Article: Final 'Star Wars' Caps Moneymaking Empire; Lord Vader, Meet Darth Tater: 'Revenge of the Sith' Spawns Ubiquitous Promotional Partners

If anyone ever doubted it, "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" proves that creator George Lucas is a Jedi master of merchandising.

As a moneymaking entertainment franchise, the "Star Wars" saga is a galaxy unto itself. When the sixth and final film, "Revenge of the Sith," opens on Thursday, it will be the capstone of a box office, DVD, video game and toy empire, responsible for nearly $20 billion in estimated revenue.

"Sith" breaks commercial ground for the movie series. This film has more promotional partners than any of the previous five films, according to Lucasfilm Ltd., Lucas's production company. And it marks the first time "Star Wars" characters have appeared outside the ...

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