The fan convention will also honor the 25th anniversary of the first film in the epic saga, Star Wars: A New Hope, first released in May 1977.

Over 340,000 square feet of the Indianapolis Convention Center will be filled with Star Wars-related exhibits, displays and events, which will make Star Wars Celebration II a special gathering for fans to express and share their enthusiasm for the Star Wars movies. Presented by the official Star Wars Fan Club, Star Wars Celebration II will allow attendees to revel in the rich stories of the saga through viewing of special movie footage; appearances by celebrities and behind-the-scenes talent from all of the Star Wars movies; and action-packed entertainment, including opportunities to play a wide variety of Star Wars-themed games. Additionally, attendees will be able to purchase exclusive Star Wars Celebration II merchandise available only at the event.

"Star Wars Celebration II is a one-of-a-kind event designed to give fans an interactive and extraordinary experience," said Steve Sansweet, director of content management at Lucasfilm Ltd. "It is our way of thanking them for all of their support over the past 25 years."

"The event will appeal to families and fans of all ages and will offer them a chance to meet other fans who share their passion for the Star Wars saga," said Liz Schuh, marketing director at Wizards of the Coast.

Celebration I took place in Denver, Colo. in May 1999, and attracted more than 25,000 fans from all over the world.

When additional event information becomes available, it will be posted to www.starwarscelebration.com. Beginning October 1, event registration will also be available at www.starwarscelebration.com.

In December 2000, leading game-publisher Wizards of the Coast purchased the official Star Wars Fan Club from Fantastic Media. Through the acquisition, Wizards of the Coast operates the fan club, runs the exclusive Star Wars e-commerce store and publishes Star Wars Insider, the magazine covering the real-world activities that bring the Star Wars universe to life. Visit swfan.wizards.com for more information.

Lucas Licensing Ltd. manages all the domestic and international merchandising activities of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones(R) properties. Star Wars is the most successful film-based merchandising program in history. The Star Wars licensing program is renowned for its attention to product detail and quality in the fields of publishing, toys, games, collectibles, apparel and other categories. For more information on Star Wars, visit www.starwars.com.

Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories. Wizards of the Coast is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products, as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. The company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanics of trading card games (TCGs) and produces the world's best-selling Pokemon(R) and Magic: The Gathering(R) TCGs. Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers and is a publisher of adventure games such as the classic Dungeons & Dragons(R) games, family card and board games and electronic media products. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's website and electronic retail store at www.wizards.com.

Star Wars and Indiana Jones(c)2001 Lucasfilm Ltd. &(R)or (TM) where indicated. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Pokemon is a registered trademark of Nintendo. Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc.