For the first time, more than 300 of the most evocative, memory-laden, and impactful posters created to promote the Star Wars saga are gathered in one book, a heavily illustrated history of Star Wars poster art. Here, you'll find not only the treasured classics of the original trilogy and bold new pieces for the prequel trilogy, but also rare variant, foreign, and some unusual international posters that have rarely seen print before. The Star Wars Poster Book, by Stephen J. Sansweet and Peter Vilmur, is the ultimate gallery tour of this favorite collectible art form.

The undisputed giant of Star Wars books is the Star Wars Chronicles published in 1997. This immense, oversized book featured more than 300 pages of full color photos, delving into the Lucasfilm Archives to present never before seen images of props, costumes, models, and all the detail found in the classic films of the original trilogy.

With Revenge of the Sith completing the saga this year, the time is right for Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels, the follow-up book of similar scale and depth. Film frames, production stills, early sketches, computer renderings, outtakes, fold-out vehicle scale diagrams, and more explain and deconstruct the richly layered back-story and fully realized universe of Episodes I, II and III. The book features insightful text that details both the fictional Star Wars universe and the behind-the-scene filmmaking process. Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels is by Stephen J. Sansweet and Pablo Hidalgo.

The April issue of Total Film magazine in the UK features a lenticular cover that morphs between Hayden Christensen as Anakin and the helmeted Darth Vader. The Chosen One also graces the cover of CUT magazine in Japan, while the ultimate duel between master and apprentice graces the cover of Japanese Premiere. Also in Japan, the teaser poster leaps out from the cover of DVD Video Date. Back in Europe, the wicked Darth Sidious brandishes a lightsaber on the UK's Hot Dog magazine, while Anakin is spotlighted on the cover of Lucasfilm Magazine #52, the official magazine of the French Star Wars Fan Club.

There's many more to come and many more out there. Keep checking starwars.com for a look at what's happening around the globe.

Over the coming weeks, starwars.com and Hasbro are pleased to bring you closer previews of the first wave of Episode III toys ready to hit shelves on April 2, 2005.

Star Wars fans attending Laga'aia's shows during Celebration will take home long-lasting memories. The actor's appearances at the Official German Star Wars Fan Club convention in Düsseldorf in 2004 were a tremendous success. Fans found Laga'aia warm, engaging, vibrant, and always entertaining.

"Jay came out to an audience with few expectations and had them roaring with laughter and applauding loudly after just a few minutes," says Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm's head of Fan Relations. "It's rare to see someone win over a crowd so quickly. By the end, he had earned a standing ovation." Fans at Celebration III will know Laga'aia as Captain Typho, Padmé Amidala's head of security in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. In addition to his Star Wars roles the actor has a distinguished and busy career, starring in numerous productions on both stage and screen. Since 2003 Laga'aia has performed the role of Mufasa in The Lion King on stage in Sydney, Australia, a part that is an excellent showcase for his vocal talent. Other notable roles among his many stage performances include one of the two leads in Athol Fugard's The Island, Wesley in Ladies Night, Judas and Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Eddie and Dr. Scott in The New Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Laga'aia's long television career spans show host duties to leading roles. Prominent characters are Tommy in the series "Water Rats" (1995 -- 1999), and the leading part of David Silesi in Screenworks Ltd. "Street Legal" (1998 -2003). Fans of "Xena: Warrior Princess" know him as the ruthless warlord Draco, who made regular appearances on the television show.

The actor behind the most fearsome bounty hunter in the galaxy, and the one with the coolest costume, Jeremy Bulloch portrayed Boba Fett in the original trilogy. Bulloch will also appear, sans the legendary dented helmet, as the pilot of the Tantive IV in Revenge of the Sith this coming May.

David Prowse first donned the costume of Darth Vader in the original trilogy. The character has become one of the most recognized, and best-loved, villains in pop culture history.

Not to be outdone by the original trilogy, the prequels have their share of memorable villains. Ray Park's iconic image in his Darth Maul make-up was the face that launched the Star Wars prequels.

The character of Boba Fett spans the entire saga, and started with the character as a young man, portrayed in Attack of the Clones by actor Daniel Logan.

