Star Wars Love Gets Real
12th December 2001
Star Wars love has moved off screen - stars
Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen are
reportedly dating each other in real life. The
pair play lovers Senator Padme Amidala and
Anakin Skywalker in the new Star Wars instalment,
Attack Of The Clones - and got together on the
set of the blockbuster. A source on set tells
British tabloid The Sun, "It was obvious from
the early read-throughs in Los Angeles that they
were attracted to each other. Then one evening
on set in London, Natalie took Hayden by the
hand and they darted off to her dressing room.
At about 10pm he came out looking like the cat
who got the cream!" Portman, who attends top
American University Harvard, broke up with her
on-campus boyfriend when romance blossomed with
her co- star.
Star Wars Woes For Ryan Phillippe
5th December 2001
Ryan Phillippe auditioned for the lead role in
the new Star Wars flick - but lost out because
he was too old. Phillippe was eager to win the
part of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 2
- Attack Of The Clones. But the highly sought
after role - which involves a steamy smooch with
Queen Amidala, played by the beautiful Natalie
Portman - went to younger actor Hayden
Christiansen, leaving Phillippe disappointed. He
says, "There is a part of me that really wanted
the role. And I got pretty far down to the final
cut. I got to test with Natalie Portman, who is
Princess Amidala. In real life, I'm seven years
older than her, which was dubbed too old. At age
29, I was an over the hill Anakin." But while he
may have missed out on the part, Phillippe was
at least privy to some Star Wars secrets. He
adds, "The experience of auditioning for George
Lucas was cool because he showed me all around
Skywalker Ranch. He told me how intent he was
make Jar Jar as big a part of this one despite
the criticism of the character in Episode One."
Portman To Return To Her Debut Film
30th November 2001
Sexy actress Natalie Portman is set to reprise
her first ever movie performance - in a sequel
to cult assassin film Léon. French director Luc
Besson is planning a sequel to his critically
acclaimed 1994 flick - but won't proceed unless
Portman agrees to return as Mathilda. The Star
Wars leading lady was only 13 when she made her
big screen debut - and Besson wants to update
the story with Mathilda becoming an assassin
just like her father figure Leon, who is killed
in the first movie.
Hayden Christensen's Lightsaber Fun
22nd October 2001
New Stars Wars star Hayden Christensen failed to
impress creator George Lucas when he was handed
his lightsaber - and started making whooshing
sounds with it. Christensen, who was plucked
from obscurity to play the part of Anakin
Skywalker in Episode II: Attack Of The Clones,
says when he was first held the lightsaber he
forgot all about being cool and instantly
reverted to his childhood Star Wars games. He
recalls, "It was so dorky because I picked up
the lightsaber and started making the same
sounds I made when I was a kid with a stick. You
do the whooshing sound of the saber turning on
and the slash-through-the-air sound. When he
stopped laughing, George Lucas looked at me and
said...'Hayden, we can't have your lips moving
right now and, believe me, we have enough money
to use slightly better sound effects for this
part of the movie. So stop mouthing it!"
Christensen, 20, who plays Natalie Portman's
love interest in the movie is keen to dispel
reports the two had been taking their romance
off screen. He says, "I'm not going out with
Natalie. In the movie there are some nice
moments between us - but that's in the movie."
Lucas: Star Wars III Will Be The Last
7th September 2001
Director George Lucas has decided Episode III
will be the last Star Wars film in the series.
The legendary movie maker has just finished
making Episode II: Attack Of The Clones,
starring Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor,
which hits screens next year. He says, "I can
guarantee I will definitely give up after
Episode Three in 2005." The Californian-born
director originally hoped to make nine films,
but at 57 years old it will take him a long time
to get through them all. Lucas plans to make a
fourth Indiana Jones movie once Episode III is
finished.
Gabriel Byrne In Star Wars Talks
14th August 2001
Gabriel Byrne is in talks with George Lucas to
appear in the third Star Wars movie. Byrne is
set to take a starring role in the third and
final Star Wars epic - which is planned for
release in 2005. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack
Of The Clones is due for release next year and
is currently in post production. Although
Episode 3 is four years away, the script is
already being written for the final episode -
with Natalie Portman already set to reprise her
role as Padme Amidala, alongside Hayden
Christensen, who will take on the role of Anakin
Skywalker in next year's sequel. Byrne says of
his talks with Lucas, "We're discussing it." But
the 51-year-old Irishman confirmed that any
decision was months away. He adds, "I think
they're still writing the script."
Stars Get Russian In Central Park
13th August 2001
Director Mike Nichols hastapped a number of top
Hollywood stars to help him stage a performance
of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull in New York's
Central Park as part of the summer Shakespeare
In The Park dramatic program. With a new
translation of the Russian classic from Tom
Stoppard, Nichols lined up Meryl Streep (who
also conceived the project), Natalie Portman,
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Kline, John
Goodman, Marcia Gay Harden, and Christopher
Walken in a production that's getting solid
reviews for the acting and for the unusually
witty script. U.S.A. Today reviewer Elysa
Gardner, in giving it three out of four stars,
said Nichols brought together a cast that was
not only well-respected, but "perfect for the
roles they play," and called it "the most
consistently entertaining presentation of
Chekhov, I've seen." (This story was prepared by
IMDb staff.)
