The final prequel in the Star Wars saga has leaked out onto the internet in the form of a workprint

WinBeta.Org has learned that a workprint copy of the new movie Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith has leaked out onto the internet several hours ahead of it's debut in theatres across North America and the UK. View Screenshot here.

Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith debuted several hours ago in countries such as New Zealand and Australia by virtue of their geographic proximity to the international dateline.

The workprint is believed not to be a final version of the movie and is bound to raise the ire of the MPAA and the Lucasfilm studios alike. WinBeta.Org contacted Lucasfilm regarding the leak but as of this time they have no comment on the matter.

A law passed only last month in the United States called the "Family Entertainment and Copyright Act" allows for offenders who leak movies before they are released in the cinema to be imprisoned for up to three years. This appears to fall into that catergory unless the law relates only to release dates in the United States rather than worldwide. If this is the case (and our skim through the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act did not reveal a susinct position) then the person or persons who leaked this copy would be exempt from prosecution as this movie had been released for general viewing by the public in a number of countries which because of the location of the international dateline are quite a number of hours ahead of the US.

An advertising company was the source of a leaked workprint copy of the film "The Hulk" back in 2003 when it was released on the internet almost two weeks before it was released in cinemas. The result for the New Jersey man who leaked it was both expensive and served as a reminder of the severity of threatening possible profits by a movie making company.

The quality of the copy that was leaked is we are told "quite watchable for such an early release of the movie" according to one source who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I have seen part of the movie - the counters on the screen are quite intrusive but if you want to see the movie earlier than the rest of the country, you just put up with it, y'know?"

Is this a real copy? Yes. Is it complete? Only those that would want to see it and then go to see the movie at the cinema and compare them will know for sure (outside of Lucasfilm). Where will we watch it? The cinema. A huge movie like this must be experienced and the only place to truly experience this and other huge blockbuster movies such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy is in the cinema.

Do yourself a favour, do the people that spent their time creating this astounding series of movies over the last 30, yes, 30 years (they had to film it before the 1977 release date) and go experience it how they envisioned you would, on the big screen and in truly explosive surround sound.

Screenshots: Workprint screenshot from Starwars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

(c) 2005 - All rights reserved. WinBeta.Org