Snippets from Empire's Star Wars specials

Rick McCallum (Producer)
When the Phantom Menace bowed, there was little to overshadow it's dominance in the marketplace. This time round, Episode II is opening halfway between two Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings movies, the latter a fantazy franchise that quickly garnered both fans' respect and citirical kudow. Has this increased pressure on Clones to deliver?

"No, not at all, says Mc Callum, "We know Peter (Jackson) really, really well. We couldn't be happier for him. It's a major, major achievement, not just in terms of what was finally realised in terms of this picture, but for him to be able to make all three films at once. He's a brave, unbelievably decent guy who really just went the distance."

Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
"Well, I was Legolas in the animated The Lord Of The Rings, back in 1978," says Daniels. "And I had no idea he was a blond! If I'd known, I'd have played him totally differently, maybe even with an Essex accent." I had no chance anyway," grumbles Baker. "Warwick Davis who played Wicket in Jedi, is now an agent who's got this family of dwarves who all live together in Peterborough, Crafty buggers. They had all the Hobbits sewn up from square one."