Among the array of Episode III images are new anime-inspired characterizations from the original trilogy as well as some flaming Vader graphics that really heat up the look of this great collection.

And in case you missed them at StarWarsShop.com, there are six more pins available only as framed sets of three each in special Darth Vader and Yoda editions. These may become available again soon so keep an eye out for them at the shop!

Meanwhile, you can get your collection started with three bundled sets of select pins being offered now:

* Anakin and Vader Stylized Art Pin Set
* Jedi Emblem Pin Set
* Darth Vader Emblem Pin Set.

"Everyone loves a party, and where there's a party, there's got to be cake," DecoPac Sr. Marketing/Licensing Manager John Gardner says. "And what better reason for fans to celebrate than the release of Revenge of the Sith!"

And there are plenty of cool Revenge of the Sith cake and cupcake decorations and add-ons coming from DecoPac this Spring. Authorized bakeries will be able to use such decorating sets as Revenge of the Sith backdrops, edible film images, and a Yoda figure with light-up lightsaber. Other fun additions to the cakes include Darth Vader backpack tags with a voice changer and Darth Vader spinning keychains. "You can make your voice sound downright galactic when you speak through Darth Vader's helmet," Gardner explains. "Plus, you can clip him to your backpack along with the Spinner Key Tag featured on the same cake!"

There's also something special in store for those fans who love cupcakes as much as larger cakes. "Cupcakes are a special treat and great to snack on when a cake is too much," Gardner says. "Fans will find Star Wars character rings on cupcakes featuring Darth Vader, R2-D2 and C-3PO."

If you want to be part of the Star Wars edible universe yourself, then bring a photo of yourself to authorized bakeries to become part of the cake decoration.

"For a personalized touch, don't forget to ask your local bakery about their Star Wars PhotoCake images," Gardner suggests. "Bakeries that have the DecoPac scan to print PhotoCake systems can put your picture inside of a Star Wars frame or write a personalized message next to a Star Wars: Episode III image!"

Fans can find cakes decorated with their favorite Star Wars characters at grocery stores and retail bakeries authorized to carry Episode III products. In March, fans can find the nearest bakery carrying Star Wars cakes and cupcakes by going to Cakes.com and entering in the keywords: "Star Wars." For more information about Star Wars cakes from DecoPac, visit the official site here.

After taking a look at the latest Star Wars cakes from DecoPac, take a fun trip down memory lane with our birthday blast from the past slideshow featuring retro Star Wars cakes using Wilton cake pans and accessories.

Made of stainless steel, aluminum, powder-coated steel, and tempered glass, these commercial grade poppers feature conveniences like a kernel-catcher drawer and presentation lamp. Easy to clean and operate, each machine can be purchased alone or with coordinating cart for taking the fun outside.

There are two models themed out for Revenge of the Sith, another with droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO, and two more sporting the sinister Vader visage (Episode III artwork version or sand-blasted look). The two Vader versions feature cool flaming graphics that really heat up their designs.

Look for these to be available in time for pool parties and home movie nights this summer!

Star Wars fans mark time in their lives with events they share with the rest of the fan community. Celebrations wet or dry, standing in line for the new movies, hitting Midnight Madness toy store openings -- events like these foster lasting memories.

The common memory that all Star Wars fans share, that is central to almost everyone's fan experience, is watching the films of the saga on the big screen.

Think back to the last time you watched one of the Star Wars films in a theater. Feel the hush in the room when the words "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." fade onto the screen.

Hear the cheers when the first strains of the Star Wars theme explode through the sound system.

You can almost taste the hot, fresh popcorn....

Wait . . . you can taste the popcorn! At Celebration III Gen Con LLC, Lucasfilm's partners in producing the event, are providing free popcorn for those attending the nighttime screenings of the films of the saga. Gather with your friends, bring your lightsabers, and share the joy of watching your favorite movies with a theater full of fans who love them almost as much as you do.

What better way to get primed for the big screen experience we're all waiting for? The opening of Revenge of the Sith on May 19th.

