Editing Star Wars (section)

==== Prequel trilogy ====
{{Main|Star Wars prequel trilogy}}
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| footer = The prequel trilogy's main cast includes (from left to right) [[Ewan McGregor]] ([[Obi-Wan Kenobi]]), [[Natalie Portman]] ([[Padmé Amidala]]), [[Hayden Christensen]] ([[Anakin Skywalker]]),{{Efn|Played by [[Jake Lloyd]] as a child in ''Episode I''}} and [[Ian McDiarmid]] ([[Palpatine]]).
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According to producer Gary Kurtz, loose plans for a prequel trilogy were developed during the outlining of the original two films.<ref name=kurtz>{{cite web|url=http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/gary_kurtz_reveals_original_plans_for_episodes_19_80270.asp|title=Gary Kurtz Reveals Original Plans for Episodes 1–9|website=TheForce.net|date=May 26, 1999|access-date=September 22, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929191817/http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/gary_kurtz_reveals_original_plans_for_episodes_19_80270.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1980, Lucas confirmed that he had the nine-film series plotted,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks08.pdf|magazine=Bantha Tracks|title=Interview: George Lucas|issue=8|year=1980|last=Lucas|first=George|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623142537/http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> but due to the stress of producing the original trilogy, he had decided to cancel further sequels by 1981.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=494}} In 1983, Lucas explained that "There was never a script completed that had the entire story as it exists now ... As the stories unfolded, I would take certain ideas and save them ... I kept taking out all the good parts, and I just kept telling myself I would make other movies someday."<ref>Worrell, Denise. ''Icons: Intimate Portraits''. p. 185.</ref>

Technical advances in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the ability to create [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI), inspired Lucas to consider that it might be possible to revisit his saga. In 1989, Lucas stated that the prequels would be "unbelievably expensive".{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=303}} In 1992, he acknowledged that he had plans to create the prequel trilogy.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=312}} A theatrical rerelease of the original trilogy in 1997 "[[Changes in Star Wars re-releases|updated]]" the 20-year-old films with the style of CGI envisioned for the new trilogy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/02/01/20-years-ago-star-wars-special-edition-made-star-wars-special-again/?sh=5f03da032a61 |title=20 Years Ago, 'Star Wars: Special Edition' Made 'Star Wars' Special Again |website=Forbes |date=February 1, 2017 |accessdate=November 5, 2023 |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105145232/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/02/01/20-years-ago-star-wars-special-edition-made-star-wars-special-again/?sh=5f03da032a61 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' was released on May 19, 1999, ''Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' on May 16, 2002, and ''Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'' on May 19, 2005.<ref name="release dates">{{cite web|access-date=March 27, 2008|url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/news20040405.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415144223/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/news20040405.html|archive-date=April 15, 2008|title=Episode III Release Dates Announced|website=StarWars.com|date=April 5, 2004}}</ref> The first two films were met with mixed reviews, with the third being received more positively. Together with the original trilogy, Lucas has referred to the first six episodic films of the franchise as "the tragedy of Darth Vader".<ref>{{cite web|first=Gregory|last=Wakeman|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/George-Lucas-Was-Terrible-Predicting-Future-Star-Wars-68506.html|title=George Lucas Was Terrible At Predicting The Future Of Star Wars|date=December 4, 2014|website=[[CinemaBlend]]|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114031020/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/George-Lucas-Was-Terrible-Predicting-Future-Star-Wars-68506.html|url-status=live}}</ref>