Star Wars prequel trilogy

{{quote box|width = 33%|quote=It's all based on backstories that I'd written setting up what the Jedi were, setting up what the Sith were, setting up what the Empire was, setting up what the Republic was, and how it all fits together. I spent a lot of time in developing those elements, and what each planet did, and why they did it the way they did. So I had all this material. A lot of the story elements were given. Early on, it was that Anakin had been more or less created by the midi-chlorians, and that the midi-chlorians had a very powerful relationship to the Whills [from the first draft of Star Wars], and the power of the Whills, and all that. I never really got a chance to explain the Whills part.

So a lot of the story of the prequels, I'd done already. And now I was just having to put it into a script and fill it in, kind of sew up some of the gaps that were in there. I'd already established that all Jedi had a mentor, with Obi-Wan and Luke, and the fact that that was a bigger issue – that's the way the Jedi actually worked. But it was also the way that the Sith worked. There's always the Sith Lord and then the apprentice.

Everybody said, "Oh, well, there was a war between the Jedi and the Sith." Well, that never happened. That's just made up by fans or somebody. What really happened is, the Sith ruled the universe for a while, 2,000 years ago. Each Sith has an apprentice, but the problem was, that each Sith Lord got to be powerful. And the Sith Lords would try to kill each other because they all wanted to be the most powerful. So in the end they killed each other off, and there wasn't anything left. So the idea is that when you have a Sith Lord, and he has an apprentice, the apprentice is always trying to recruit somebody to join him – because he's not strong enough, usually – so that he can kill his master.|source=—Filmmaker George Lucas describing the concepts and plot of the prequels in a StarWars.com interview.{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=StarWars.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=David |title=Star Wars Canon Has The Jedi-Sith War All Wrong According To George Lucas|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-jedi-sith-war-canon-george-lucas/ |access-date=2021-12-21 |website=screenrant.com |language=en}}}}

According to original trilogy producer Gary Kurtz, loose plans for a prequel trilogy were developed during the outlining of the original two films.{{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}} In 1980, Lucas confirmed that he had the nine-film series plotted,{{cite journal|url=http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks08.pdf|journal=Bantha Tracks|title=Interview: George Lucas|issue=8|year=1980|last=Lucas|first=George|access-date=November 18, 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}} but due to the stress of producing the original trilogy and pressure from his wife Marcia Lucas to settle down, he had decided to cancel further sequels by 1981.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=494}}

However, 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 prequel trilogy would be "unbelievably expensive."{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=303}} After viewing an early CGI test created by Industrial Light & Magic for Jurassic Park, Lucas said:

We did a test for Steven Spielberg, and when we put them up on the screen I had tears in my eyes. It was like one of those moments in history, like the invention of the lightbulb or the first telephone call. A major gap had been crossed and things were never going to be the same.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=311}}

In 1992, Lucas acknowledged that he had plans to create the prequel trilogy in the Lucasfilm Fan Club magazine, and announced this to Variety in late 1993.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=312}} Producer Rick McCallum reached out to Frank Darabont, who had previously written The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and The Shawshank Redemption, for possible future writing duties.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=315}} He was considered until at least 1995, but as time went on, Lucas continued writing the screenplays himself.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|pp=338–39}} Jeffrey Boam, who had previously written Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for Lucas, was interested in 1995 to rewrite and polish Lucas' scripts for the prequels.{{cite web|url=https://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2009/09/jeffrey-boam-interview-june-1995.html|title=Jeffrey Boam interview, June 1995|website=The Occasional Critic|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=January 28, 2025|archive-date=October 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027200622/https://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2009/09/jeffrey-boam-interview-june-1995.html|url-status=live}} Before Lucas chose to direct the prequels, Return of the Jedi director Richard Marquand expressed interest in directing one of the prequel films, up until his death in 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars/26133/richard-marquand-interview-return-of-the-jedi-star-wars|title=Richard Marquand interview: Return Of The Jedi, Star Wars|website=Den of Geek|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214003000/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars/26133/richard-marquand-interview-return-of-the-jedi-star-wars|url-status=live}} The popularity of the franchise had been prolonged by the Star Wars Expanded Universe, so that it still had a large audience. A theatrical rerelease of the original trilogy in 1997 'updated' the 20-year-old films with the style of CGI envisioned for the new episodes.

Having been significantly anticipated by fans, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was released on May 19, 1999. It sees the Jedi coming into contact with the young Anakin Skywalker and the corruption of the Galactic Senate by Darth Sidious. Episode II – Attack of the Clones was released on May 16, 2002. The story jumps ahead 10 years and finds Anakin—now a Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi—pursuing a forbidden romance, as well as the outbreak of the Clone Wars. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the first {{nowrap|PG-13}} film in the franchise, was released on May 19, 2005.{{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}} It picks up three years following Attack of the Clones and depicts the Jedi Order being annihilated via Order 66, the Galactic Republic coming to an end and the Galactic Empire forming in its place and Anakin falling to the dark side of the Force and being reborn as Darth Vader, all under the machinations of Palpatine.{{Cite video|title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|medium=DVD|date=2005|publisher=20th Century Fox}}

{{Main|Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace}}

32 years before the events of the original film, (13 years before the creation of the Galactic Empire), two Jedi Knights—Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi—are sent to negotiate with the corrupt Trade Federation who has formed a blockade around the planet Naboo. Naboo's senator Palpatine—who is secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious—has covertly engineered the blockade as a pretext to become Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. With the help of Naboo's fourteen-year-old queen, Padmé Amidala, and accompanied by a clumsy native named Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escape the blockade. They land on Tatooine to repair their starship and meet a nine-year-old slave named Anakin Skywalker. Believing him to be the prophesied "Chosen One", Qui-Gon takes Anakin to be trained as a Jedi.{{Cite video|title=Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=2001|medium=DVD}}

The prequels were originally planned to fill in history tangential to the original trilogy, but Lucas realized that they could form the first half of one long story focusing on Anakin.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|pp=299–300}} This would shape the film series into a self-contained saga. In 1994, Lucas began writing the screenplay for the first prequel, initially titled Episode I: The Beginning. Following the film's release, Lucas announced that he would be directing the next two.{{Cite journal|journal=Star Wars Insider|title=Star Wars Insider|issue=45|page=19}}

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| footer = The central trio of the prequel trilogy was played by Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker, Episodes II & III), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Natalie Portman (Padmé Amidala), respectively.}}

{{Main|Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones}}

10 years later, an assassination attempt is made on Padmé Amidala, who is now serving as Naboo's senator after finishing her term as queen. Jedi Knight {{nowrap|Obi-Wan Kenobi}} and his apprentice, Anakin, are assigned to protect her; {{nowrap|Obi-Wan}} tracks the assassin, while Anakin and Padmé secretly fall in love. Meanwhile, Chancellor Palpatine schemes to draw the galaxy into the Clone Wars between the Republic army of clone troopers led by the Jedi, and the Confederacy of Independent Systems led by Darth Sidious' Sith apprentice, Count Dooku.{{Cite video|title= Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones|publisher= 20th Century Fox| date = 2002 | medium = DVD}}

The first draft of Episode II was completed just weeks before principal photography, and Lucas hired Jonathan Hales, a writer from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, to polish it.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=371}} Unsure of a title, Lucas had jokingly called the film "Jar Jar's Great Adventure".{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=374}} In writing The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas initially considered that Lando Calrissian was a clone from a planet of clones which caused the Clone Wars mentioned in A New Hope.{{Sfn|Bouzereau|1997|p=196}}{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=158}} He later came up with the concept of an army of clone shock troopers from a remote planet which attacked the Republic and was resisted by the Jedi.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=162}}

{{Main|Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith}}

Three years into the Clone Wars, Anakin becomes disillusioned with the Jedi Council and begins to have visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. Palpatine reveals himself as Darth Sidious and convinces Anakin that the dark side of the Force holds the power to save Padmé's life. Desperate, Anakin submits to Sidious and assumes the Sith moniker Darth Vader. Sidious then orders the Jedi's extermination while declaring the former Republic an Empire. Vader engages in a lightsaber duel with {{nowrap|Obi-Wan}} on the volcanic planet Mustafar which results in Vader becoming disfigured; losing both legs and left arm, while Padmé dies after giving birth to twins.

