On DVD for the First Time Sept. 21: ``Star Wars Trilogy'' Brings New Excitement, Insight and Adventure to the Most Highly Anticipated DVD in History

Business Wire, April 20, 2004

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above.

WARNING: these images are

very large (800K )

Click here for caption

Entertainment Editors

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4619237

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2004

More than 10 Hours of Bonus Materials Join the Classic, Newly

Remastered Films in a Four-Disc Set that Includes a Brand-New,

Feature-Length Documentary and Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes

Already among the best-selling titles of 2004 -- more than four months before its release -- the "Star Wars Trilogy" comes to DVD for the first time ever on Sept. 21 in the U.S. and Canada, with international release dates following closely.

No. 1 on Amazon.com's best-seller lists in the U.S., Canada, Germany and the U.K., the four-disc DVD set from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is priced at $69.98 SRP and includes more than 10 hours of entertainment and extraordinary picture and sound quality.

"Knowing how excited `Star Wars' fans are about this release, we're working very hard to make the films look and sound spectacular and to deliver a DVD collection that will be truly memorable," said Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at Lucasfilm Ltd., and the DVD's executive producer.

Available in both widescreen and full-frame formats in the U.S. (and widescreen only internationally), the three films in the "Star Wars Trilogy" -- "Episode IV A New Hope," "Episode V The Empire Strikes Back" and "Episode VI Return of the Jedi" -- have been newly restored and remastered by renowned Lowry Digital Images and are presented with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. Each film also includes new commentary by George Lucas and cast and crew members, including director Irvin Kershner, actress Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and Industrial Light & Magic's Dennis Muren.

A fourth disc in the collection includes an additional four hours of added-value material that brings remarkable new depth and insight into the making of the three films and the broader "Star Wars Saga."

The cornerstone of this fourth disc is "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy." The two-and-a-half hour documentary traces the evolution of "Star Wars" from a low-budget, labor-of-love space saga to a movie phenomenon that defied the odds and reinvented the rules. At its core, "Empire of Dreams" tells the story of an independent filmmaker who had to innovate and invent an entirely new way of creating motion pictures.

Featuring all-new interviews with Lucas and more than 40 members of the cast and crew from all three films, "Empire of Dreams" also includes appearances by a host of filmmakers and media personalities, along with never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the three films. This new documentary brings viewers the most comprehensive look at a pioneer who triumphed against the odds to create an enduring modern fairy tale that has captivated the world.

Additionally, the fourth bonus disc offers a host of other exciting features, including:

-- "Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of

Darth Vader" - No other villain is as iconic as Darth

Vader, a symbol of doom since his first appearance on

movie screens in 1977, who remains a permanent part of

popular culture. Finally, "Star Wars: Episode III"

will reveal just how Anakin Skywalker became the

feared Sith Lord. In this exclusive preview, George

Lucas discusses Anakin's descent, while viewers will

get a first look at the new Vader costume forged for

Episode III and will experience first-hand how Hayden

Christensen and Ewan McGregor have prepared for the

epic lightsaber battle that has been anticipated for

more than two decades: the climactic showdown between

Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

-- "The Birth of the Lightsaber(TM)" - Its unforgettable

hum and scintillating glow are instantly recognizable

around the world, and now viewers will discover the

origins of this elegant weapon from a more civilized

age. This documentary, devoted to the lightsaber,

features insight from George Lucas, cast and crew into

the history of the iconic laser sword. It showcases

the genesis of the lightsaber stunt and

special-effects work and illustrates how each film in

the Star Wars saga has surpassed the previous one with

spectacular action set pieces featuring the Jedi's

most trusted weapon.

-- "The Characters of Star Wars" - An in-depth look at

how favorite characters came to be, featuring rare

concept art, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews

with George Lucas and the cast and crew who shaped the

screen's favorite heroes - Luke Skywalker, Princess

Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO - and the

greatest villain of all, Darth Vader.

-- "The Force Is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars" -

"Star Wars" opened up a galaxy of possibilities to a

generation of filmmakers and creative talents. Viewers

will hear first-hand from some of the most notable

filmmakers of our time about how influential the "Star

Wars" movies have been to their lives.