For the greater part of the Star Wars history, New Zealand has felt like the civilization farthest from the bright centre of the Universe. The dissemination of information via the internet started to change that, as did the tantalising proximity of The Phantom Menace’s Sydney production, but nothing compared to the revelation that New Zealanders would be included in the cast of The Attack of the Clones. Shortland Street stars as bounty hunters and galactic miscreants? The lead actor and actress of Once Were Warriors once again playing in the same scenes on the big screen?

The NZ connection lives on in Episode 3 and beyond, with the return of Bodie, Rena, Tem and Jay. And the connection goes beyond just our favourite actors: designers, artists, and even directors…