STAR Wars fans in Swindon are on the edge of their seats as they await the opening of the new film Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Tickets for the first screenings in the town are being snapped up and Star Wars merchandise is flying off shop shelves.

Fan Luke Skywalker changed his name from Kaye after the original hero of the film.

The 37-year-old, who runs a fancy dress shop in Faringdon Road, was at a special invite-only screening last night in London's Leicester Square.

Speaking beforehand, he said: "This film should be absolutely fantastic. Everybody is saying that.

"It's got to be better than the last two, and it should be awesome."

If Star Wars-related sales at his shop are anything to go by, the new film is stirring up a lot of enthusiasm among the public.

Luke said: "I hired out 120 Star Wars costumes last week and we've sold eight Darth Vader costumes in the last week, at £1,000 each."

Steve Goss, owner of the Infinitely Better store in the Brunel Centre, is hoping to bring some of the stars of the show to Swindon.

He said: "A new Star Wars movie, like a Bond film, causes a media circus, and there's now a commercial circus that goes with.

"It looks like being a very good film, unlike the last two.

"We're hoping to bring some of the main cast members into Swindon, but I can't give any names yet.

"Most people are interested in Stars War, even people who say they aren't.

"Everybody loved the first three films. I'm not especially a sci-fi fan but I loved them.

"The new one sounds a bit darker than the previous ones."

Darren Wiltshire, 34, Infinitely Better manager, also had a prized ticket for the London preview last night.

He said: "One of our suppliers gave us a ticket for a press screening, so I'm very lucky.

"In fact I'm ecstatic. Seeing it a couple of days before it opens is fantastic.

"And travelling to London makes it even more special.

"All my friends want to come with me, but I can't get another ticket."

He has been a fan since seeing the first episode as a child.

He said: "I've seen them all since then, but this is the first time I'll have seen one before release. It's a shame there won't be any more, but apparently there might be a TV spin-off."

Andy Knight, 25, a store manager from Old Town, is a huge Star Wars fan.

He collects the original merchandise and autographs of the cast.

He said: "I'm excited about the opening, and full of anticipation about the questions the film will answer, and how it will all conclude.

"This is it the finale.

"I haven't managed to get a ticket for the preview, so I'm gutted."

Andy thinks the Star Wars series is a cinematic trailblazer.

He said: "At the time the first one was filmed it was leagues before its time, and it is still is.

"The films are adventure, romance, sci-fi and epic."

Star Wars will still have a life of its own

SINCE making the first Star Wars film 30 years ago, director George Lucas has attained something akin to God-like status among the saga's galaxy of fans.

But after being involved in six films in the series, this modest, polite and quietly spoken man looks like he is ready for a rest.

And even he seems surprised at the phenomenal success his movies have enjoyed. The films themselves have made billions, but Lucas also sits at the head of an unrivalled marketing empire which has put Star Wars firmly in the public consciousness.

It is the morning after the night before. Lucas had attended the glittering London premiere of the sixth and final Star Wars film, Revenge Of The Sith, and he continues to answer questions about his film politely and enthusiastically.

"Originally Star Wars was intended to be one movie," he said. "It was Saturday matinee material, designed to be the tragedy of Darth Vader. It starts with this monster going through a door and throwing everybody around.

"Halfway through you realise he is a man, the hero is his son and he is redeemed through his son.

"But it was broken up because I didn't have the money to do that movie."

The money finally arrived because Star Wars smashed box office records and the public demanded sequels. And Lucas was able to continue his story with The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.

Lucas then took a break from making films.

"I stopped making movies to raise my kids. I did that for 15 years. When I had done that I went back to making movies. Was I going to make the avant garde movies I wanted to do? Or should I go back to Star Wars?"

The answer to that question was episodes one and two in the series in 1999 and 2002, before the arrival of this final instalment.

But now that it's all over, does Lucas feel a sense of loss?

"It's like having your kids going off to college," he says with a smile.

"They're still going to come back when they need money.

"Star Wars is still going to be around. It will have a life of its own."

STEPHEN WEBB

Cinemas prepare for the rush

The new Star Wars film will be showing on two screens at Cineworld Greenbridge in Swindon shortly after midnight tonight and 520 out of 595 tickets have been sold so far.

From Thursday the film will be shown on five screens out of a total of 12.

One screening will be in completely digital format thanks to a special projector that shows an image of nearly 2000 pixels per square inch.

Andrew Fisher, manager at Cineworld Greenbridge, said: "This is the newest format in cinema technology, and I think it's the only one in the south west.

"In fact there are only about ten of these projectors in Europe. We have been chosen as a test location because Dolby are based at Wootton Bassett."

Mr Fisher, a Star Wars fan himself, said: "This is a huge event. Thirty years of waiting are coming to a close. We hope it will be a good end to the two trilogies."

The first screening at UGC cinemas at Shaw Ridge will be at 10am on Thursday, and there are still a few seats available.

From Thursday two of the cinema's seven screens will be showing the film.

Spokesman Neil Savage said: "There has been a huge demands for tickets. Especially in the past few days demand has taken a massive upsurge."