Work on Episode III began before Episode II was released, with one scene shot during the earlier film's production. Lucas originally told concept artists that the film would open with a montage of the Clone Wars,{{Sfn |Rinzler|2005|pp=13–15}} and included a scene of Palpatine revealing to Anakin that he had willed his conception through the Force.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2005|p=42}} Lucas reviewed and radically reorganized the plot,{{Sfn|Rinzler|2005|p=36}} having Anakin execute Dooku in the first act to foreshadow his fall to the dark side.{{Sfn|Kaminski|2008|pp=380–84}} After principal photography was completed in 2003, Lucas made more changes, rewriting Anakin's arc. He would now primarily turn to the dark side in a quest to save Padmé, rather than just believing that the Jedi are plotting to take over the Republic. The rewrite was accomplished both through editing principal footage and filming new and revised scenes during pick-ups in 2004.{{Cite video | title =Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith documentary "Within a Minute"|medium=DVD documentary|date= 2005}}

Lucas made a conscious effort to parallel scenes and dialogue between the prequel and original trilogy, especially concerning the journey of Anakin Skywalker in the prequels and that of his son Luke in the older films. Together with the original trilogy, Lucas has collectively referred to the first six episodic films of the franchise as "the tragedy of Darth Vader".{{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}} According to Lucas, the correct order to watch the films is by episode order.{{cite web |last=Vargas |first=Alani |title=So You Want to Have a 'Star Wars' Marathon? George Lucas Has the Correct Order to Do That In |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/so-you-want-to-have-a-star-wars-marathon-george-lucas-has-the-correct-order-to-do-that-in.html/ |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |access-date=March 19, 2020 |date=March 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812161215/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/so-you-want-to-have-a-star-wars-marathon-george-lucas-has-the-correct-order-to-do-that-in.html/ |url-status=live }}

There are many references to Christianity in the prequel trilogy, such as the appearance of Darth Maul, whose design draws heavily from traditional depictions of the devil, complete with red skin and horns.{{cite news|date=April 26, 1999|title=Of Myth And Men|work=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990820,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823014505/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990820,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2006|access-date=April 20, 2009|first=Bill|last=Moyers}} The Star Wars film cycle features a similar Christian narrative involving Anakin Skywalker; he is the "Chosen One"—the individual prophesied to bring balance to the Force—who was conceived of a virgin birth. However, unlike Jesus, Anakin falls from grace and seemingly fails to fulfill his destiny (until the prophecy comes true in Return of the Jedi). The saga draws heavily from the hero's journey, an archetypical template developed by comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell.

Political science has been an important element of Star Wars since the franchise launched in 1977, focusing on a struggle between democracy and dictatorship.

Palpatine being a chancellor before becoming the Emperor in the prequel trilogy alludes to Adolf Hitler's role as chancellor before appointing himself Führer.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m81Bg4E_y_IC|title=Star Wars and History|date=October 15, 2012|access-date=August 30, 2013|isbn=978-1-118-28525-1|last1=Reagin|first1=Nancy R.|last2=Liedl|first2=Janice|page=144|publisher=Wiley |archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154528/https://books.google.com/books?id=m81Bg4E_y_IC|url-status=live}} Lucas has also drawn parallels between Palpatine and historical dictators such as Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as former president of the United States Richard Nixon.{{cite news|title=Star Wars: Attack of the Clones |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020429/story2.html|work=Time|date=April 21, 2002|access-date=December 13, 2009|quote=The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon or Adolf Hitler. Ultimately, the general population goes along with the idea ... That's the issue I've been exploring: how did the Republic turn into the Empire?|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605161308/http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020429/story2.html|archive-date=June 5, 2002}}{{cite book|title=Star Wars and History|date=October 15, 2012|isbn=978-1-118-28525-1|last1=Reagin|first1=Nancy R.|last2=Liedl|first2=Janice|page=32}}{{efn|In his early drafts, Lucas used the plot point of a dictator staying in power with the support of the military. In his comment (made in the prequel trilogy era) Lucas attributed this to Nixon's supposed intention to defy the 22nd Amendment,{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=95}} but the president was actually impeached and never ran for a third term. Fellow Republican President Ronald Reagan sought to repeal the amendment after leaving the office.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/us/reagan-wants-end-of-two-term-limit.html|title=Reagan Wants End of Two-Term Limit|last=Molotsky|first=Irvin|date=November 29, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York City|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723133323/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/us/reagan-wants-end-of-two-term-limit.html|url-status=live}}}} The Great Jedi Purge depicted in Revenge of the Sith mirrors the events of the Night of the Long Knives.{{cite book|title=Star Wars and History|date=October 15, 2012|isbn=978-1-118-28525-1|last1=Reagin|first1=Nancy R.|last2=Liedl|first2=Janice|page=341}} The corruption of the Galactic Republic is modeled after the fall of the Roman Republic and the formation of an empire.{{cite book|title=Star Wars and History|date=October 15, 2012|isbn=978-1-118-28525-1|last1=Reagin|first1=Nancy R.|last2=Liedl|first2=Janice|pages=130–33}}{{cite web|url=http://www.utc.edu/Academic/FirstYearStudies/seminars/starwars.php|title="Star Wars" offers perspective into ancient history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123000936/http://blog.utc.edu/news/2012/11/star-wars-offers-perspective-into-ancient-history/|date=November 5, 2012|website=University of Tennessee at Chattanooga|archive-date=November 23, 2015|access-date=November 12, 2018}}

