HUNDREDS of film buffs are hoping to be transported to a galaxy far, far away with the opening of the latest Star Wars film next month.

Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith won't be released in Swindon cinemas until May 19.

But already, with more than three weeks to go, the town's two cinemas are receiving unprecedented demand for tickets.

At the Cineworld cinema in Greenbridge more than 800 tickets have been pre-booked for the first viewings of the film, with bookings spread through-out the day.

Andrew Fisher, one of the managers at the cinema, said that interest in the film had been on the same scale as with Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

He said: "There is a massive amount of interest in this film. It really is the one people have been waiting for because it ties the two recent films together.

"Darth Vader will be making his first appearance and the visual effects are going to be stunning."

Plans are still to be finalised, but Cineworld is hoping to bring a Star Wars flavour to the cinema with Imperial storm-troopers prowling around the cinema looking after the expected crowds and members of staff in costume.

At the UGC cinema in Shaw Ridge, tickets are going just as fast.

John Keil, the cinema's business manager, said there was as much interest in this film as in the last.

He said: "Interest is now really beginning to build and we are seeing as much interest now as we did at this time before the last Star Wars film.

"We expect that interest to increase as we close on the opening date.

"This film is really going to be a must-see, especially if you have seen the previous films, everything will then fit into place."

Steve Webb the Evening Advertiser's film critic said: "This film is probably the most eagerly anticipated of the year.

"It concludes what is almost a 30-year wait for film fans to see the end of these films."

The Revenge of the Sith is the third prequel to the original Star Wars movies.

It features British actors, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Lee as well as Samuel L Jackson, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman.

It will see Anakin Skywalker beginning his descent to the Dark Side of the Force eventually being transformed into the slow-breathing, mask-wearing villain, Darth Vader.

Anthony Osborne