Alderaan. A center of art and beauty in the galaxy, Alderaan is an unspoiled world that exemplifies pacifist ideals. Representing Alderaan in the Senate is Bail Organa, played by Jimmy Smits, the eventual adoptive father to Princess Leia. Alderaan is seen briefly in the film, with stunning photography gathered in the Swiss Alps, augmented by a gleaming palace added digitally.

The Episode III Art Department developed the look of Alderaanian culture as extremely advanced and sleek, with tight jumpsuits and streamlined headsets being the norm aboard Alderaanian starships. Present in the film are several prominent natives of Alderaan, including Captain Antilles of the Tantive IV played by Rohan Nichol and Queen Breha Organa, played by Rebecca Jackson Mendoza.

Cato Neimoidia. A key "purseworld" of the Trade Federation, Cato Neimoidia is home to many treasure troves belonging to the greedy Neimoidians. In the early development of Episode III, Cato Neimoidia was to be a gas giant ringed by a flat, disc-like space station - reminiscent of the donut-like shape of the Trade Federation battleships seen in Episode I. The opulent interiors of Cato Neimoidia were to be stocked with riches, gleaming precious metals, and other gaudy examples of excess.

In the finished film, Cato Neimoidia is marked with skyscraper-filled cities lining bowed bridges that span enormous gaps - its two-word definition during development was "bridge world." Episode III dialogue referring obliquely to a sticky situation involving Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Commander Cody on Cato Neimoidia was expanded to become the opening chapters of the novel Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno.

Coruscant. The capital of the Republic, and eventual birthplace of the Galactic Empire, the city planet of Coruscant figures prominently in Episode III as it has the entire prequel trilogy. Returning locales include Padmé's apartment, which has been expanded to include a spacious verandah; the Jedi Temple, which includes such new chambers as a high tech computer room, military briefing room, and gunship hangar; and the Senate building, which includes the Chancellor's holding office from which extends his commanding podium.

A prominent new location is the Galaxies Opera House, where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine maintains a private viewing box. In the film, he is witness to a zero-gravity Mon Calamari aquatic ballet.

Felucia. A stronghold belonging to the Commerce Guild, Felucia is the site of a Republic mission led by the Twi'lek Jedi, Aayla Secura. Early in the development of Episode III, George Lucas planned on depicting the fall of the Separatist home-worlds in the Clone Wars, and each Separatist faction and species was given a distinct planet of their own. Felucia was to be home of Shu Mai and her Gossam people. The early artwork described it as a "kelp planet" and a "fungus planet."

For the film, the look of Felucia was locked through a detailed concept model built at Industrial Light & Magic. The planet is a dense mixture of yellow, blue and green hues, expressed through exotic vegetation and fungi, including enormous bottle-like pitcher plants that color the sunlight like a stained-glass window. Native creatures include large grub-like beetles used as mounts and translucent life forms, like gossamer-winged birds with flesh like gummy candy.

Lucas is set to follow in the footsteps of 'Lord Of The Rings' film-maker Peter Jackson by briefly appearing before cameras in 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of The Sith,' playing Baron Papanoida in an opera house scene.

Director George Lucas has warned that young children might not be allowed to watch the third and final instalment of his Star Wars prequel films because of the increased level of violence in it.

Lucas revealed his concerns about audience expectations and the likelihood of a stronger rating for the film in a magazine interview.

"I think children, young children especially, should be warned that this is not your average Star Wars," he told Vanity Fair.

"It's a lot darker, there's a lot more scary stuff in it," Lucas said. "It's brutal in places and they should be aware of that."

Steve Sansweet, head of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm, will kick off his 2005 convention season tour of appearances with a look inside the making of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Joining Sansweet on stage for an interview will be Peter Mayhew, the actor who portrays the mighty Chewbacca in Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars trilogy. Sansweet will touch on a year of Star Wars events leading up to the film release, plus show a special preview for the upcoming Clone Wars: Volume 2 season, set to start in March on the Cartoon Network. Bring your questions on all things Star Wars, and stay for a Q&A with Sansweet.

Other Lucasfilm Events at Wondercon:

Do you have what it takes to create art for the Star Wars galaxy? Troy Alders, Art Director at Lucas Licensing, will conduct portfolio reviews, provide critiques, and offer tips for aspiring artists. Saturday, Noon -- 1:30 PM. Room 112

Wondercon introduced a Masquerade this year, and Lucasfilm will commemorate the event by offering a prize for the best Star Wars Costume of the competition. The prize, pulled from the Lucas Licensing Archives, is a treasure particularly appropriate in this year of the Sith. Saturday, 7:30 PM. Room 130-131

See the best Star Wars Fan Films. Lucasfilm will present the 2004 winners of the Star Wars Fan Film Awards, plus the Top Ten Star Wars Fan Films of all time, based on their number of viewings at atomfilms.com. Saturday, 9:30 PM. Room 130-131

More for Star Wars Fans at Wondercon:

The Sith Lords is set five years after the events of KOTORI, the Jedi Civil War and the death of Darth Malak. The Jedi Order has been reduced to the less than impressive member of one, namely you, while the Sith have spread throughout the galaxy in what has become one of the first, but certainly not the last, Jedi purges. Of course the question remains, do you join them or fight to save the noble Jedi Order?