The films have been made available on many home video formats, most notably on DVD and Blu-ray. Like the "Special Edition" re-issue of the original trilogy, Lucasfilm has altered the films with each release, although these additional changes are minor.

A 3D theatrical re-release was planned for the then-six-film franchise beginning with The Phantom Menace in February 2012. However, following Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm, the subsequent releases were canceled to focus on the sequel trilogy.{{cite web |title=The 'Star Wars' We'll Never See |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-star-wars-well-never-see |website=GQ |access-date=August 20, 2019 |date=February 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820060756/https://www.gq.com/story/the-star-wars-well-never-see |url-status=live }}

The trilogy was made available for streaming on Disney+ upon the service's launch in late 2019.{{cite news |last=Whitbrook |first=James |title=The Mandalorian Will Premiere on Disney+ November 12 |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-mandalorian-will-be-available-on-disney-from-day-o-1833985687/amp |work=io9 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412063838/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-mandalorian-will-be-available-on-disney-from-day-o-1833985687/amp |url-status=live }}

{{Further|List of Star Wars films and television series#Critical response}}

{{reflist|group=n}}{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=StarWars.com |language=en}}

The prequel trilogy received mixed reviews, generally improving in critical reception with each installment. Common criticisms surrounded the over-reliance on computer-generated imagery, wooden dialogue (including scenes of romance between Anakin and Padmé), slow-paced political scenes,{{cite web |last=Lawler |first=Kelly |title=Why I love the 'Star Wars' prequels (and you should too) |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-now/why-i-love-the-star-wars-prequels-and-you-should-too/465-5e8a23af-3974-48a1-bd65-11fae8e3d540 |website=KING-TV |access-date=August 9, 2019 |date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810065447/https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-now/why-i-love-the-star-wars-prequels-and-you-should-too/465-5e8a23af-3974-48a1-bd65-11fae8e3d540 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Keith|first=Tamara|date=December 15, 2015|title=Why The Politics Of The 'Star Wars' Universe Makes No Sense|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/12/15/459812699/why-the-politics-of-the-star-wars-universe-makes-no-sense|access-date=August 10, 2019|website=NPR|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725033015/https://www.npr.org/2015/12/15/459812699/why-the-politics-of-the-star-wars-universe-makes-no-sense|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Welch |first1=Alex |title=Star Wars' Sequel Trilogy Changed How We Talk About the Prequels |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-sequel-trilogy-changed-perception-prequels |website=Inverse |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520121802/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-sequel-trilogy-changed-perception-prequels |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |date=May 18, 2024}} and the comic relief character of Jar Jar Binks, whose role was reduced after the first film.{{cite news|last=Okwu|first=Michael|date=June 9, 1999|title=Jar Jar jars viewers, spawns criticism|work=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9906/09/jar.jar/index.html|url-status=dead|access-date=May 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111150744/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9906/09/jar.jar/index.html|archive-date=November 11, 2013}}{{efn|The character was so disliked, even by fans, that actor Ahmed Best said he contemplated suicide.