Lucasfilm reps denied that Episode II’s official title is “The Rise of the Empire” saying that this so-called “official name” is just another rumor about George Lucas’ latest, according to Mrshowbiz.com.
The working title for the film remains plain old Star Wars: Episode II, added the reps. That’s just as well, since the only apparent shorthand for Rise of the Empire would be Empire … already taken by 1980s The Empire Strikes Back.
The statement comes after recent internet reports, such as the British site Popcorn that claimed to have scooped the much-anticipated naming of the latest Star Wars film.
Meanwhile, Episode II isn’t due in theaters until May 22, 2002. If Lucas keeps to his previous title-revealing timetable — Menace was revealed as Episode I’s official title a mere eight months before it was released — we won’t get an Episode II title until September 2001.
While it hasn’t been confirmed that Episode II is the film in which Anakin makes the voyage to the Dark Side, speculation is high that the admittedly darker second prequel will end with his transformation into Darth Vader—Albawaba.com.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
