[Trailer Starts]
The Lucasfilm Logo appears.
The Force Theme (“Binary Sun”) starts to play in minor key.
[Fade in to…]
Ext – A Foggy Forest Planet
Strange two-legged beasts walk out of the fog.
[Fade to Black]
Title card: “Every Generation has a Legend…”
[Fade in to…]
(Image source StarWars.com)
Ext – A city of Bubble-like Domes under the sea.
Pan up to the city past exotic sea creatures.
[Fade to Black]
Title card: “Every Journey has a First step…”
[Fade in to…]
Ext – A towering castle-like city on a Tropical Island
Pan up to the buildings and over azure bays.
[Cut to…]
Int – Castle – Window
A heavily made-up WOMAN stands by the window, looking forlornly out from it. Flashes of light, as if from a battle, play on her tear-streaked face.
[Fade to Black]
Title card: “Every Saga has a Beginning…”
[Fade in to…]
The Star Wars Theme starts, beginning with the iconic Fanfare.
Ext – Space
A space fighter flying TOWARDS CAMERA firing lasers.
[Cut to…]
(Image source StarWars.com)
Ext – Space
A fleet of ring-like spacecraft are approached by a ship.
[Cut to…]
Int – Space Ship
A bearded JEDI (Kenneth Branagh) in his thirties pulls back his hood.
[Cut to…]
A group of BATTLE DROIDS firing lasers.
[Cut to…]
Int – Space Ship – Throne Room
A fat, cybernetic, horse-faced ALIEN sits amid pillows and splendor. A teenaged SLAVE (Zachery Ty Bryan) drops a cup when struck by the ALIEN. He reaches down, and the cup slightly moves towards his hand as he reaches for it. The JEDI notices.
[Cut to…]
(Image source StarWars.com)
Ext – Undersea.
A small submarine races through coral caverns, chased by a giant Fish.
[Cut to…]
Int – Submarine
Two frog-like ALIENS, one short and fat, one tall and thin, pilot the vehicle. The SLAVE, a WOMAN (Lynda Carter), and the JEDI sit behind them. The thin alien screams as something grabs the ship.
[Cut to…]
Int – Underwater city
A frog-like ALIEN with an angry face thrusts an electrified spear towards the camera.
[Cut to…]
Int – Underwater City – Submarine Bay
A SCARY ALIEN (Benicio del Toro) in a black hood with circuit board-like tattoos on his half-hidden face grasps the SLAVE’S face with a clawed hand. The SLAVE’S face is pure fear. The JEDI appears and draws his laser sword.
Jedi
Stand away from the boy!!
[Cut to…]
Ext – Space
Fighters harass a sleek and shiny space ship.
[Cut to…]
Int – Space Ship – Guns
The SLAVE and the JEDI man laser cannons.
Slave
There’s too many of them!!
[Cut to…]
Ext – City Planet
The SLAVE and a YOUNG WOMAN (Aleksa Palladino) stare in awe out of the space ship’s windows as they fly by the towering skyscrapers.
Voice (V.O.)
Welcome to the Galactic capital, kids!
[Cut to…]
(Image source Powerhouse Magazine)
Int – Spacious Room with Natural Light
A BALD JEDI (Samuel L. Jackson) in brown robes leans into the camera and scowls. A BEARDED JEDI in ornate clothing next to him (Ian McKellen) leans in and smiles.
Bald Jedi
There is much fear and anger in the boy.
Bearded Jedi
Yes, but much love, and much hope too!
[Cut to…]
Int – Temple - Day
The SLAVE and BALD JEDI talk.
Slave
My mother is in danger! I can sense it!
[Cut To…]
Int – Castle – Window
A WOMAN (Lynda Carter) looks up in fear. The SCARY ALIEN smiles menacingly.
[Cut To…]
Int – Temple – Day
Bald Jedi
There is nothing that you can do to help her.
[Cut To…]
(Image source CinemaBlend)
Ext – Temple – Courtyard – Day
The SLAVE stands by a GREEN ALIEN (YODA), who is sweeping the patio.
Yoda
Very strict he is, but fair…
Slave
He’s a sadist!
Montage:
A series of BATTLE DROIDS in ranks…
View attachment 778715
(Image source Movie Morgue wiki)
A cavernous chamber (the Senate) full of many aliens, the YOUNG WOMAN in the center…
R2D2 and a C3PO without the metal skin (just frame and wires)…
A Space Battle…
A city siege. BATTLE DROIDS scaling ladders with amazing speed onto castle-like ramparts…
The two froglike ALIENS and R2-D2 rushing down a hall pursued by BATTLE DROIDS…
The YOUNG WOMAN firing a laser.
The SCARY ALIEN crossing laser swords with the JEDI and another older JEDI…
(Image source StarWars.com)
A group of MANDALORIANS rocketing out of a landing craft amidst the castle battle…
One of the ring-like Space Ships Exploding…
[Fade to Black…]
Music ends.
Title Card: “Star Wars: Episode I. A Darkness Rising.”
Credits Screen
Title Card: “The Saga Begins Winter 1997.”
For comparison:
Transcript from the June 24th, 1997, Episode of The Tonight Show with David Letterman
Dave: So, Paul, there’s a new
Star Wars movie coming out.
Paul: (dripping with sarcasm) Really? Who could have possibly known.
Audience laughs with irony.
Dave: Yeah, they’ve been pretty aggressive with the promotion.
Paul: No doubt.
Dave: Yeah, toys, games, posters, books, breakfast cereal, Pepsi cans, Happy Meals,
Space Balls the Flame Thrower, you name it. (audience laughs) I got a colonoscopy the other day – seriously, guys, get your colonoscopy, it’s very important – and the doctor found a poster of Moog and Ba Ba.
Audience laughs and cheers.
Paul: I hope you got compensated for that.
Dave: Yeah, it’s not the
best place for an advert, but my doctor assures me that it’s
up there.
Drummer Anton Fig gives a rimshot. Audience laughs awkwardly.
May the Hype be With You…