Get Ready for the Prequel Sequel

By Michelle Derrow, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

Star Wars: Episode 1 doesn't hit theaters until the middle of this week, but already hype is building for Episode 2--due in 2002. It has been said George Lucas will start penning the script as soon as the p.r. campaign for this one wraps up. A guide to other rumors, and their reliability:

--Will take place up to a decade after Phantom Menace (true)

--Will focus more on Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi (likely), who fights in the Clone Wars (true), featuring a light-saber duel between Kenobi clones (unconfirmed)

--Will be shot entirely with a digital camera (true)

--Will star NYPD Blue's Rick Schroeder or James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek) as Anakin Skywalker (untrue--the part hasn't yet been cast)

--Will feature a romance (true) and a marriage (unconfirmed) between Anakin and Queen Amidala

--Will show evil Galactic Chancellor Palpatine declaring himself Emperor (likely)

--Will be directed by Steven Spielberg (untrue--Lucas will direct)

--Will be preceded by months of hype, rumors and news nuggets like this (likely)