LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., and SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 13, 2008) – The Star Wars adventures continue on Aug. 15 with the theatrical release of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS from Lucasfilm Animation, and this year’s Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort will offer fans an exciting, in-depth look at the making of this big-screen animated epic.

Among the features at this year’s Star Wars Weekends, which run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 6 to June 29, 2008, will be “Behind the Force – Experience THE CLONE WARS,” an exploration of the creation of this groundbreaking Star Wars feature film. During “Experience THE CLONE WARS,” fans will get a chance to meet a representative of Lucasfilm Ltd. and, at the culmination of the presentation, see an exclusive clip of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS that can be seen only at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekends.

“The Clone Wars is Star Wars as you’ve never seen it before, so it makes sense that we’re offering fans at Star Wars Weekends something completely unique – an early glimpse at a Star Wars movie,” said Kayleen Walters, director of marketing for Lucasfilm Ltd. “We’re working with Disney to create an event no Star Wars fan will want to miss.”

In addition to the excitement surrounding Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars will feature celebrities from the classic, live-action movies, who will be on hand each weekend for photos, Q&A, autograph sessions and Hollywood-style motorcades. All four weekends, Star Wars actor Warwick Davis (who portrayed "Wicket” the Ewok) will serve as celebrity emcee and host of the event.

Among the scheduled celebrities and special guests at this year’s Star Wars Weekends are Dave Filoni, director of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS; and Matthew Wood, who performs voices in the movie and the CLONE WARS TV series debuting this fall.

A weekend-by-weekend lineup of celebrities scheduled to appear includes (subject to change):

June 6-8: Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett") and Daniel Logan (young "Boba Fett")

June 13-15: Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca") and David Prowse ("Darth Vader")

June 20-22: Amy Allen ("Aayla Secura") and Matthew Wood ("General Grievous" and voice artist in THE CLONE WARS)

June 27-29: Dave Filoni (director of the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars)


In addition, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will offer a host of surprises throughout the four weekends, promising to bring an unprecedented level of “sneak preview” excitement and fun to the popular Star Wars Weekends.

Other activities included in the fan-fest fun: the “Padawan Mind Challenge,” allowing kids under 12 to test their wits before the Jedi Council; “Legends of the Force,” a motorcade featuring favorite Star Wars celebrities; and "Jedi Training Academy," where young Jedi-wannabes can learn lightsaber battle techniques and test their newfound skills against Darth Vader or Darth Maul.

The Star Wars Weekends fun is included with regular admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests can access more information by visiting disneyworld.com/starwars or www.starwars.com.


UPDATE: Click here and head on over to Mouseplanet.com for an interview with the Associate Brand Manager for Star Wars Weekends, Adriana Lopez. The biggest piece of info that seems to come out of the interview is the addition of guest Jake Lloyd who will be appearing with Dave Filoni during the weekend of June 27-29.


Thanks to our friend Tom D. for the heads up!


Also, make sure to stop by the Official Starwars.com Blog as they note that Daniel Logan will be blogging from Star Wars Weekends!


UPDATE #2: Click here and stop by the main site as they highlight some of the fun merchandise you can expect to pick up at Star Wars Weekends 2008!