Next 'Star Wars' Movie Dubbed 'Attack of the Clones'

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - "Star Wars'' creator George Lucas revealed Monday that the next installment of his sci-fi franchise will be titled "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.'' The picture is set to bow next summer.

Lucas used the franchise's official Web site, https://www.StarWars.com, to make the news public.
According to the site, the title was chosen because it "harkens back to the sense of pure fun, imagination and excitement that characterized the classic movie serials and pulp space fantasy adventures that inspired the 'Star Wars' saga".

Set a decade after "The Phantom Menace,'' "Attack of the Clones'' follows Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who are assigned to protect Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), whose life is threatened by a faction of political separatists.

Over the past year, Web sites set up by exuberant fans, have published what they thought to be possible titles for the picture, including "The Shadow Falls.''
"Star Wars'' arguably has the most intense Internet following of all feature film franchises; fans have gone so far as to re-edit "The Phantom Menace'' more to their liking and even have created their own digital-enhanced trailers for ''Attack of the Clones'' to be viewed via the Web.