Move over, Dolly. Genetic engineering hits the big screen this summer when The Clone Wars, George Lucas’ first animated feature and the next Star Wars installment, hits theaters Aug. 15. Later this year, a TV series with the same title will begin airing on the Cartoon Network and TNT.
Even if you’ve seen all six Star Wars flicks, these new productions may test your geek cred, since the clone wars remain mostly a mystery. Although the Cartoon Network aired a series of shorts called Clone Wars starting in 2003, Lucas declined to explore the conflict in his previous films. Attack of the Clones (episode II) ended with the beginning of the wars, and Revenge of the Sith (episode III) began at their end. The new movie and TV series will cover the time between the two.
That’s welcome news to fans like Alan Ibarra, who regularly dons clone trooper attire with the 501st Legion-Garrison Tyranus, his Star Wars costuming fan group. He hopes the new productions will answer some of his long-standing questions. “If Lucasfilm develops an animated series with a Band of Brothers-type formula, we should get more insight into to how the clone trooper thinks and behaves,” Ibarra says. “I’m especially looking forward to seeing a wide array of clone soldiers, like ARCS and republic commandos.”
Or you can just enjoy the new Star Wars offerings for their cool images and story lines. Whatever works.
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Watch the trailer for The Clone Wars film here.
The new Clone Wars TV series won’t be the first time Star Wars has graced the small screen. Relive the franchise’s past appearances on the boob tube here.
