
That might be especially true for The Phantom Menace, a colorful mashup of Kurosawa, political intrigue and history, racing, and family. “All of the Star Wars movies, in one way or another, are about me and my take on the world,” Lucas tells. George Lucas himself wrote the script and was back directing for the first time since 1977’s Star Wars, and the movie became a giant leap forward in digital effects - including a record number of effects shots and a major CG character in Jar Jar Binks. It was the first new film in the Star Wars saga since 1983’s Return of the Jedi, and the kickoff of the prequel trilogy, which promised to tell the story of how Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader, while the Emperor rose to power.

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace arrived on May 19, 1999, to a degree of anticipation and hype rarely seen before, or since, for a movie.

George Lucas, Doug Chiang, John Knoll, and more creators of the first film in the prequel trilogy look back 20 years later.
