Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning. And every male aged 16-30 with a feel for the Force, flair with a lightsaber and the vaguest resemblance to a grown-up Jake Lloyd has taken to the web in what may be the world's largest impromptu casting call. The question of who should play teenage padawan Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 2 is not only the most highly debated casting decision in film history, it is also the first to involve an organized campaign by a number of often non-professional actors in training. Welcome to the era of internet fandom, an age where the lines between industry and audience, profession and passion, have become harder to make out than Jar Jar's speech patterns. For this generation of aspiring padawannabes, the journey begins online.

The mania began last spring, when rumors that Star Wars creator George Lucas intended to cast an no-name actor for the coveted role led to rejoice on the part of unknown, albeit eager, fans. "My R2 unit says that the chances of getting the part are 3720 to 1," says Andre D. Miron, a 25-year-old chemical engineer from Livermore, CA who describes The Phantom Menace as "a two hour Star Wargasm" and has set up a fan site to campaign for the role. "I think he's malfunctioning and left about three zeros off the first part of the odds. But I think the internet brings my chances from absolute zero to those mentioned above."

However, to paraphrase Han Solo: Never tell a Star Wars fan the odds. After all, who would have predicted the myriad of strange success stories like Star Wars fan Kevin Rubio, the maker of the COPS meets the Empire parody "Troops", which landed him a film contract as well as the praise of George Lucas himself. The recent spoof "George Lucas in Love" has had merited similar acclaim. In short, the right combination of talent, ambition and a healthy dose of rabid fanaticism can pay off, and the devotees of Star Wars know this all too well.

"We've received literally hundreds of requests for auditions and the locations of casting calls, but we're sure that Lucas already has a really short list of folks he likes and chances are it's not one of us or the guy that has a website," says Joshua Griffin of TheForce.net, arguably the most successful Star Wars fan site on the web. "But wouldn't that be cool? It's almost unique to this franchise, and certainly has never been done in movie history."

J. Scott McKinnon agrees: "I think it would be great if they cast Anakin from pretty much off the internet. It would make a strong statement for Lucas wanting to take another step forward in using technology." McKinnon, an 18-year-old student/actor from Arkansas who says he'd "be happy being a Stormtrooper... very happy" is a member of Anakin Wannabes, a site dedicated to bringing together those who seek a role in Episode 2. The site, which includes a member's list and a message board for padawannabes to discuss strategy tactics, is the creation of 13-year-old Texas native Montgomery Sutton. "It's the people online who can help you, not the internet itself," points out Sutton, who would cast his fellow group members before any well-known actor. "That's what Anakin Wannabes is all about."

But like every great force in the universe, the internet has its dark side, or at least its darkly amusing side. Such is the case of Shap Sweeney, who was cast as Anakin last December. Or didn't you hear?