11:28am Monday 7th February 2005
By Hugh Christopher
The last ever scene of the Star Wars saga to be filmed was shot in Elstree Studios last Monday - as director George Lucas completed a vision that began in Borehamwood three decades ago.
Lucas was at Stage Eight on Monday with actor Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), and Natalie Portman (Padme Amidala) as they filmed the final footage for Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith.
Lucas first used the facilities at Elstree to make the original Star Wars film in 1977.
"I know that George loves coming back here," said the studios' direcor of production, Julie Wicks. "I think he appreciates and feels comfortable with the facilities."
The scene was filmed in front of a blue screen - the background will be added later by computer.
"It was a very low-key affair," said Ms Wicks. "They were only here for half a day, so it was a very short scene they were shooting."
Paul Welsh, Elstree Studios' historian, said: "It is quite special that George came back to the studios to film the last ever scene although it's a natural conculsion. It all began in Elstree and he has a strong symbolic association with the studios.
Mr Welsh added that Stage Eight is the only surviving stage from when the original films were first shot in the 1970s.
"A lot has happened in that time and it is very important that Elstree is still standing for him to come back to almost 30 years on," he said.
"George was very supportive of our 'Save the Studios' campaign back in the late 1980s when the studios were on the brink of closure.
"Upon our success, he sent me a lovely letter congratulating us, and expressing his kind wishes for the future."
The forthcoming film concerns Anakin's transformation from a Jedi to the Dark Side, eventually becoming the epitome of intergalactic evil, Darth Vader The film will now be tweaked for sound and special effects at Abbey Road studios and Lucas's base Skywalker Ranch in California.
Most of the filming took place in Australia and Tunisia. The movie is due to get its UK and worldwide release on May 19.
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