From the Associated Press:

Several thousand fans gathered outside a theater showing a charity screening of the new "Star Wars" film Tuesday night, and many helped director George Lucas celebrate his birthday.

Oscar winner Halle Berry turned up to support her pal, Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in the film "Star Wars: Episode II ? Attack of the Clones." She kissed him as they met at the Odeon Leicester Square theater.

The film, which opens around the world on Thursday, is the fifth in the sci-fi series and the second follow-up to the original "Star Wars" trilogy. The first prequel, "The Phantom Menace," came out in 1999.

Other leading lights from the latest movie at Tuesday night's screening included Hayden Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker, and Christopher Lee, who portrays Count Dooku.

Lucas, creator of the five "Star Wars" films, got a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" from the 3,000-strong crowd as he turned 58. He said the best present he could receive would be "that everybody likes the movie."

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