LucasFilm, the licensing arm of Star Wars creator George Lucas' media empire, is preparing to launch an online subscription-only website, which will chronicle the progress and development of Star Wars: Episode III, which begins shooting in Australia in June.  Known as StarWars.com Hyperspace, the site will open June 10.  An annual subscription fee of $19.95 will provide hardcore fans with access to the Hyperspace site.  The 'regular' LucasFilm website will remain free.

The new Hyperspace site is being managed by Lucas Online, LucasFilm's interactive division, which has created the company's exceptionally popular website.  Since launching in 1996, the LucasFilm website has averaged over 4 million visitors a month, with peaks topping 7 million a month during peak pre-release periods.  LucasFilm, which has probably made as much money as any movie licensing arm in history, is counting on devoted Star Wars fans to cough up $19.95 in order to gain access to exclusive material.  The Hyperspace site will include a webcam on the set of Episode III, and numerous other exclusives for patrons including never-before-seen deleted scenes from Episode II, plus the right to add the suffix @starwars.net to their email addresses.