{{cite web |last=Newbold |first=Mark |title=Ahmed Best: That Moment I Opened Up About Suicide |url=https://www.fanthatracks.com/news/film-music-tv/ahmed-best-that-moment-i-opened-up-about-suicide/ |website=Fantha Tracks |access-date=June 1, 2019 |date=January 5, 2019 |archive-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601071104/https://www.fanthatracks.com/news/film-music-tv/ahmed-best-that-moment-i-opened-up-about-suicide/ |url-status=live }}}} Several alien characters introduced in The Phantom Menace have been subject to accusations of racial stereotypes. Jar Jar is asserted to caricature a stereotyped Jamaican,{{Cite news|last=Harrison|first=Eric|date=May 26, 1999|title=A Galaxy Far, Far Off Racial Mark?|work=L.A. Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-26-ca-40965-story.html|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527005126/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/may/26/entertainment/ca-40965|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=|date=May 17, 2002|title=Jar Jar Less Conspicuous in 'Clones'|url=http://www.hollywood.com/general/jar-jar-less-conspicuous-in-clones-57201914/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613050240/http://www.hollywood.com/general/jar-jar-less-conspicuous-in-clones-57201914/|archive-date=June 13, 2015|access-date=2021-10-26|website=Hollywood.com}} while the Gungan species at large has been said to suggest a primitive African tribe. The greedy Neimoidians of the Trade Federation have been noted as resembling East Asian stereotypes{{Cite journal|last=Pianka|first=John Paul|date=May 2013|title=The Power of the Force: Race, Gender, and Colonialism in the Star Wars Universe|url=https://www.cdt-pv.org/media/upload/The_Power_of_the_Force-_Race_Gender_and_Colonialism_in_the_Star.pdf|journal=Office of Graduate Studies, Wesleyan University|type=Thesis|pages=1–93|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017214726/https://www.cdt-pv.org/media/upload/The_Power_of_the_Force-_Race_Gender_and_Colonialism_in_the_Star.pdf|url-status=live}} with some deliberately given Thai accents,{{cite news|title=Silas Carson: Hero with a Thousand Faces |publisher=Lucas Online |date=30 May 2002 |author=Lucasfilm |url=http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020530/indexp4.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103130737/http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020530/indexp4.html |archive-date= 3 January 2008 }} and Watto's mannerisms and hooked nose appearance were based on footage of Alec Guinness as the Jewish character Fagin in the 1948 film Oliver Twist,{{cite magazine|last=Silberman|first=Steve|date=May 1999|title=G Force: George Lucas fires up the next generation of Star Warriors|url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.05/lucas_pr.html|url-status=live|magazine=Wired|volume=7|issue=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410184952/http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.05/lucas_pr.html|archive-date=April 10, 2014|access-date=July 12, 2009}} leading some to assert that the slave-owning character is a Jewish stereotype.{{Cite journal|last=Brooker|first=Will|date=April 2001|title=Readings of Racism: Interpretation, stereotyping and The Phantom Menace|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/713657758|journal=Continuum|language=en|volume=15|issue=1|pages=15–32|doi=10.1080/713657758|issn=1030-4312|s2cid=143763901|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128233540/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713657758|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} Lucas denied all accusations of racial stereotypes.{{cite news|date=July 14, 1999|title=Star Wars: Lucas Strikes Back|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394542.stm|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929002301/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394542.stm|archive-date=September 29, 2009}}

