Star Wars III to open Cannes

This is London ^ | 02/18/2005 | Baz Bamigboye

[ConservativeTerrapin]

This is LONDON 18/02/05 - Showbiz! section

Star Wars III to open Cannes By Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail

The Cannes Film Festival is going to the dark side. After months of negotiations between George Lucas and festival officials, Star Wars: Episode III - The Revenge Of The Sith will open the festival in the South of France in May.

It's hoped that Ewan McGregor, who plays the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, will attend, although he'll be about to open in Michael Grandage's new London stage version of Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre.

It could be a star-packed Cannes this year. Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger are planning to attend with an outofcompetition screening of their latest picture, Cinderella Man, plus there's talk of them handing out the main prize at the closing ceremony.

Another major movie rumoured to be at the festival is Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. It's based on a short story by E. Annie Proulx.

[ConservativeTerrapin]

Let's hope this episode is not a major flop...

[martin_fierro]

[AmishDude]

Ping, otra vez.

[AmishDude]

It's a huge risk from Lucas. The hype could be squelched if it gets bad buzz at Cannes. (Even though half of Cannes will pan it no matter how good it is.)

[Lunatic Fringe]

The FINAL Star Wars will open in FRANCE???

Scr*w you, GEORGE!

[JoJo Gunn]

The only thing left of Lucas' world worth waiting for is William's music.

[marajade]

I just can't wait.

[MadIvan]

I'm taking my father to the London premiere for his birthday. I hope this isn't a load of rubbish.

Regards, Ivan

[I Drive Too Fast]

I have heard they are making several thousand prints {I think I heard a number of roulghly 5,500} so that Star Wars Episode III will open simultaneously in the entire world.

I have my ticket for May 25th because I don't like the long lines of the first weekend. It opens on May 19th everywhere.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Checked out the official release date at www.imdb.com.

Cannes Film Festival 5/15/05, London premiere 5/16/05, Kuwait 5/17/05, 5 more countries listed on th 18th {including France}, the majority of the rest of the world on the 19th , 8 countries on the 20th, Taiwan on the 21st and Japan on July 9th.