Reporting by Christopher Theokas, Mike Snider and Scott Bowles, USA Today, May 15, 2002
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, political forces have thrown the government into chaos as a
forbidden romance blooms between Jedi-in-training Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, former queen of Naboo and now a
respected senator of the Republic. It has been 10 years since Anakin and Padme last saw each other at the conclusion of
The Phantom Menace. Then, he was a boy; now, he’s a man. The story so far…
Padme’s Story
Anakin’s Story
Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)
R2-D2 (Kenny Baker)
Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton) and Beru Whitesun (Bonnie Mare Piesse)
Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits)
C-3PO (Anthony Daniels)
Other key characters in Attack of the Clones
Yoda (voice of Frank Oz)
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid)
Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison)
Count Dooku (Christopher Lee)
Behind the politics of Star Wars
Understanding a little Star Wars politics might keep your mind from wandering during parts of Attack of the Clones. The basics:
The Republic: Led by the Senate, the Republic represents thousands of planetary systems across the galaxy.
The “good guys” – except that Senate leader Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is corrupt.
The Jedi Order: Protectors of the galaxy, like a police force, only more Zen. Led by a council of Jedi Masters
that includes Yoda and Mace Windu, the Jedi protect the people of the galaxy, regardless of who is in charge. More and
more, they are seen as serving the interests of the Senate.
The separatists: Thousands of systems have ceded from the Republic to form the Confederacy of Independent
Systems. Backing the breakway group are the Trade Federation (the villains from Phantom Menace), the Commerce Guild, the
Intergalatic Banking Clan, the Techno Union and the Corporate Alliance, all of which are following Count Dooku (Christopher
Lee), who has promised unrestricted trade and tax cuts for their support.
The response: While Dooku was fomenting rebellion against the Republic, he also was setting things in motion for
the Republic to fight back. Dooku recruited Jango Fett, the bounty hunter who serves as a template for the clone army
intended to defend the Republic. Padme Amidala opposes raising an army because she fears that doing so would provke
the rebels and war will be inevitable.
The motivation: Presiding over allof Dooku’s activity from the background is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who
appears to be Chancellor Palpatine. Why is Sidious/Palpatine leading or manipulating both sides of the fight? This is
perhaps the least comlex aspect of the movie: to control the galaxy and destroy the Jedi.
Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman)
In Menace: As queen of Naboo, she forged an alliance with the Gungans to thwart the Trade Federation’s
invasion.
In Clones: Retired from the throne after two terms, she has been appointed to the Senate. When her
safety is threatened, Anakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her.
Later in the saga: She is the mother of Luke and Leia of the original trilogy.
Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen)
In Menace:: Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) finds the boy on the planet Tatooine and takes him for Jedi
training. He meets and falls for Queen Amidala.
In Clones:: Anakin, now 20, has spent 10 years as an apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Meeting Padme
again, Anakin is conflicted, because Jedis are not supposed to have attachments.
Later in the saga: Fathers Luke and Leia from the original trilogy.
In Menace:: He and Yoda feel a disturbance in the Force and worry about a return of the Sith, an order
of Jedi devoted to the dark side.
In Clones:: As mediator between the Jedi Council and the Senate, Windu fears that attempts on Padme’s
life could send the Senate into chaos.
Later in the saga: He’s expected to have significant role in Episode III, but there’s no sign of him in the
original film.
In Menace:: After Anakin’s mentor Qui-Gon Jinn dies, Obi-Wan reluctantly takes Anakin as his apprentice.
In Clones:: He worries that Anakin is too ambitious and dangerously attached to Padme.
Later in the saga: Kenobi (Alec Guinness) gives Luke his father’s light saber.
In Menace:: The 1-meter-tall multi-purpose droid is assigned to Queen Amidala. He repairs the shield
generator on the queen’s ship and serves as young Anakin’s co-pilot.
In Clones:: Continues to assist Amidala and finally partners with C-3PO on a more permanent basis.
Later in the saga: Carries plans for the Death Star and rescues Han Solo, Luke and Leia from the Death Star’s
trash compactor.
In Clones:: Owen and girlfriend Beru join the story when Anakin and Padme go to Tatooine to rescue
Anakin’s mother, Shmi (Pernilla August). Owen is the son of Shmi’s husband, Cliegg Lars (Jack Thompson).
Later in the saga: Owen and Beru marry and raise the infant Luke Skywalker. When Imperial stormtroopers kill
them, Luke joins the rebellion.
In Clones:: The character is introduced, serving in the Senate with Padme.
Later in the saga: He takes in Padme’s daughter, Leia, as his own.
In Menace:: Anakin is building the protocol droid, who specializes in etiquette and translation.
In Clones:: He gets an outer covering, thanks to Anakin’s mom.
Later in the saga: Becomes an aide to Princess Leia and R2-D2’s sidekick.
In Menace:: The ancient Jedi Master initially opposes Jedi training for Anakin, believing the boy too
old.
In Clones:: Accomplished with a light saber, Yoda (now computer-animated) finally shows his stuff.
Later in the saga: He tutors Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker.
In Menace:: He becomes chancellor after promising to bring order and justice to the troubled republic.
In Clones:: the former senator from Naboo gets another promotion when given emergency powers to wield
the Republic’s army of clones against the separatist faction’s army of droids.
Later in the saga: Palpatine declares himself emperor, and Anakin, now Darth Vader, is his right-hand man.
In Clones:: The bounty hunter, new to the story, is hired to kill Padme Amidala. His genes are the
basis for the army of clone troopers and for his son, Boba (Daniel Logan), an unaltered clone of his father.
Later in the saga: Boba becomes the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter, helping Jabba the Hutt track down Han
Solo.
In Clones:: The former Jedi, trained by Yoda and master to Qui-Gon Jinn enters the story as the leader
of the separatist faction. Dooku becomes Darth Tyranus, replacing Darth Maul, who was killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Menace.
Later in the saga: He’s expected to show up in Episode III, but there’s no sign of him in the original film.