Many expressed their disappointment with the trilogy's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, particularly calling the writing weak and the dialogue wooden, although Hayden Christensen's performance in the third film was more well-received.{{cite web |last=Dixon |first=Chris |title=Reevaluating the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy |url=https://medium.com/@CatoMinor/reevaluating-the-star-wars-prequel-trilogy-346e23d51c27 |website=Medium |access-date=August 10, 2019 |date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811062322/https://medium.com/@CatoMinor/reevaluating-the-star-wars-prequel-trilogy-346e23d51c27 |url-status=live }} Contrarily, Ewan McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi, following in the footsteps of Alec Guinness, has been generally praised.{{cite web |last=Mangione |first=Nick |title=Defending the Star Wars Prequels: Were They Really That Bad? |url=https://www.geek.com/movies/defending-the-star-wars-prequels-were-they-really-that-bad-1698562/ |website=Geek.com |access-date=August 10, 2019 |date=May 4, 2017 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822030442/https://www.geek.com/movies/defending-the-star-wars-prequels-were-they-really-that-bad-1698562/ |url-status=dead }} Natalie Portman has expressed her disappointment with the trilogy's negative reception, saying that "When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint". She also acknowledged that "With the perspective of time, it's been re-evaluated by a lot of people who actually really love them now".{{cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |title=Natalie Portman: Star Wars Prequels Backlash Was 'A Bummer' |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/natalie-portman-star-wars-prequels-backlash-bummer/ |website=Empire |access-date=August 10, 2019 |date=May 3, 2019 |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917014808/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/natalie-portman-star-wars-prequels-backlash-bummer/ |url-status=live }}

The trilogy has also received some criticism for clashing aesthetically with the original trilogy. While the older films feature rough and aged technology, the prequels depict relatively sleek and new industrial designs. Some have criticized this design choice by saying that it makes the earlier time period appear to depict a more advanced civilization, although Revenge of the Sith brings the design closer to that of the original trilogy.{{cite web |last=Asher-Perrin |first=Emmet |title=Watching the Star Wars Prequels on Mute: An Experiment |url=https://www.tor.com/2013/01/16/watching-the-star-wars-prequels-muted-an-experiment/ |website=TOR |access-date=August 9, 2019 |date=January 16, 2013 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806004640/https://www.tor.com/2013/01/16/watching-the-star-wars-prequels-muted-an-experiment/ |url-status=live }} Lucas has called the choice clever, as it illustrates the halt of technological innovation in a time period of civil war.Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace DVD featurette

Conversely, some argue for the prequel trilogy's positive elements, including its handling of political issues, especially involving the rise of fascism. This includes Star Wars: The Last Jedi director and writer Rian Johnson, who also praised its visual effects innovations. Jar Jar Binks has been regarded as the first fully CGI character in a live-action film, and perceived as paving the way for Gollum in The Lord of the Rings.{{Cite web|last=Agar|first=Chris|date=2020-06-29|title=Rian Johnson Explains Why George Lucas' Star Wars Prequels Are Great|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-prequels-good-why-reason-rian-johnson/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111155329/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-prequels-good-why-reason-rian-johnson/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Placido |first=Dani Di |title=Looking Back At The 'Star Wars' Prequel Trilogy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/12/15/looking-back-at-the-star-wars-prequel-trilogy/#2e9a9c8f2a9c |website=Forbes |access-date=May 31, 2019 |date=December 15, 2016 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814150645/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/12/15/looking-back-at-the-star-wars-prequel-trilogy/#2e9a9c8f2a9c |url-status=live }} KING-TV's Kelly Lawler complimented the lightsaber battles as "sleeker affairs with better choreography and more athleticism" compared to the original trilogy. J. J. Abrams praised the acting of Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious, stating that the scene where he recounts the tragedy of Darth Plagueis is the best of the trilogy.{{Cite magazine|url = https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/26/jj-abrams-favorite-star-wars-prequels-scene/|title = J.J. Abrams reveals his favorite 'Star Wars' prequels scene|magazine = Entertainment Weekly|access-date = August 13, 2020|archive-date = June 6, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200606074737/https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/26/jj-abrams-favorite-star-wars-prequels-scene/|url-status = live}}

