clone Wars are nearly at an end after three long years of relentless fighting. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is ordered by the Jedi Council to bring General Grievous, the deadly leader of the Separatist droid army, to justice.

Meanwhile back in Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) has grown in power and his political changes transform the war-weary Republic into a mighty Galactic Empire. He’s also attempting to lure his closet ally, Anakin to the dark side by revealing the true nature of power and the promised secrets of the Force.

The dark side of the Force rules in “Revenge of the Sith,” the finale of the Star Wars saga, due in theaters May 19, 2005.

Looking for proof? Filmmaker George Lucas expects the film to have a stricter rating than any of his previous Star Wars adventures, all of which have been rated a family-friendly PG.

The sixth “Star Wars” film (actually “Episode III” in the mythical timeline) details how Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) falls prey to “the dark side” and becomes Darth Vader, the iconic baddie first seen in 1977’s “Star Wars,” now called “ Episode IV: A New Hope.”

“This is the darkest of them all,” said Lucas, speaking at a New York event to promote the recent release of his “ THX 1138” DVD. “I don’t think it’s going to be rated like the other ones. It’s just more emotionally intense.”

The PG-13 rating makes sense, considering the story line, said Scott Chitwood of TheForce.Net, a “Star Wars” news Web site.

“From the original trilogy, we know that in ‘Episode III,’ Anakin is horribly burned, Padme (Amidala, the queen and senator who becomes the mother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia) dies, Mace Windu dies, Luke and Leia are separated, and the Jedi are wiped out,” he said. “It would be hard to do them justice without the film being PG-13.”

A move to that rating for “Sith” isn’t likely to hurt attendance. Those with children ages 10 and 11 might think twice, said Paul Dergarabedian of box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, “but their kids probably already have video games at home that are PG-13 in violence levels.”

Source: RGJ.Com

The Christensens are working with Cutler on “Masterpiece,” which has received a pilot presentation order from FX. The show will look at a budding young artist and his rise to fame. Casting for the show’s central artist is already moving forward.

Source: Zap2it.Com

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

Well, this week The A-List has been counting down the top 20 “Hottest Canadians”. Amongst the singers and actors named, Ryan Reynolds (who you can currently catch co-starring in Blade: Trinity as Hannibal King) topped the list, followed by hottie Pamela Anderson, and uber-hottie and sweetheart Elisha Cuthbert.

Other names on their list included Scott Speedman, Shania Twain, Hayden Christensen, and Avril Lavigne.

THE A-LIST TOP 20 HOTTEST CANADIANS:

20. Avril Lavigne
19. Jennifer Tilly
18. Glenn Lewis
17. Estella Warren
16. David Usher
15. Natasha Henstridge
14. Paul Gross
13. Tamia Hill
12. Hayden Christensen
11. Kim Cattrall
10. Trish Stratus
9. Keanu Reeves
8. Kristin Kreuk
7. Shania Twain
6. Jesse Palmer
5. Rachel McAdams
4. Scott Speedman
3. Elisha Cuthbert
2. Pamela Anderson
1. Ryan Reynolds

Source: The Gate’s News

A bunch of very cool and interesting pictures have made their way to the web this past week. We’ll start off with a couple of shots from the upcoming STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH. IESB was sent this promotional image of a very disturbed Anakin Skywalker from the latest trailer and the shot below shows that very same Anakin about to lay the smacketh down on a whimpering Dooku. Look ma, no hands.

Source: JoBlo

Anyone who’s ever been caught in a lie and tried to cover his tracks will relate to Glass’ frantic, sometimes nutty attempts to cover up his misdeeds. It’s queasily funny stuff — unless you work regularly with reporters, in which case this will probably seem a whole lot scarier than “Dawn of the Dead.”

Christensen is ably supported by fine performances from Chloe Sevigny as an all-too-trusting co-worker, Peter Sarsgaard as the unfortunate editor who has to decide Glass’ fate and Steve Zahn as the Web site investigator whose questions set the stage for Glass’ downfall.

