Next ""Star Wars: Episode II"" In Preproduction

As George Lucasí latest ""Star Wars"" rakes in the money, unearthing a staggering gross estimated to be at $102 million plus for the first five days after a record-setting single-day gross of $28.5 million and surpassing Universalís ""The Lost World: Jurassic Park,"" which counted $95.8 million during its first five days in 1997, preproduction has already begun on ""Episode II."" The film begins shooting in June 2000 on locations in Tunisia and Italy and at Fox Studios Australia. Lucas is currently writing the script, which takes place 10 years after ""Phantom Menace"" and centers on the romance and marriage between Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala, and their battle to prevent the menacing Sithsí from gaining control of the galaxy.