Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American Space Opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Pixar Animation Studiosand Troublemaker Studios. Its is the first installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Pernilla August, and Frank Oz.
Set before the events of Episode IV, a Jedi Master named: Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan: Obi-Wan Kenobi, help protect Queen Amidala, in order of hope to securing a peaceful end to a large-scale of interplanetary trade dispute. Joined along with a young slave with strong natural powers of the Force: Anakin Skywalker, they all simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith.
Lucas began production after he determined the films special effects the had been advance to the level he wanted in his saga of Star Wars Films. They started filming in June 26, 1997, in locations including Leavesden Film studios and the Tunisian desert. Its visual effects including extensive use of CGI; which many of the characters and setting are completed computerized. This film was Lucas's first directorial effort after a 22-year hiatus following Star Wars from 1977.
The Phantom Menace was released in theaters on May 19, 1999, which was sixteen years after the release of the previous 6th film of the Star Wars series Return of the Jedi. It had grossed over more then $923.3 million worldwide during the initial of it's theatrical run, which makes it the second-highest-grossing film at the time behind the film Titanic, and makes it the highest-grossing Star Wars film of 1999, (until the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015)
Two sequels following the film were made which were Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in 2002 and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005.
Appearances in EDP projects
- Animation Lookback: Pixar Animation Studios in part 4 when talking about the production of WALL-E, the film is indirectly mentioned when he says that Ben Burtt did the sound effects for both the original and prequel trilogies before he decided to work on said Pixar film.