Lucas Back To Direct Episode II

Following hot on the heels of last week’s Anakin announcement, Lucasfilm has announced that George Lucas will direct Star Wars: Episode II and that cast members Anthony Daniels and Ian McDiarmid will reprise their roles from the previous Star Wars films. The Star Wars official web site has confirmed Lucas as writer, director and executive producer of Episode II, though Lucasfilm has already announced that screenwriter Jonathan Hales will refine the script from Lucas' final draft. According to the latest edition of Star Wars internet newsletter The Homing Beacon, Anthony Daniels will return as fussy protocol droid C-3PO, a role he has protrayed in all the Star Wars movies, radio dramas and the Droids animated series. Ian McDiarmid will reprise his role as the Machiavellian Chancellor Palpatine — and presumably the evil Darth Sidious in the movie — which begins shooting this summer in Australia.