Stars Wars premiere tonight in Cannes

The final Star Wars film will receive its world premiere tonight at the Cannes Film Festival.

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is the hottest ticket of the festival and the most hyped movie of the year.

Director George Lucas will join stars Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman on the red carpet.

The only disappointment will be the absence of Ewan McGregor, who is likely to miss the premiere because he is in rehearsals for his West End musical Guys and Dolls.

Fans have waited 28 years for the sixth and final episode which reveals how young Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) turns to the Dark Side and becomes the evil Darth Vader.

And the critics agree it is a return to form for Lucas after a lukewarm reception for the two previous films.

Revenge of the Sith is the prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars and brings the saga full circle.

Revenge of the Sith is the darkest of all the films and also the most violent.

Lucas has packed the film with action, from the dizzying opening battle sequence to the climactic lightsabre duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan on a river of molten lava.

The film is released on May 19.