The Phantom Edit

The Phantom Edit, formally Star Wars Episode I.II: The Phantom Edit, is an unauthorized fan re-edit of the film Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, made by Mike J. Nichols, which removes many elements of the original. Nichols said his aim was a much stronger version of the film, guided by the storytelling and editing philosophies George Lucas had applied in earlier work. It circulated in Hollywood studios in 2000 and 2001 and drew coverage from Salon.com, NPR, PBS and the BBC. Rumour first credited Kevin Smith, who admitted seeing it but denied making it; the editor was named as Nichols of Santa Clarita, California, by the Washington Post on 7 September 2001. Lucasfilm condoned the edit and did not pursue legal action against its distributors. It is regarded as the first unauthorized re-edit of The Phantom Menace to receive major publicity and acclaim, and the first fan edit of a feature film shared by an online audience.