'Clone Wars' orbits Hollywood for Aug. 10 premiere

[July 10, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- George Lucas is revisiting familiar space in the heart of Hollywood to unveil his new "Star Wars" adventure.

The animated tale "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" will have its world premiere at the Egyptian Theatre along Hollywood Boulevard on Aug. 10, five days before it opens in theaters. Lucasfilm announced the premiere Wednesday.

Proceeds from the premiere will benefit the American Cinematheque, a film organization based at the Egyptian, which opened in 1922. The Egyptian was one of two Los Angeles theaters where the first "Star Wars" sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back," played during its extended run in 1980.

Tickets for the 4 p.m. premiere will be on sale exclusively to American Cinematheque until July 23 and will then be available to the general public.

"Few cinemas have had the opportunity to host a premiere of a `Star Wars' movie, and we are tremendously excited that the historic Egyptian will soon be one of them," said Barbara Smith, director of the American Cinematheque.

"The Clone Wars" will be followed by an animated TV series of the same name debuting this fall on the Cartoon Network and TNT.

The movie and TV show are set between the action of the second and third chapters of Lucas' prequel trilogy, "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith."

The film centers on a galactic civil war, with Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker -- the future villain Darth Vader -- embarking on a mission that pits him and his apprentice against crime boss Jabba the Hutt.

The voice cast includes some veteran "Star Wars" performers, including Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO.

Among other key voice cast members are Matt Lander as Anakin, Ashley Eckstein as his apprentice Ahsoka Tano and James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Lucas served as executive producer on "The Clone Wars" movie, which was directed by Dave Filoni.

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On the Net:

http://www.americancinematheque.com/

[Associated Press; By MATTHEW PERRONE]

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