RM: Thank you.

SS: So how was the flight?

RM: It was good.

SS: Was it worth it?
RM: Yes. It was definitely worth it. It’s amazing what alcohol, tobacco and a little bit of freebasing can do.

(laughter)

SS: I don’t understand those words. (laughter) Did you bring us the film?

RM: No, unfortunately, one of the reasons I’m in London is that we’re actually planning to do two weeks of additional shooting in late August. We’re shooting in Switzerland, we just finished Thailand and China, so it’s been a very hectic little period.

SS: Do you have anything to show us?

RM: Yeah, I think we have something that you might like. (Audience starts to cheer)

SS: Well, let’s take a look and see?

(The Return of Vader piece runs; huge applause)

SS: That is awesome. Can you do me a favor, and, the next time you see Hayden, tell him I think he looked really amazing in that suit.

RM: Absolutely. And there’ll be more to see in Indianapolis, I promise. I think you tell Hayden himself. I’d like to bring him in. Mr. Hayden Christensen (huge applause).

SS: So now it’s your chance to ask some questions to Rick McCallum, producer, and Hayden Christensen, Darth Vader-to-be.

Fan #1: This is for Hayden. So tell us your experience when you actually donned the helmet for the very first time. How did it feel? And did you take it home?

RM: No, he did not take it him.

HC: Unfortunately, I didn’t get to keep the costume. We’re still going to talk about that, hopefully. But ?

RM: We won’t talk about it much.

HC: It was overwhelming. That’s always been the sort of exclamation mark on the back of my head throughout the entire process of making these past two films is putting on the dark helm and getting all done up by Vader. It was? it was? orgasmic (female shrieks in the audience). It was too much.

Fan #2: How long did you train with Nick Gillard and Ewan for the duel? How long did it take you to get it all together.

HC: It was a very vigorous training process. I went out to Australia about three months beforehand. One, just to work on the lightsaber fights and put on a bit of size. I was working out with a trainer, twice a day. They were feeding me six times a day. It worked. I lost it all now, unfortunately, but, the fight sequences, especially the Obi-Wan fight was very involved. I think, I don?t know how it?s cut together, [it] will be the longest fight ever commited to film, the duration of it and the distance we cover. There is a lot of moves to memorize. That’s the fun for me, is getting out there with Ewan and Nick and try to figure out what were going to do and make the moves as smooth and cool as possible. You know, Nick has such a distinct vision of how the fights look and how each moves affect the next. It’s a dance. It’s an artform that Ewan and I are very respectful of, and we want to do it as much justice as possible.I can’t wait to see those. I want to be the first in the theater as well to check out those fights.

SS: Rick, what are you doing in the pick-up shooting? Can you tell us?

RM: No, I can’t. We’re doing some additional scenes, just over two weeks work with all the actors. Three or four very exciting scenes/

SS: Hayden doesn’t have to redo the fight.

RM: Negative. There’s no fighting.

Fan #3: This question is actually for Rick. Do you know when the first official preview we’re going to see? Is it November?

RM: The first trailer? Yeah, I think November looks good. November is the date we’re hitting for.

Fan #4: Yes, this question is for Hayden. What’s the biggest difference in terms of your preparation between Episodes II and III.

HC: The fighting and obviously putting weight on was a huge ordeal, because obviously my metabolism just doesn’t really allow for it to stay, but you know, putting on the weight ?

RM: I put it on for him.
HC: We traded. It was getting into the [mindset] of Darth Vader. Because even though I’m Anakin for the majority of this film, without trying to give away anything at all, he’s still is consumed with all of the ambitions and negative energies that ultimately lead him to the dark side, so it was really trying to embrace that and go to the dark side as much as possible.

RM: I had him work in the Production Office so he could understand a little about the dark side.

Fan #5: I was wondering if you were going to be revealing any more information about Anakin’s conception, because personally I didn’t buy the whole he just ,came to be, thing.

