‘Clone Wars’ unfold

The Television Critics Assn. Press Tour, the semiannual gathering of television journalists from around the country, continues at the Beverly Hilton. We offer these dispatches.

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With the “Star Wars” franchise coming to the small screen this fall, television critics got a sneak peek Friday morning at an entire episode of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” though they were asked not to reveal too many details.

The animated episode will air on Cartoon Network and TNT at an undetermined date this fall, along with 21 others in a series that further broadens the reach of the formidable and lucrative “Star Wars” story.

The television series will come out after the Aug. 10 premiere of an animated movie of the same name. Both will fill in gaps between “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” and “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,” with stories of Anakin, Padme Amidala, Count Dooku and other second-trilogy characters.

The episode screened Friday was built around Jedi master Yoda and introduced a new villain, the gothic Ventress, an apprentice of Count Dooku. The series’ supervising director, David Filoni, described her as “a bit sensuous” and “serpent-like.”

Asked whether this series would appeal to children who haven’t grown up watching the “Star Wars” films, Filoni replied: “Every time I go to Toys R Us, I see kids picking up light sabers and imagining they’re in a galaxy far, far away. I hope those fans will watch and enjoy this. And maybe listen to Yoda.”

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-- Denise Martin