Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace effort after a 22-year hiatus following "Star Wars" in 1977. "The Phantom Menace" was released in theaters on May 19, 1999, almost 16 years after the premiere of the previous "Star Wars" film, "Return of the Jedi". The film's premiere was extensively covered by media and was greatly anticipated because of the large cultural following the "Star Wars" saga had cultivated. It received mixed reviews; critics praised the visuals, action sequences, John Williams' musical score and some of the performances, but criticized the screenplay, characterization, and Ahmed Best and Jake Lloyd's performances (as Jar Jar Binks and Anakin Skywalker respectively).
Star Wars: Legacy Rachelle Rosenberg was the colorist and Dave Wilkins was the cover artist. The first issue, "", was scheduled for release on March 20, 2013, to continue as a monthly, ongoing series, with the second issue to be released on April 24. Neither Bechko nor Hardman are worried about the implications that the upcoming Episode VII film: "" will have on the Expanded Universe—their goal is to tell an exciting story that will work "no matter what", and they are reassured by the likelihood of "Episode VII" taking place decades before "Legacy". Star Wars: Legacy Star Wars: Legacy is an American