RM: Let Steve answer that. I don’t think it will be a problem for you.

Fan #6: Do you plan on doing more Star Wars movies after Episode III? He once planned on doing Episodes VI, VII, and VIII. Are there still plans for that in the future?

RM: VII, VIII and IX? No, there’s no plan to do VII, VIII and IX.

(Audience member cheers)

Fan #7: So it looks like the focus may be going away from the romance between Amidala and Anakin? Is that right? I would hope?

RM: Yes. You can definitely assume that.

HC: It focuses on Anakin and Obi-Wan relationship a lot more.

Fan #7: Mercy! Thank you.

RM: Who?s Amidala?

(laughter)

Fan #8: I was wondering to Hayden, what was it like picking out your lightsaber when they brought the box over?

HC: I actually didn’t get to pick out my own lightsaber. It was all predetermined by the previous trilogy, because it was Darth Vader’s lightsaber. They made small adjustments to make it a little bit different, but for the most part it’s DarthVader’s lightsaber.

Fan #8: Did you get to keep the lightsaber?

HC: We’re hoping.

RM: No.

(laughter)

Fan #9: What is it like being Darth Vader? You’re the hero of all these little bad kids that want to grow up and be Darth Vader. Not so many Luke Skywalker outfits, no offense Mark Hamill. How does that affect you personally? You’re a part of history. Does it increase your ego?

RM: You should definitely go on a Saturday night with him to a bar, because it is fantastic!

HC: It’s difficult to really grasp what it is, because it is Darth Vader. I get many compliments all the time just for being Darth Vader. Not even taking work that I’ve done, but just for being Darth Vader. That is something that I hold in my back pocket at all times.

RM: Lucky boy.

Fan #10 (a young boy): Did you have more fun in the fighting scenes or the actual acting?

(laughter)

RM: What acting?

HC: It’s the fighting. You get to be a little kid again and do the lightsaber fight. And that’s the fun of it. Saying the dialogue and everything can be a little, you know, trying at time. But you sort of bite your bottom lip and look forward to the fights.

RM: That’s such a polite way to say that.

Fan #11: Yeah, hi, is it true that you’re gonna finish off Jar Jar?

RM: Who’s Jar Jar?
Fan #11: That Jamaican jerk that ruined the series?

RM: I’m going to meet you outside after that? you don’t have to worry about Jar Jar.

Fan #12: I was wondering if we’re going to see lots more fights with Mace Windu, Sam Jackson’s character.

RM: Yes, definitely. Mace is actually the pivotal point that starts to turn this young lad into Darth.

Fan in Audience: Tell us more!

RM: We haven’t shot it yet, I wish I could.

Fan #13: Yes, my question is will Count Dooku be back and will his voluptuously curved lightsaber return with him?

RM: Yes. I can definitely say yes.

Fan #14: How do you live up the pressure from all the fans out there, in completing the storyline and satisfying all the characters.

HC: You just focus on the work. And you have to commit to every line that you say, otherwise you guys won?t believe it. There is a lot of weight and pressure because it is public domain for the most part. You guys have such an informed perspective on what the films are that everyone wants to keep you guys happy.

SS: We have time for one more question. (Audience groans), we’ve got time for a few more questions. (audience cheers)

Fan #15: Hi, a representative from Britain here. Hayden, congratulations on Shattered Glass. Absolutely awesome performance. Second of all, in a real sword fight, could you kick Ewan McGregor;s ass, or is he going to kick yours?

HC: In a real sword fight, or in what you’re going to see on film? In a real sword fight, with one hand tied behind my back! (Audience cheers) I’m just joking. We’re pretty equal.

SS: When the fan magazine editors where in Australia, a bunch of them interviewed everyone on the crew and asked the same question, and I think it was something like 9 out of 10 gave the same answer, so Ewan better watch himself.

HC: We’re good friends though, so it’s okay.

RM: Were?

Fan #16: So Hayden, is the dark side stronger?