George Lucas has responded to the negative criticism by saying that, like the original films, they were intended "for 12-year-olds", while acknowledging that fans who saw the originals when they were young had different expectations as adults.{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=StarWars.com |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Mancuso |first=Vinnie |title=George Lucas: 'Star Wars' Is a 'Film for 12-Year-Olds' |url=https://observer.com/2017/04/george-lucas-says-star-wars-is-for-12-year-olds/ |website=Observer |access-date=May 31, 2019 |date=April 13, 2017 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722005531/https://observer.com/2017/04/george-lucas-says-star-wars-is-for-12-year-olds/ |url-status=live }} The prequels have been noted as retaining a dedicated fanbase, primarily composed of Millennials{{cite web |last=Leadbeater |first=Alex |title=When Did The Star Wars Prequels Become Cool? |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-prequel-trilogy-good-popular-underrated/ |website=ScreenRant |access-date=June 1, 2019 |date=June 8, 2017 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918050814/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-prequel-trilogy-good-popular-underrated/ |url-status=live }} and Gen Zers{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |author=Caitlin Chappell |title=Star Wars: Gen Z Has Turned Revenge of the Sith Into a Cult Classic |url=https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-gen-z-turned-revenge-of-the-sith-into-cult-classic/ |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=CBR |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119040131/https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-gen-z-turned-revenge-of-the-sith-into-cult-classic/ |url-status=live }} who were children at the time of their release.{{cite web |last1=Blair |first1=Andrew |title=The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Helped the Prequels Age Surprisingly Well |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars-sequel-trilogy-prequels-age-better/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326141925/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars-sequel-trilogy-prequels-age-better/ |archive-date=March 26, 2024 |date=March 26, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Charity |first1=Justin |title=The 'Star Wars' Prequel Renaissance Has Begun |url=https://www.theringer.com/star-wars/2022/5/26/23142799/star-wars-prequels-renaissance-obi-wan-kenobi-show |website=The Ringer |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526144443/https://www.theringer.com/star-wars/2022/5/26/23142799/star-wars-prequels-renaissance-obi-wan-kenobi-show |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |date=May 26, 2022}} Since the late 2010s, the prequels have amassed a cult following via Internet memes on social media, with Neel Patel of Syfy Wire attributing this to the internet being a "paradise of irreverence, just like George Lucas' scripts".{{Cite web|last=Patel|first=Neel|date=2020-07-05|title=The Star Wars prequels are finally beloved because they were made for the internet|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-wars-prequel-trilogy-memes|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Syfy Wire|language=en|archive-date=June 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606191117/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-wars-prequel-trilogy-memes|url-status=live}} Additionally, both the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Disney's sequel trilogy has been noted to have retroactively improved the perception of the prequel trilogy among fans.{{Cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Shane|date=2020-01-28|title=How The Clone Wars Fixes Anakin's Star Wars Prequel Arc|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-clone-wars-anakin-skywalker-prequels-story-fix/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716030527/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-clone-wars-anakin-skywalker-prequels-story-fix/|url-status=live}}

Screen Rant favorably compared the way the prequels ended the saga compared to the sequels, writing, "Amidst the bad execution of the story, the fact of the matter is, the prequel movies tell one coherent narrative, with a clear through-line between movies – this is something sorely lacking in the sequel trilogy".{{Cite web|last=Dumaraog|first=Ana|date=2020-08-07|title=Rise of Skywalker Gave Star Wars Sequels A Worse Ending Than The Prequels|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-revenge-sith-ending-comparison-bad/|access-date=2020-08-08|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928141845/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-revenge-sith-ending-comparison-bad/|url-status=live}} Similarly, Den of Geek{{'}}s Andrew Blair wrote that the prequels were "enjoying a deserved reappraisal" following vocal discourse surrounding the sequels. He considered the prequels to be the superior trilogy as, in contrast to its successors, the films had "consistency" and "the product of a singular vision".

Footnotes

{{Notelist}}

Citations

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite book | title = The Annotated Screenplays | last = Bouzereau | first = Laurent | year = 1997 | isbn = 978-0-345-40981-2 | publisher = Del Rey }}
• {{cite book | title = The Secret History of Star Wars | last = Kaminski | first = Michael | year = 2008 | orig-year = 2007 | publisher = Legacy Books Press | isbn = 978-0-9784652-3-0 }}
• {{Cite book | title = The Making of Star Wars, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | last = Rinzler | first = Jonathan W. | year = 2005 | publisher = Del Rey | isbn = 978-0-345-43139-4 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/makingofstarwars0000rinz }}

{{refend}}

{{Star Wars prequel trilogy}}

{{Star Wars}}

Category:American film series

Category:20th Century Fox films

Category:Lucasfilm films

Prequel trilogy

Category:Film series introduced in 1999

Category:Films directed by George Lucas