Lee and Smits head off into deep space

Horror maestro Christopher Lee is to get his teeth into a role in the next Star Wars movie, along with former LA Law star Jimmy Smits.

Lee, long associated with the part of Dracula in a string of Hammer productions, has been signed for the fifth movie in the space saga which is filming in Australia.

Lee, aged 78, said of his role: "It will be more than another part. It will be another arrow in my quiver. I'm looking forward to it enormously."

The film, as yet untitled, will be released in the summer of 2002, and chronologically forms the second in the sequence of nine films. The three made in the 70s and 80s form episodes four, five and six.

Lee said he was looking forward to a role in the Star Wars saga.

"They created a whole new era in the cinema. There's no question about that," he said.

"The scale of imagination and the scale of production and the impact that it had on the entire world was a first. It created an impact in the cinema that was unique."

Lee has recently worked on two other fantasy projects, with a role in BBC2's Gormenghast (which has been bought by TV One and will screen this year), last year's Sleepy Hollow and appearances in the forthcoming Lord Of The Rings, being shot in New Zealand.

He said: "In the past one could work extremely hard, very long hours, very demanding roles, and still have fun.It can still happen today but 'fun' is a word you don't hear very often in the film industry these days, sadly. It's increasingly rare.

"One of the things director George Lucas said to me was, 'We'll have a lot of fun.' And that, believe me, is very good to hear."

Lee has previously worked with the moviemaker's company, LucasFilms, on an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

The 45-year-old Smits will play Senator Bail Organa, of the planet Alderaan, who was mentioned in the original Star Wars film made in 1977.

"I'd thought of Jimmy for the role before George Lucas had even confirmed the character's appearance," said casting director Robin Gurland. "Then completely independently, his agents let me know that he would love to be involved in a Star Wars project. It worked out great."

Smits, who also starred in the police drama NYPD Blue, recently appeared in the Wim Wenders' film Million Dollar Hotel alongside Mel Gibson.

- NZPA