What Attack of the Clones is About
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones takes place ten years after Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Much has changed in this time: Obi-Wan Kenobi has trained Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, Queen Amidala has become the senator of Naboo, and a civil war threatens to tear the Republic apart. Amid the beginnings of the Clone Wars, Anakin and Amidala begin to develop a relationship, despite the Jedi Order's rule against attachments.
Releases of Attack of the Clones
Attack of the Clones premiered in theaters on May 16, 2002, three years after The Phantom Menace. VHS and DVD versions were released on November 12, 2002; the DVD included deleted scenes, audio commentary and a full-length documentary. The DVD was re-released in November 2008 as part of a Prequel Trilogy boxed set.
Cast and Crew of Attack of the Clones
Written and directed by George Lucas. Cast: Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Senator Padmé Amidala), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Frank Oz (Yoda), Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine), Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker), Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett), Jimmy Smits (Senator Bail Organa), Jay Laga'aia (Captain Typho), Jack Thompson (Cliegg Lars), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2).
Origins of Attack of the Clones
Attack of the Clones tells of the events leading up to the Clone Wars, which Obi-Wan first mentioned in Episode IV: A New Hope. Although the idea of cloning had come up several times in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, the story of the Clone Wars had never been addressed. Although the Star Wars feature films gloss over most of the events of the Clone Wars, George Lucas created two animated series, Clone Wars and The Clone Wars, to explore this gap in Star Wars history.
Key Attack of the Clones Characters
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala return as the main characters in Attack of the Clones. Other characters from The Phantom Menace, such as Yoda and Mace Windu, play a larger role. The death of Darth Maul necessitated the introduction of a new villain: Count Dooku, Yoda's former apprentice and now a Sith Lord. Attack of the Clones also explores the backstory of Boba Fett, a bounty hunter who first appeared in The Star Wars Holiday Special and quickly became a fan favorite.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi Character Profile
- Anakin Skywalker Character Profile
- Padmé Amidala Character Profile
- Jar Jar Binks Character Profile
- Count Dooku Character Profile
- Boba Fett Character Profile
- C-3PO Character Profile
- R2-D2 Character Profile
Flavor of Attack of the Clones
Like The Empire Strikes Back, the middle film of the Original Trilogy, Attack of the Clones takes on a darker tone. As in The Phantom Menace, there is a strong focus on the political state of the Republic: Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, is hiding under the noses of a complacent Jedi Order and manipulating both sides of a war in order to gain power. We also see how Anakin's character has developed and witness the first hints of his fall to the dark side. The ending is only deceptively happy, because we know that Anakin and Padmé's romance cannot last.