RM: I can tell you yes, definitely.

HC: You’ve seen the films, haven’t you?

Fan #16: I?m a really big fan of Shattered Glass. I was wondering, what are you future films? What are you going to be doing next?

HC: Actually, the next movie I’m going to be doing is going to be with Robert Duvall. Dennis Hopper is directing. It’s a small independent feature, but a great story, so hopefully we’ll make a good film out of it.

Fan #17: This one is for Hayden also. First of all, thank you for being here. I dragged my wife over, this is her first convention, and you instantly made it worth it for her. My question was, as an actor, how do you get into the Darth Vader role? Is there music you listen to? Do you rock out to a particular band? How do you channel that?

HC: Honestly, most of it is in the costume. Putting on the outfit every morning is getting into character. And it’s so full-on that you can’t really believe yourself as anything but Anakin or Darth Vader, so be it. Wearing the cloak and the hood, you feel like a bad-ass.

Fan #18: This is for Rick McCallum. I wanted to know if you’re going to go into the backstory of the Fett family anymore?

RC: What? Fat farm?

Fan #18: The Fett family.

RC: Oh. I thought you said the fat farm! Jesus, Jar Jar Binks and the fat farm? Okay. (laughter)

(long pause)

SS: Well?

RC: Oh, yes. Well, I have been working out. You can’t tell? (laughter)

Fan #18: Have I given you a complex?

RC: Yes. Yes we do, not to a large degree, but you will see a connection. That was obtuse wasn’t it?

Fan #19: I keep reading rumors that Hayden is going to be reinserted into the end of Return of the Jedi, on DVD or a possible re-release. Can you please confirm or deny, for my own edification?

RM: I have no idea where that one’s come from.

SS: I think you’re just going to have to wait and see the DVD and see what surprises there are or aren’t there. (Audience groans) Hey, I’m willing to be the bad guy, I’m wearing the Sith shirt. (Laughter)

Fan #20: Hi, George from the 501st. I have a question for Hayden. Are you going to have a pigtail underneath the helmet?

HC: No, we’ve gone for a much different hairstyle this go-around.

Fan #20: One more question, how long did it take you to put the armor on? Was it hot? Do you wear it for a long time during the movie, or just for the end?

HC: I can’t tell you how long I was in the costume for, but it was very hot. They had a little built-in fan which did nothing.

RM: It took about four hours to get you in.

HC: Yes, getting it on was an ordeal. And staying in it was difficult at time. I mean, it’s really cool that you’re in the costume at the time, but you’re sweating up a storm. And, I’m not nearly as tall as the original Darth Vader, so I was walking around in heels! They had to put lifts on the shoes, and I can’t do that. So it was troubling at times. I had a few falls, but I was all right.

Fan #21: How are you guys approaching the fact that, for Rick, 10 years plus is coming to an end, and for Hayden, was it is, 4-6 years is coming to an end. How do you feel that this is the last Star Wars?

RM: Well, this is the end of my career and the beginning of his. That’s probably the best way I can say it. No, I’m looking forward to some time off, like a weekend. Something.

HC: It’s very bittersweet for me. More bitter than sweet. As amazing at is to be part of the Star Wars films, it’s getting to work with Rick and George and everyone who is involved because they’re really really such nice people. It was nice finishing Episode II, because we all get to reconvene in a couple of years, but we don’t get to do that anymore. So it’s a little sad.

RM: All right, I’ll give you the cape but that’s it.

SS: Let’s hear it for Rick McCallum and Hayden Christensen!

(Applause)

With just five months to go chatter about the final instalment of George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge Of The Sith, is heating up and today The GATE has snagged two of the first images from the film. One, featuring a close-up of Anakin and another of Anakin with Obi-Wan.

