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'Clone Wars' Director To Soar To New Galaxy

Filoni Gears Up For First Disney 'Star Wars Weekends' Appearance

POSTED: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Maybe Dave Filoni thinks he's see all corners of that "galaxy far, far away" -- but then again, the director of the highly anticipated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" feature film and television series hasn't been to Walt Disney World's Star Wars Weekends celebration.

It's at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando, Fla., where "Star Wars" fans gather for four weekends each summer to celebrate iconic filmmaker George Lucas' classic creation and to meet up with various actors and filmmakers from the space saga.

Knowing that "Star Wars" talent get the rock star treatment at the event, Filoni has at least one option to blend in with the fans if he needs a break: Dress up as Plo Koon, his favorite character from the saga.

After all, donning the mask and robes of the beloved Jedi knight is always a hit with people.

"I get a lot of requests for that, but that hasn't happened in a while now," Filoni said with a laugh during a recent @ The Movies interview. "It gets pretty hot in there."

This year's celebration begins the weekend of June 6-8 with Boba Fett actors Jeremy Bulloch and Daniel Logan, and it ends June 27-29 with Filoni and Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker in "Episode I -- The Phantom Menace").

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Also scheduled for this year's event are Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and David Prowse (Darth Vader) the weekend of June 13-15 and Amy Allen (Aayla Secura) and Wood June 20-22. Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in "Episode VI -- Return of the Jedi" and made a cameo appearance during the pod racing scene in "Episode I" returns as the event's emcee.

Filoni said one way one another, Star Wars Weekends has been on his radar.

"I've always wanted to go down and be a part of the event -- even if I wasn't, I'd go anyway just to walk around the park and see the exciting 'Star Wars' stuff that's going on that I've read about," Filoni enthused. "The fact that they called me to come down and be a part of it is a thrill for me, especially when I see the names of some of the other people that are going like Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan and Amy Allen -- the people I know from the films -- it's just amazing to be a part of that."

Until he makes his Star Wars Weekends trip -- and certainly after -- Filoni will be busy at work on the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" feature film, which is set for an Aug. 15 release.

A fan of the "Star Wars" saga his entire life, Filoni is still trying to get used to the heralded title of being a director of a "Star Wars" film: a title to which not many can lay claim.

"It's something you always imagined doing when we were growing up. 'Star Wars' was the big thing," Filoni said. "So to get the opportunity to work on it is amazing. But you have to take the responsibility very seriously. What I like about working on 'The Clone Wars' is that everybody on this crew does take it seriously, not just myself. All the artists and production staff -- we all love 'Star Wars' and we have a lot fun while we do it."

But even with the responsibility, Filoni still defers all the glory to Lucas. He admits there's pressure involved with the filmmaker's direct involvement with "The Clone Wars," but in a good way. There's a need, Filoni said, to make Lucas proud.

"The luckiest thing we have going for us is that George is really involved," Filoni said. "He works with me a lot. That way I never have to worry that I'm making my own version of 'Star Wars.' Instead, I'm making 'Star Wars' with George Lucas. He's the best mentor you could have for that scenario."

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which will continue on as a series on The Cartoon Network in fall, chronicles the previously-untold adventures between "Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith."

Like the other films, "The Clone Wars" will concentrate on the intergalactic struggle between good and evil, featuring such characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padm? Amidala. Brand-new heroes will include Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka.

The villains poised to rule the galaxy include Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous.

Filoni said one of his favorite aspects of directing the film and being the supervising direction for the television series is that he can get into some in-depth character development with the characters.

"It gives a unique chance to look at many different characters and many different situations," Filoni explained. "The nice thing about the film is that we can really look at one of the key relationships -- between Anakin and his padawan Ahsoka -- which is the big new thing. The feature really sets up a lot of the tone and things that you'll later become familiar with in the series. It's a great way to get the audience acclimated to 'The Clone Wars.'"

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