Star Wars fans can rejoice. George Lucas� epic space opera film, Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace is being given a new lease of life in three dimension by an Indian visual effects company, Prime Focus.

After the success of James Cameron�s Avatar, Lucas was inspired to convert the entire Star Wars franchise in 3D. This is to begin with the 1999 prequel, with the remaining five films following in sequence.

�Star Wars films are the very fabric of film-making. Lucas film-tested our creative sensibilities and our pipeline before choosing us,� said Namit Malhotra, founder and global CEO, Prime Focus.

The extensive conversion process is being completed under the close supervision of John Knoll, visual effects supervisor for Industrial Light and Magic, who also worked for Avatar.