The Force isn't with fans this week

updated 2:18 p.m. ET April 11, 2005

LOS ANGELES - “Star Wars” fans will have to find the right theater before they can leave for the dark side.

Seven weeks before its release, “Star Wars” fanatics started lining up outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater for the sixth installment of the popular George Lucas movie series. The vigil began Saturday.

But there’s a problem: “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” won’t be showing at the Hollywood landmark when the movie is released May 19. The studio, 20th Century Fox, opted instead to open the film a mile away at the ArcLight theater.

Still, the resolute “Star Wars” die-hards aren’t moving on. Beneath a makeshift awning, 11 people refused to relinquish their spots in line.

“We’ve heard all this before,” fan Sarah Sprague said, noting there were plenty of rumors in 1999 and 2002 that previous “Star Wars” movies weren’t opening at the Chinese Theater. The rumors were false and the films were shown there.

Fox and the ArcLight haven’t completed their “Star Wars” deal, but executives on both sides told Daily Variety “Revenge of the Sith” will play at the ArcLight, not the Chinese.

Yet Sprague was adamant the line wouldn’t be moving to the ArcLight.

“This is still the epicenter for ‘Star Wars’ fans. For the big iconic pictures of the 1970s, people lining up were here. They weren’t at the Cinerama Dome (at the ArcLight),” Sprague said.

Lucas’ final “Star Wars” chapter spells out the last dark steps the once goodhearted young Anakin Skywalker takes to become the villain Darth Vader.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM STAR WARS

Star Wars Section Front

Seen ‘Revenge of the Sith’? Now see these Lucas delivers an uneven finale with ‘Sith’ 10 things ‘Star Wars’ should explain Use the force to solve our ‘Star Wars’ quiz Obi-Wan Kenobi: Jedi sex symbol Memorable ‘Star Wars’ moments The shaggy saga of a ‘Star Wars’ fan Darth Vader lives! Star Wars Section Front   Add Star Wars headlines to your news reader: