Star Wars: The Clone Wars the Series Set to Premiere on Cartoon Network on October 3

In case you didn’t realize it, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the movie, was really just a glorified commercial for the animated series that has been in the works for a while now. The movie was designed to tie the first three Star Wars films in to the animated series which is getting set to premiere on the Cartoon Network.

I’m not sure how effective it will be since no one really went to see the movie, but I’m guessing the series will do okay for itself.

Here’s the press release for those who are interested:

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, the first weekly television series from Lucasfilm Animation, premieres on Cartoon Network Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. (ET, PT) with a special one-hour presentation that anchors the Network’s all-new night of fantasy, action and adventure. New series The Secret Saturdays and the current hit Ben 10: Alien Force join STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS for a night of non-stop adventure, exciting storytelling and innovative animation.

In the signature style of Lucasfilm Animation, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS chronicles the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano and other favorite STAR WARS characters as they struggle against the dark side during the divisive, action-packed Clone Wars. Each week, a new story in the galaxy-changing Clone Wars comes to center stage, brought to the screen by supervising director Dave Filoni and executive producer George Lucas.

Dwindling numbers of Jedi fight to maintain freedom and restore peace to the galaxy, using their army of genetically engineered clones against the seemingly never-ending droid army. The terrible conflict grows wider as our heroes are swept into the turmoil of war, while the evil Count Dooku, his assassin Asajj Ventress, their master Darth Sidious, the mechanical General Grievous and a rogue’s gallery of never-before-seen villains scheme to defeat them.

Cartoon Network’s new night of fantasy-adventure programming begins at 8 p.m. (ET, PT) with the series premiere of a new comedy-action series, The Secret Saturdays, from Cartoon Network, Porchlight Entertainment and creator Jay Stephens, about a family of world-saving adventure scientists. Doc, Drew and Zak Saturday live in a hidden base and are part of a network of scientists who protect against all the underlying evil in the world. To the Saturdays, ordinary folktales aren’t just legends, but real-life mysteries and adventures. Traveling from the Gobi Desert to the Marianas Trench, they explore ancient temples and bottomless caves and tangle with twisted villains, including the masked madman V.V. Argost and his half-human/half-giant spider.

Friday, October 3

8:00 p.m. The Secret Saturdays (p)

8:30 p.m. The Secret Saturdays (p)

9:00 p.m. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (p) “AMBUSH” Jedi Master Yoda is on a secret mission to forge a treaty with the King of the strategic system of Toydaria when his ship is ambushed by Count Dooku. Yoda and three clone troopers must face off against Count Dooku’s dreaded assassin Ventress and her massive droid army to prove the Jedi are strong enough to protect the king and his people from the forces of the war.

9:30 p.m. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (p) “RISING MALEVOLENCE” Creating panic throughout the galaxy, a devastating Separatist mystery weapon terrorizes the clone Starfleet. Anakin and Ahsoka race to save Jedi Master Plo Koon and his clone troopers in time.

Fridays Beginning October 10

8:00 p.m. The Secret Saturdays (p)

8:30 p.m. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (r)

9:00 p.m. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (p)

9:30 p.m. Ben 10: Alien Force (p)