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The windfall has some casting a jaundiced eye on the rerelease. ''Lucas is sacrificing the movies for money,'' says Mark Altman, editor of Sci-Fi Universe. ''Why change the films and diminish their importance?'' Altman adds, ''It might be nice to see the bells and whistles, but he needs to make new films, not futz with the old ones.''

In fairness, Lucas has spent the past year hammering out the scripts for the new trilogy, which takes place before the events of Star Wars. Details are sketchy, but Lucas confirms that casting for the prequel, which will deal with the story of young Obi-Wan Kenobi and a pre-Dark Side Darth Vader, has begun, although no names have been released. (Lucas denies rumors that Kenneth Branagh will play Obi-Wan.) In addition, a crew has started scouting locations in Tunisia, India, and the former Soviet Union. And Lucas has said that he may direct one of the films, something he hasn't done since the original Star Wars.

There is one thing for sure about the prequel: ''I'll be there again standing in line four hours before the first show,'' says Devlin. Presumably, as long as it's not premiering on the same day as Independence Day 2.

Originally posted Aug 02, 1996 Published in issue #338 Aug 02, 1996 Order article reprints
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