Kevin Smith could do it. Yeah, I know he's done nothing other than raunchy comedies (save for Jersey Girl), but he's such a big fanboy that I think he could write a killer story. I dunno if he'd want to direct it, though. He already backed out of Green Hornet as a director, but will still write it. I just think he'd be good. He has enough exposure, love, and knowledge of it to pull it off.

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And also, we don't know that Padme dies. It would be unlikely because she has to live long enough for Leia to have memories of her.

Lucas has changed so much of the mythos already, what's to stop him from totally screwing this bit up?