ComingSoon.net has learned that Warner Bros. Pictures is currently planning to reveal the trailer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars in theaters with the studio’s own Speed Racer on May 9th. We are uncertain at this point when the trailer would debut online, though studios usually bring trailers online that same week.

The August 15 release will feature such characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. In the film, Sinister villains – led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous – are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the “Star Wars” universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations.

The theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be followed in the fall when the TV series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT.

When Collider.com first said “Deadwood meets Sopranos” was the unofficial slugline for the upcoming Star Wars Live-Action television series I was highly skeptical.

Yeah, George Lucas had said encouraging things about this series being darker and more adult themed - but this is the guy that gave us Ewoks and JarJar so again I was skeptical. I feared he felt the prequels were “dark”.

So if the goal of the show really is going to be “Deadwood meets The Sopranos in outer space” that would be fantastic!

I like those shows. And even if its not quite that dark of action, I would be happy with something on par with the new Battlestar Galactica or even Sarah Conner Chronicles, as long as it is focused on entertaining adults. Let the younger folks have the animated Clone Wars series - although I am also excited to watch that series, I am much more intrigued by what new ground Star Wars can break with a live-action show that lives up the “action” part!

George Lucas was at ShoWest convention to promote the upcoming theater release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which will come to theaters August 15th before the animated television series of the same name debutes this fall on Cartoon network.

Besides Lucas breaking the news that the live-action show will likely not come out until 2010 he also shared some more insights in to the animated series:

“It’s not that episodic. Some of the episodes are stand-alone and some are two, some are three, some are four [parters], and there’s no cliffhangers. It’s not like the current vogue of 24 and The Wire and stuff where you actually have to watch the entire series in order to understand what’s going on. This is an old-fashioned episodic show.”

Lucas has stated he will plans to do 100 episodes of The Clone Wars, and it appears he is well on his way saying: “We have one year finished, we’re in the middle of the second year. I’ve written the third year. We expect this to go on for at least five or six years.”

Star Wars fan will have to wait a little longer ot see a live-action version of their beloved galaxy come to television.

“The live action show probably won’t start until 2010,” said George Lucas revealed at the ShoWest convention. “We’re working on it now, doing the scripts and everything.”

According to the Liverpool Daily Post, Star Wars creator George Lucas was so impressed with director James Marquand’s directorial debut with Dead Man’s Cards, that Lucas has asked him to direct episodes of the eagerly-anticipated Star Wars television show next year.

However, there is a big Star Wars connection here - Jim Marquand is the son of Return of the Jedi director Richard Marquand.

“I’ve got so many vivid memories of the five months I spent on the set of Return Of The Jedi,” recalls Jim. “I was about 18 and spent five fantastic months with dad while he filmed the movie in North California and Pinewood studios.

“I can remember walking onto one set which was the Ewok village, during a break in shooting. All these midget actors who were playing Ewoks had taken their costume heads off and were sat around smoking, drinking tea and reading newspapers. It was surreal.

“I got to know all the cast, too, and can remember Harrison Ford talking about being a carpenter before he got into acting. He was a very down-to-earth bloke.”

Click here for the full Liverpool Daily Post story