<P> Kurtz wanted the bittersweet ending they originally outlined that saw Han dead, Leia struggling with her new responsibilities, Luke walking off alone, and the rebel forces in pieces--an ending he felt was more nuanced--while Lucas wanted a happier ending . This led to tension between the two, which resulted in Kurtz leaving the production . </P> <P> After losing much of his fortune in a divorce settlement in 1987, George Lucas had no desire to return to Star Wars, and had unofficially canceled the sequel trilogy by the time of Return of the Jedi . At that point, the prequels were only still a series of basic ideas partially pulled from his original drafts of "The Star Wars". Nevertheless, technical advances in the late 1980s and 1990s continued to fascinate Lucas, and he considered that they might make it possible to revisit his 20 - year - old material . The popularity of the franchise was reinvigorated by the Star Wars expanded universe storylines set after the original trilogy films, such as the Thrawn trilogy of novels written by Timothy Zahn and the Dark Empire comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics . Due to the renewed popularity of Star Wars, Lucas saw that there was still a large audience . His children were older, and with the explosion of CGI technology he was now considering returning to directing . </P> <P> The prequel trilogy consists of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, released on May 19, 1999; Episode II: Attack of the Clones, released on May 16, 2002; and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, released on May 19, 2005 . The plot focuses on the fall of the Galactic Republic, as well as the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker's turn to the dark side . </P> <P> About 32 years before the start of the Galactic Civil War, the corrupt Trade Federation sets a blockade around the planet Naboo . The Sith Lord Darth Sidious had secretly planned the blockade to give his alter ego, Senator Palpatine, a pretense to overthrow and replace the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic . At the Chancellor's request, the Jedi Knight Qui - Gon Jinn and his apprentice, a younger Obi - Wan Kenobi, are sent to Naboo to negotiate with the Federation . However, the two Jedi are forced to instead help the Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, escape from the blockade and plead her planet's crisis before the Republic Senate on Coruscant . When their starship is damaged during the escape, they land on Tatooine for repairs . Palpatine dispatches his first Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt down the Queen and her Jedi protectors . While on Tatooine, Qui - Gon discovers a nine - year - old slave named Anakin Skywalker . Qui - Gon helps liberate the boy from slavery, believing Anakin to be the "Chosen One" foretold by a Jedi prophecy to bring balance to the Force . However, the Jedi Council (led by Yoda) suspects the boy possesses too much fear and anger within him . </P>

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