Without any further ado, here they are. The top picture shows Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, alongside Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, while the bottom one is a closeup of Christensen as Anakin.
Star Wars: Episode III opens in theatres on May 19, 2005 and stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Frank Oz.
The Story: After three long years of relentless fighting, the Clone Wars are nearly at an end. The Jedi Council dispatches Obi-Wan Kenobi to bring General Grievous, the deadly leader of the Separatist droid army, to justice. Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine has grown in power. His sweeping political changes transform the war-weary Republic into the mighty Galactic Empire. To his closest ally, Anakin Skywalker, he reveals the true nature of power and the promised secrets of the Force in an attempt to lure him to the dark side.

Source: The Gate

The soundtrack comes out a little more than two weeks before the film itself, the third prequel in George Lucas’ epic SF saga and presumably the last Star Wars movie. Episode III, starring Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor, opens May 19.

Source: Canoe-Jam

The term “drop-dead gorgeous” applies with a rather matter-of-fact accuracy to actor Hayden Christensen, a k a Annakin Skywalker of the “Star Wars” series and one of America’s most visible teen heartthrobs.
He sauntered into the interview room of the Shinjuku Park Hyatt Hotel (“My favorite place to stay in Japan!”) with an easy, effortless grace before sinking into a chair and asking politely for a cup of tea.
He then turned to the interviewer and some subconscious inner switch seemed to light up inside him, unleashing a warm flow of charm, wit and natural, unaffected sophistication. The atmosphere in the room shifted perceptibly and all those present seemed to bask in the golden glow — confirming for all of us what it was to be in close quarters with Hollywood glamour.

Christensen was in Tokyo to promote “Shattered Glass,” a project he started and engineered through his own production company. His role is real-life journalist Stephen Glass, who completely fabricated over 20 stories while working as a reporter for The New Republic. The movie showcases the range and nuances of Christensen’s acting ability and personality, hitherto mired in the digital netherlands of “Star Wars.”

What got Christensen involved in such a project, which is a far cry from the movie that made him famous? “I got the idea from an article I read in Vanity Fair about Stephen Glass. I was fascinated by him. It’s not that I recognized myself in him, but I got the feeling his life and the things he chose to do would make a great film.”

Glass and Christensen do, however, share some qualities: They both had an irresistible, boyish appeal that works its magic on both men and women. (In the movie, Glass’s colleagues defend him until his professional demise.) And Christensen is also more bookish than his Hollywood profile suggests: “I like writing and writers. . . . One of my favorite authors is Herman Hesse and I’ve always wanted to do a movie based on one of his books. I’m not trying to justify what Stephen did but at the same time I can recognize his talent.”

What made Stephen Glass do it? “I think he had a deep emotional neediness and this was how he did tended to it. Despite his brilliance as a writer, there were parts of him that he just didn’t bother to develop, and he had to pay for it later. Basically, his problem was family.”

Indeed, in the movie Glass gets upset at the mere mention of his strict parents — they were against him becoming a journalist and wanted him to go to law school. “To earn the support of his parents, he had to really excel at writing. I imagine the pressure was enormous.”

And what about Christensen’s own parents? “I’m very lucky. . . . My parents have always supported my career. I’ve been doing it all my life, practically.”

Now 23 years old, Christensen has been acting since the age of 7 and made his movie debut with John Carpenter’s “Into the Mouth of Madness.” While “Star Wars” has brought him the Hollywood brand fame he had once only dreamed about, Christensen says he thinks he’s at a time of his career when he “should be doing roles that are difficult and contradictory and real.” And when it comes to challenges, “Shattered Glass” fits the bill. “Most of the shots were long ones, filmed without breaks and so everything depended on the delivery of the dialogue, the changing of facial expressions.”

The crucial moment for him came in the scene where Glass is finally called on the carpet by The New Republic editor Chuck Lane for his fabrication of stories. “There I am, sweating through every pore and helpless and humiliated. Stephen is at his most vulnerable, life for him is ruined. And then, one minute later, he has the audacity to ask Chuck for a ride to the airport. I felt like the whole essence of both Stephen’s character and of the film, was condensed into that one line. As an actor, it was a scene I’ll never forget.”