Schedule for films of the Star Wars Saga: Shown at: 500 Ballroom Indiana Convention Center

Thursday, April 21 Star Wars: A New Hope 9:30 PM (right after Opening Ceremonies) Friday, April 22 The Empire Strikes Back 6:30 PM Return of the Jedi 9:00 PM

Saturday, April 23 The Phantom Menace 6:30 PM Attack of the Clones 9:00 PM Times may change; check

Anticipating this, StarWarsShop.com is the first to offer an extremely limited number of these to its customers for preorder, with an added bonus that will only be available from StarWarsShop.com and the official Sideshow Collectibles site. By ordering now, you will receive a 1/4 scale Mouse Droid in addition to the Darth Vader figure, which is a StarWarsShop.com and Sideshow shared exclusive. The Mouse Droid comes complete with a separate miniature Death Star flooring base.

Measuring a towering 20" tall, the Premium Format Darth Vader Figure is a museum quality 1/4 scale reproduction of the Dark Lord's appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope. The multi-layered costume combines expertly tailored clothing with a body and armor cast in heavy-weight polystone and other mediums, each chosen to best represent the original costume. The lightsaber, chest and belt panels feature electronic light function. Each figure is painted, costumed, and assembled by hand, and held to the highest quality standards.

"With a wide spectrum of puzzlers each looking for something that suits their style, the subject matter must be diverse; what one puzzler loves, another hates," Hasbro Games Marketing Manager Karen Gallik explains. "The Star Wars puzzles have strong icons, images and characters from the movie which allows the fans to relive the experience and continue to enjoy the movie long after viewing it on the big screen." This April, puzzle fanatics will see 500, 100 and 50 piece-puzzles. The more difficult two-sided 500-piece puzzles will be available in two different designs -- one side featuring the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, with the reverse dark side characters of Darth Vader, the Emperor, Count Dooku and Anakin Skywalker. The other two-sided puzzle features the Emperor, General Grievous, and the clone troopers on one side, and Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda and Mace Windu on the other. Each 500-piece puzzle is packaged in a collectable tin. All puzzles are suitable for ages 10 and older. The 100-piece puzzles come in four styles. One features a Darth Vader/ Anakin Skywalker collage, another shows off Chewbacca and his Wookiee brethren, another puzzle portrays the infamous duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and the last puzzle displays the epic space battle. All puzzles are suitable for ages 5 and older. For fans who want a smaller puzzle to take with them anywhere, the 50-piece puzzle might be right up their alley. Each puzzle features a different character from Revenge of the Sith. Put together image montages of Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anakin, General Grievous, Padmé Amidala, and C-3PO and R2-D2. All puzzles are suitable for ages 5 and older. "Puzzles allow people to escape without leaving their homes," Gallik says. "Puzzlers seek new activities that will challenge them and enjoy hobbies that gives them a sense of accomplishment. Nothing beats the feeling of putting the last puzzle piece in place!"

All Revenge of the Sith puzzles from Hasbro Games are scheduled to hit store shelves on April 2.

Stay tuned to starwars.com for more in-depth features on these games and more.

Remember to mark your calendars for the official launch of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith toys, games and more. Stay tuned to starwars.com and Hasbro's site each day for new details about the Episode III Star Wars toy aisle.

The four-weekend fan-fest (running from May 20 to June 12, 2005) will center around the famous Star Tours thrill ride and feature Star Wars celebrities who will take part in meet-and-greet sessions and Hollywood-style motorcades. Each Star Wars Weekend runs Friday through Sunday and will brim with Force-filled fun for the entire family. Some activities to look forward to include:

Wookiees, Jawas and Ewoks, Oh My!: You've seen them on-screen, now see them in person (or in alien, as the case may be)... characters from all five Star Wars movies, including Queen Amidala, Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Greedo and more, will roam the Disney-MGM Studios greeting guests, signing autographs and posing for photographs. Even Mickey Mouse gets into the Star Wars spirit, posing for pictures in his own Jedi costume.

Star Wars Legends: Visiting Star Wars celebrities take part in a talk show-style conversation inside the theme park's ABC Theater. Guests hear directly from the actors, actresses and creative minds that have brought the popular film series to life since Star Wars first debuted in 1977.

To Endor...and Back?: Guests can take flight to the moon of Endor in Star Tours, an action-packed flight simulator that salutes the Star Wars series. Synchronizing a stunning film with the virtually limitless gyrations of the simulator, the attraction takes guests on a hair-raising, light-speed trip aboard a careening star speeder. The rookie pilot tries his best to get the ship back to port while dodging comets and the Imperial TIE Fighters. Hyperspace members, read more about the Star Tours attraction here.

Obi-Wanna-Be: Throughout each day, young Padawans will be chosen to participate in the "Jedi Training Academy" where Jedi hopefuls learn lightsaber moves then test their skills against one of the evil Sith including Darth Vader himself.

A Galaxy of Collectibles: Collectors and souvenir hunters alike will be drawn to Tatooine Traders, an area adjacent to the Ewok Village at the Star Tours attraction, where fans will find event-exclusive Star Wars merchandise -- from trading pins and commemorative posters to apparel, medallions and other limited-edition items -- created by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. expressly for Star Wars Weekends 2005.

All the activities are included with regular Disney-MGM Studios admission. For the latest Star Wars Weekends updates, keep checking here as well as for www.disneyworld.com. For more information, tickets or resort reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY, visit

Before the event, Global Partnerships and Alliances Director Jay Bruns outlined some features of LEGO's new Star Wars product line, and how the company creatively approached the design style of Episode III. "We wanted to focus as much as possible on strong vehicles and also on capturing the variety of characters from Episode III," explained Bruns. "We spent a lot of time looking at the reference vaults and the old LEGO sets to come up with the best overall representation for Episode III within the LEGO environment. We also had a great time finding ways to get the uniqueness of the characters into each item." The 2005 LEGO Star Wars line consists of 11 new sets from Revenge of the Sith and the original trilogy, with the promise of some surprise announcements still to come. Click here for a gallery of the 2005 LEGO sets.

Among the new sets to be released April 2, Bruns admitted to a couple of personal favorites. "The Arc 170 Fighter is a great build. The Clone Turbo Tank is also a lot of fun to build and to play with. It has a great suspension and a lot of nice features and functions. It takes building it to fully appreciate how good it really is. Having a Mace Windu mini-figure with a light up lightsaber is also a huge plus."

Bruns said that the fan-favorite Ultimate Collectors Series will continue to expand, but wouldn't say whether these were based on the original trilogy or Episode III--"You'll have to wait and see..."

There will also continue to be occasional updates to previously released sets, when it makes sense to do so. "Since the first LEGO Star Wars launch in 1999, we've created a lot of new building elements. This allows us to make stronger representations of the iconic Star Wars vehicles now that we couldn't do in the past. Of course, we will balance the updates versus never before been seen as we still have a lot of material to cover." On the subject of updated sets, Bruns offered a tantalizing glimpse of a surprise Toys R Us exclusive coming in March. The "Imperial Inspection" set features the Imperial Shuttle with a full welcoming committee of four stormtroopers with new decorations, two Imperial Guards, two Imperial Officers, the Emperor, and Darth Vader.

One of the latest innovations in the LEGO Star Wars line, the illuminated lightsaber, has caused a lot of excitement at LEGO. "When we first saw the lightsaber light, it was great. We knew that it had to become a part of the LEGO Star Wars experience," said Bruns. Asked whether fans could expect further technological enhancements to the LEGO Star Wars line, Bruns suggested that they'll closely gauge fans' response to the illuminated lightsaber. "Expanding the technology will depend a lot on what the consumer reaction is to that feature."

Judging by the response to the Darth Vader illuminated lightsaber available with the recent TIE Fighter release as well as the buzz surrounding the two Toy Fair gift exclusives, it looks like fans can to look forward to some pretty cool electronic features emerging from future LEGO Star Wars sets.

And for fans who'd like to see their LEGO sets taken to the cinematic level, Cartoon Network has an all-new mini-movie coming in March: LEGO Star Wars! The LEGO Company and Lucasfilm are teaming up to celebrate Episode III with a one-of-a-kind five minute computer-animated special that combines all the action of Star Wars with the imagination and fun of LEGO bricks. Watch for it May 8th at 7:00 p.m only on Cartoon Network!