The prequel trilogy constitutes the second set of films produced within the expansive Star Wars saga. Their theatrical releases spanned from 1999 to 2005. These films chronicle the events that transpired from 32 years to 19 years prior to the narrative of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The central focus is primarily on the younger years of Darth Vader, then known as the Jedi Anakin Skywalker, alongside a similarly youthful Obi-Wan Kenobi. It tells the tale of their transformation from comrades to adversaries, highlighting the tragic downfall of Anakin into the dark side, and the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire. The trilogy also showcases familiar characters like C-3PO, R2-D2, Yoda, Chewbacca, and a younger Sheev Palpatine, detailing his ascent to the position of Emperor of the galaxy. This was the final trilogy distributed by 20th Century Fox until Lucasfilm was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2012.
The saga commences with the discovery of a young Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader, by the esteemed Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who detects the boy's immense potential. It is in this initial installment that Skywalker first encounters the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, at that time still a Jedi apprentice. As the story unfolds, significant figures are introduced, including Padmé Amidala, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, and the malevolent Sheev Palpatine, then serving as a Senator within the Galactic Republic. Following deliberations with the Jedi Council, concerning the possible return of the Sith and Skywalker's fate, the decision is made against training Anakin as a Jedi. The film culminates with the Sith, Darth Maul, launching an assault on the Jedi on Naboo; only the tragic death of Qui-Gon at his hands persuades the Jedi to reconsider their decision. Anakin Skywalker then becomes Obi-Wan's apprentice in the ways of the Force.
In the subsequent two films, the Clone Wars erupt between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Episode II begins with mysterious attempts on Padmé Amidala's life. While Obi-Wan Kenobi investigates the attacker, Anakin takes Padmé off Coruscant to her home planet of Naboo. While protecting her, the two become romantically involved, contributing to Anakin's eventual departure from the Jedi path. Simultaneously, Obi-Wan uncovers the fact that the Kaminoans have been cultivating and training clones for the Republic's use for years. This discovery also reveals Jango Fett and his son Boba. The two escape to Geonosis, where Obi-Wan follows them and discovers the leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, including fallen Jedi Master Count Dooku.
After his mother is brutally murdered by Tusken Raiders on Tatooine, Anakin experiences a growing pull towards the dark side within himself and his surroundings. On Geonosis, Obi-Wan is captured, and the Jedi Council instructs Anakin and Padmé to remain where they are. However, Padmé chooses to assist Obi-Wan, defying the Council's instructions, which compels Anakin to follow her. They are also captured after a brief scuffle, and the trio are nearly executed in the arena. Moments before this, many Jedi appear and begin attacking the native Geonosians and battle droids alike.
The Senate grants newly elected Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine emergency powers to raise an army of clones (cloned from the notorious bounty hunter Jango Fett) to combat the rising Separatist threat. These clones are also dispatched to Geonosis to attack the Confederacy. While the major battle unfolds, presaging what the Clone Wars will become, Count Dooku escapes, the clones become the Grand Army of the Republic, and Anakin and Padmé fall in love, a love that must be kept hidden from the Jedi, including Obi-Wan.
The film commences with a fierce assault on Coruscant. General Grievous spearheads the attack, while Count Dooku holds the Supreme Chancellor captive. When Clone War veterans Skywalker and Kenobi are dispatched to rescue him, Dooku is killed but the droid general escapes. Palpatine has managed to gain almost unlimited power over the Galactic Senate, and Anakin, who is pushed closer and closer to the dark side of the Force, has become close friends with him, deeply troubling his fellow Jedi. His secret wife, Padmé Amidala, is pregnant and stays at her apartment on Coruscant as Obi-Wan leaves for the Utapau system to search for Grievous. Leading an army of clones, Kenobi finds and destroys the droid general, who, on command of Darth Sidious, sent the Separatist leaders to Mustafar.
Initially, the Jedi Council disregards Skywalker's revelation that Palpatine is the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Recognizing their mistake, the Jedi Council decides to confront the Chancellor. Master Mace Windu and three other Jedi Masters (Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto), attempt to arrest Sidious. However, they are overcome, and with the help of the fallen Skywalker, the Jedi are all killed. With this act, Anakin becomes Darth Vader. His convictions that the Jedi are behind the treachery cause him to lead the destruction of the Jedi Order. Palpatine issues Order 66, whereupon many Jedi are slaughtered by the clone troopers. Darth Vader conquers the Jedi Temple and sets the Jedi beacon to call all remaining Jedi back to the temple into an ambush waiting to slaughter them. After Vader leaves for Mustafar, Yoda and Obi-Wan infiltrate the temple, where Obi-Wan alters the signal to alert all Jedi to stay away. While in the temple, Obi-Wan activates the security recording, leading him to learn the truth about Anakin. With this knowledge, Yoda and Obi-Wan agree the two Sith Lords must be defeated. Yoda would remain on Coruscant to confront Darth Sidious, while Obi-Wan would battle his former apprentice.
Yoda is unable to defeat the Sith Lord, and, barely escaping with his life at the end of the battle, decides to go into exile to the Dagobah system. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan discovers that Anakin is responsible for Padmé's pregnancy. Padmé, worried about Anakin, travels to the volcanic world of Mustafar, where Vader has been dispatched to assassinate the remaining Separatist leaders, effectively ending the war. After sneaking aboard Padmé's ship, Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts Vader on Mustafar. The two engage in a duel, which results in Vader suffering the loss of his limbs, severe burns, and damage to his lungs. Obi-Wan leaves his long-time friend and former apprentice for dead, and takes the critically injured Padmé with him.
Vader is rescued by Sidious and encased in a life-support suit before discovering that he killed Padmé in anger. Padmé dies in childbirth, and the Skywalker twins, Luke and Leia, are separated; Leia is adopted by Senator Bail Organa and his wife, while Luke is taken in by Beru and Owen Lars on Tatooine. (Owen was the son of Cliegg Lars, the man who freed and then married Shmi, Anakin's mother.) C-3PO and R2-D2 are now in the custody of Bail Organa with C-3PO's memory getting wiped in order to have the twins split-up and protected. On Naboo, mourners carry their former monarch, their beloved elected queen, through the streets of Theed. Clutched in her hands is the carving Anakin gave her when he was a young boy. Yoda begins his exile on Dagobah. On Alderaan, Bail and his wife adopt Leia. On Tatooine, Obi-Wan delivers Luke to the Lars' where he will be safe before going in exile on Tatooine.
Sidious and Vader rise to take control, first of the Senate and then of the galaxy, using the power gained from both sides of the Clone Wars and forming the Galactic Empire. The two Sith oversee the construction of the first Death Star, a glimpse of the dark times to come.