"Every saga has a beginning." Now, for DVD fans, that saga has finally begun. After a four-year wait, Lucasfilm has finally announced the release of the first Star Wars film ever to hit the format, Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Cue Ewok celebration music...

Due to touch down on DVD on October 16th, 2001, this feature-loaded two-disc set promises to be worth the wait. To celebrate the impending release, on September 5th and 6th Lucasfilm held an extensive two-day preview of the DVD at the fabled Skywalker Ranch in San Rafael, California, along with Q&A's with the disc's creators - Lucasfilm VP of Marketing Jim Ward, Episode I producer Rick McCallum, DVD producer Van Ling, effects supervisor Pablo Helman, THX technical supervisor Rick Dean, documentarian Jon Shenk - and some guy named George Lucas.

While we could tell you of all the fun we had at the famed Ranch, the big wigs we met, and how cool the disc looked, we'll just cut to the chase and give you the info you really want. What did Lucas have to say about DVD? Is the disc really worth the wait? Where's Indiana Jones? And just how many easter eggs are on there, anyway?

While we can't promise you answers to every one of those questions, Lucas and company were generous and forthcoming - and, yes, someone did ask when Episodes IV, V and VI would finally arrive on DVD. Read on...

» George Lucas speaks!
» Rick McCallum on producing Episode I
» Jim Ward on beginning the saga
» Van Ling on producing 'Phantom Menace'
» Rick Dean: THX and creating the DVD
» Jon Shenk: Documenting Episode I
» Pablo Helman on the effects

» Spin It: Our DVD review
»Multimedia Video excerpts and menus
» Archive: Q&A with Jim Ward - June 19, 2001