Back in 1977, nobody expected science fiction film Star Wars to become the worldwide phenomenon it did. The frenzy it unleashed led its sequels —The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi — to break box office records as well. Star Wars had made an indelible mark on both film and the culture at large. But for next 16 years, its hardcore fans could only get their Force fix from smaller-scale TV series, books and games. Then, in 1999, director George Lucas released the much-anticipated The Phantom Menace, the first of three prequel films that would delve into the origins of the universe he created. In this special issue, we take you back to the excitement of that time, show how the movie got made, tell you where the stars are now, foretell the future of the franchise and offer up a trivia quiz for the ages.
