Star Wars Episode III is the as-yet unnamed third episode of the Star Wars film series, to be released in 2005. George Lucas has said that this will be the last movie created in the series, as of the time of production release of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. However, there have been recent rumors of a Star Wars: Episode VII. If the rumors are to come true, Lucas will not take part in producing Episode VII. Lucas once said that Return of the Jedi would be the last movie created. He also said that Episode III will be the darkest of all Star Wars movies.

This movie is expected to fill in the gaps in the storyline between Episode II and the original Star Wars movie (now Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope). The film will be set 2 or 3 years after Episode II, so therefore it will be set in either 20 BBY or 19 BBY. Thus, it is rumored that, in this movie, Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader, and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declares himself Emperor. Meanwhile, Padme Amidala gives birth to Luke and Leia; Obi-Wan takes Luke to Tatooine to be raised by Beru and Owen; and Leia is taken to be raised on Alderaan. A great purge of Jedi is also expected including, as actor Samuel L. Jackson put it, the "satisfying" death of Mace Windu.

Preceded by:
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars films Followed by:
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope