"Lucas and McCallum have hired three Australian screenwriters to work on what is believed to be the first 22 episodes of a Clone Wars live-action TV series.
And in a daring creative move, Lucas has moved out of his comfort zone by hiring three Sydneysiders not known for science fiction writing: Tony McNamara, Fiona Seres and Louise Fox. The three have distinguished records in adult dramas, most particularly as co-writers on the acclaimed drama series, Love My Way.
McNamara is also known for his stage works for the Sydney Theatre Company, including The Recruit, The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness and, most recently, The Great; and as a screenwriter and director of the feature film The Rage in Placid Lake.
Seres has co-written recent adult dramas, including pay TV's Dangerous and Satisfaction. Fox has written for comedy series such as Full Frontal and Comedy Inc, as well as the acclaimed children's series Round the Twist.
Their commission hints at a Star Wars that's very different from the films and animated series. While Sydney has become known inside Hollywood as a top-class city in which to film science fiction - thanks to the expertise local crews developed on Star Wars, The Matrix and Farscape - McNamara, Seres and Fox have no obvious sci-fi experience. They're learning fast, though. All three were in the US last week attending a Star Wars convention and were restricted from comment by Lucasfilm."