A 'reliable' and 'solid' informant named CPO has sent Harry, on Aint It Cool News, spoiler details concerning the rough plot of Episode 2. None of these details are definate, but rather ideas that Lucas has been toying around with and, as always, are subject to change.

The Production on Episode 2 is moving quietly. Ok, first, here some comfirmations about Episode 2:
Things in Australia are already in progress ( plans, sets, props, scouting for external scenes). The majority of work will be done in Australia. Other Important locations have not been determined yet. The Director? Ignore the names of Fincher, Coppola, Darabont, Mann or Besson, at this point

Casting: Things are moving smoothly as well. The Older Anakin's quest is not finished yet. The Casting for Anakin will surprised a lotta people. They are not searching for what you may think they are. They are also searching for another young male actor. There's many new characters in Episode 2. However, Lucasfilm's not searching for all the big guns in Hollywood. Sure, I've heard many big names, but the only big names that I've heard more than once is Gabriel Byrne, but he has not been casted yet and there's no REAL hard facts leading me to think that he will. However, I've heard his name. Now, I know that many people on the net are interested in only one thing. Who will play Boba Fett's part. First, Fett is in Episode 2 and 3. Bulloch is not considered for the part at this moment. Anyway, Bulloch's pushing Lucasfilm to cast his 20 years old son for the role of Boba Fett. But, words from the Oval Office at Lucasfilm reports that Lucas, has every plans to cast a (well ?)-known actor for the part of Fett. Maybe Byrne, maybe not.

I don't know much of the story at this point, only that Episode 2 includes:

-The Clone Wars
-Anakin's wedding (in strange circumstances, I've been told)
-The Feel of Episode 2, is a lot like Episode 5, but still much more darker.
-Jar Jar is in Episode 2-3 at this point. Jar Jar is expected to be much more important (like Chewie in Episodes 5-6)
-The Transformation of Anakin Skywalker The Jedi into Anakin Skywalker, The Jedi Master.
-The Identity of the Future Emperor (it won't be much of a surprise)

"Terry Brooks has already written the novelization of the first of the new Star Wars movies. He was called by his publisher, who asked him if he'd like to do a movie adaptation. However, after the Hook experience, he was cautious. When he was told that it was Star Wars, he became intrigued.

He spoke with George Lucas, who wanted it to be a companion to the movie, as opposed to simply putting the movie in book form. Scenes would be seen from different perspectives, and new plots would be revealed. Brooks decided to do it, and as time passed he began to see that the people involved with Star Wars were more accustomed to the writing process and weren't afraid that he would go leak out everything he knew.

Terry Brooks has seen the movie, and he says that it's very good. The book will come out a few weeks before the movie in May 1999. He says that writing the next books in the Star Wars series is unlikely, but if the first receives a warm reception they would probably like to keep the same author."

AICN has posted an e-mail from a source who claims to have spoken to a famous director who has seen Episode-1. His major comments are as follows...

"480 effects shots still needed to be completed, which is a large task!! I heard one of the clerks ask him if George spoke of any release delays, and he said that it would take an act of God for the film to miss the May 21st date!

He said Jake Lloyd was pretty good. He also said that there was only one, from the group, who didn't like him...everyone else felt he was good.

He also felt that Ewan was a bit heavy handed in his Obi Wan portrayal..a little stiff he said...like he was feeling the weight of living up to Guiness....on the other hand he said that Neeson, Portman, et al were terriffic! Then went on to say who gives a f--- about any of that, we don't see a Star Wars film for the f------ acting! He also stated that Darth Maul is the baddest f------ character ever in film and that the saber fights will blow your socks off! "

Sofia and Roman Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola's children play roles in Episode-1. Sophia plays a queens hand-maiden while Roman is a Naboo guard.

Francis is a close friend of George Lucas but i'm not so sure of this.
If Sofia's performance in The Godfather part III is anything to go by then her part better be small!

Harry on his site 'Aint It Cool News' had a special report regarding a special screening of Episode-1 that George Lucas showed his friends.

"According to him he had also chauffered someone named Drew (no idea on the last name except it started with a C and sounded Polish) who saw it today, and said it was incredible. Still not finished (incomplete bluescreen shots, rough sound, etc.) and came in at a running time of 2'15". After seeing it he reported it was going to "blow Titanic out of the water." Also blown away by the screening were Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Frank Darabont, Francis Ford Coppola, Lawerence Kasdan among others."

film gossip website, Dark Horizons posted an interesting scoop they recieved regarding John William's scoring of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace....

"I have 'ties' to a performer in a certain orchestra that was brought in Monday, January 4th to start recording the score for the film. Williams stated that he was going to be VERY experimental in carrying out the recording of score (according to my 'tie' - meaning trying different themes for characters.) Two versions of the "Main Title" were written, first the classic one used in the other three films, and a different, almost darker version. This was because Williams felt that the original theme was more Luke's theme than anything else.

But, Lucas wanted the original, so Williams scored both to show Lucas. Also, the following old scores remain intact: the brief and almost unnoticible "Droids Theme" (can be heard in Empire and Jedi), "Yoda's Theme", "The Emperor's Theme" (now something like "Palpatine's Theme" its the same chorus-like sound, but a bit lighter. "The Light of the Force" theme (you know "Binary Sunset" from A New Hope).

According to my 'tie', the Imperial March can be briefly heard..New themes include themes for: Amidala (Very Leia-ish), Qui-Gonn (Very triumphant), Obi-Wan ( much like the latter) and Darth Maul and Lord Sidious share a dark, theme, much like Danny Elfman's theme for "The Penguin" in Batman Returns. Recording should wrap up by the end of February. "

We've all seen the infamous Episode 1 trailer right, and yet it isnt enough.. May 21st cannot come quick enough for some of us but fear not! There will a second Episode 1 trailer that will hit cinemas sometime in late January/early Feburary. The second trailer will be more in-depth in terms of explaining character conflicts and senarios and the best news is that we should hear some of the new music scored by John Williams AND the trailer will be 4 mins long!

..more of a preview than a trailer, I cant wait!

This report will contain spoilers. Unlike previous SPOILER WARNINGS in which I said what follows may or may not be true, I can say with absolute perfect certainty that what is about to be read is in fact...fact, at least as it was written in the revised June 6, 1997 Third Draft of Lucas' script. I will not spoil the entire film, I won't even talk about how all the pieces fit together. Why? Well because right now, almost all the pieces have been described, the only major thing that hasn't been put together is the order, and believe me the order I thought the events happened and started was all ass backwards. However, the ending has appeared online,
CLICK HERE only if you WANT to see the report!!