Here's some Episode III info I've collected in the past week. Remember, this is all rumor for now.

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Besides the usual roundup, these cast members are making their return:

Joel Edgerton - Owen Lars
Jay Laga'aia - Captain Typho
Christopher Lee – Count Dooku
Rena Owen - Taun We
Jimmy Smits – Bail Organa
Others: Chewbacca, Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Sly Moore, Barriss Offee, Shaak Ti, Luminara Undulia, Mace, Orn Free Taa, and of course, Yoda.

- Jar Jar does NOT die in Episode III.
- Threepio is finally finished and complete for the duration of the film. And from what I know, he’s isn't comic relief.
- Yoda's homeworld or species will not be revealed.
- No rematch between Yoda and Dooku though both will have their own fights.
- There is no location shooting for EP 3. It’s all digital.
- No extra shots of Natalie Portman will be put in the classic trilogy. So far.
- There is a lava planet in the film.
- There are two new alien species in Episode III.
- We won't see Geonosis or Dantooine in Episode III.
- Sidious will remove his hood in Episode III.
- Force ghosts will be explained. Of course, remember we heard that before. At least they have filmed something about it this time.
- In AOTC, we did see the person who ordered the clones.
- "I have a bad feeling about this" will be said one more time.
- When things go down, Mace decides to go have a little chat with Palpatine.
- Padme does die. More interesting is how and who is involved.

The Newbies

Apparently there’s another mysterious user of the Force. He’s been described to look "a little like an albino Jedi with white eyebrows and a creamy white beard similar to Liam Neeson's beard in TPM - he had quite pale skin and appeared human, and about the same height as Ewan McGreggor. His gaze was disturbing to behold (perhaps it was the young face behind the short white beard and hair) and he was dressed as a Jedi and carried a lightsaber." This albino dude, dubbed the "Milky Bar" Jedi wears clothes similar in style and color of Anakin’s which is of course draker than the usual Jedi garb. Another Sith? A another 'tweener, perhaps?

That girl from the movie Whale Rider, Keisha Castle-Hughes, is playing a role of a "regal leader". The obvious thing most people suspect is a new Queen of Naboo.

I’m not sure if it’s the same “Milky Bar” Jedi, but there’s a new bad guy in Episode III. In all reports, he wears white armor, sports two lightsabers, wears a cloak, is involved in a major chase sequence, is NOT a Sith or Jedi traitor. Sounds like that one Cartoon Network Clone Wars super-clonetrooper, Whatshisname. Reportedly, he has a big fight scene with Obi Wan involving his ship and a "creature". Weird.

Notes

During the space battle scene, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Plo Koon are in the new upgraded Jedi Starfighters. They get attacked from behind and Plo bites it. Those who’ve worked on it say the opening space battle in terms of scale and scope is bigger than anything we've seen. The animatics were more challenging because it's a journey rather than a single event.

The Death Star plans are not a focal point of the plot to Episode III. No evidence of it being built either.

One of the first scenes that takes place is a rematch between Anakin and Dooku. This occurs in about the first ten minutes. Apparently, Palpatine is captured by the Separatists and is shackled to his chair watching them fight (with commentary). Anakin (or someone else) kills Dooku.

Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, our trusted and tragic prequel heroes found themselves swimming in the big mysterious pool set. Obi-wan will be fighting a droid underwater, and Anakin sounds to be up to his neck with trouble as he is stuck in a room that is filling quickly with the wet stuff.

The clones are getting older since their growth is accelerated as established in Attack of the Clones, possibly making them roughly the age (40?) of the original Jango Fett in Episode II. Certainly there are batches of clones already at that earlier stage of development.

There will be parts of the film that are leaps of faith similar to the Yoda fight and pod race. And part of the challenge is the massive scale involved with bigger and more complicated shots.

Tarkin is in the film. Well, actually just a pieces of him. As prosthetic make-up. He IS in the film though all that anyone has seen so far is his makeup tests - we've yet to hear a name about the guy who plays him and what kind of a role he will have. But he is in it ... shoot, I wish I had been able to take a picture for you. He's perfect! I can confirm it is just an extra as Tarkin. In face, as far as a speaking role I would think that if he's in a mask (he didn't say prosthetic makeup for sure) I'd doubt it. That's just conjecture on my part though. I guess there's a possibility that the extra in the mask could be for shots where Tarkin's in the background and they could use a featured actor in makeup for 'hero' shots later on down the line. More guessing there.

There is a point in the film when the clone troopers turn on their Jedi generals. Yoda is on Kashyyyk when this happens. Then Wookiees strike back. The original version of the scene involved them fighting alongside Yoda - fighting off clonetroopers. They're all dressed up in battle armor and everything. At one point (not sure how this will play out in the end) it was decided that everyone of them would die except Chewbacca, giving him motivation for helping the Rebellion against the Empire in the classic trilogy.

We will see R2 in a "rescue" situation in Episode III. Plus, the little dude will be in the back of a small fighter ship at some point in the final SW movie, participating in a space battle and will witness a lightsaber fight. Who knows which one, there are three big ones total…allegedly.

There's an entire environment that will be bigger than anything seen in any Star Wars film that will be primarily digital. What this is, no one but the cast, crew, animators and Lucas knows... and they ain’t talkin'.

Sam Jackson mentioned that he was the one being attacked in the duel by, for now, an unknown assailant. He also mentioned that the fight area covered about 400 yards and that he jumps off steps and various other things.

Anakin vs. Obi-Wan: It's going to be fast-paced and violent. The imagery is going to be FAR MORE GRAPHIC then anyone would suspect from a Star Wars film. I'm talking definitely PG-13 material. It's not a gentleman's duel. It will get nasty (when asked about kicks and moves similar to Darth Maul). When they said this one was going to be dark, they meant it. Anakin is burnt to a crisp from neck down in what I saw, indeed his hair has been burned away and his head contains the exact same scarring we see in Jedi, including that large tear/scar. However, his face is WAY more burned up and disfigured than is seen in Jedi. Presumably some of the disfigurement has healed over the years when he finally is liberated by Luke. Plus, he loses more limbs. One confirmed limb loss is his right leg, knee-down.
I really can't overestimate how freaky it was...if this incarnation sees the light of the day on the big screen, be prepared for a really disturbing sight. In fact, burned to a crisp is an understatement.

Wild rumors have it the final scene shot was Vader aboard the bridge of a newly commissioned star destroyer. On an unrelated note, there is a scene where we see Darth Vader getting his name and what it means.
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Obi Wan's new droid

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Jedi Starfighter v2.0 concept

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