When running through a list of potential Anakins, there are a few names that immediately spring to mind. Leonardo DiCaprio. Jonathan Jackson. James Van Der Beek. Shap Sweeney. Wait... Shap who?

"The next Anakin Skywalker has been officially cast. I am an intern at CAA [California Artists Agency] and my boss let me know that it had been confirmed this evening. The part went to an unknown named Shap Sweeney. I have never heard of him, but I hope he is good," read a post on a Star Wars message board which later swept the rumor mill, making the 21-year-old USC student the latest in a series of contenders to take Yoda's "Do not or do not" maxim a step too far. While reactions to Mr. Sweeney's alleged triumph ranged from skepticism to relief that at least it wasn't Leonardo, the very proliferation of his name speaks volumes of power of the web for fledgling Anakins.

"All of the time," states Griffin when asked whether fans ever fabricate rumors that they were cast for the role. "My favorite was the one guy who sent his head shot saying this guy was up for the role of Anakin and we needed to post it immediately. Of course, we recognized the name on the email and the actor -- actually a high school student -- and realized it was totally bogus. It's a great way to get your name out there for sure, and certainly will become part of the Star Wars lore for generations."

Colin Hebb understands this all too well. "I tried that once," the Canadian high-school student and self-described Jake Lloyd lookalike admits. "I was like, 'You know, Colin Hebb looks like a really cool Anakin.' How stupid is that? I can't believe how dumb I was, but at least I'm not the only one. I think everyone has tried that."

Other contenders have followed a more traditional path, seeking agents and sending their headshots and resumes to casting director Robin Gurland. "She has stated that she would love to cast an unknown actor," remarks Philadelphia college student James Daly. "I think that has kept me going."

For the casting of Anakin Skywalker, the traditional process has been reversed; anonymity is not an obstacle, but rather a saving grace. "The most important qualification I have is that I am an unknown," notes Greg Mauer, who has expressed his interest through his website Skywalker Campaign 2000.

Then again, those left unimpressed by the cinematic debut of Mannequin Skywalker find the notion of an unfamiliar Anakin less than appealing. "It depresses me, because an unknown could be anyone, especially someone really awful who can't act. But I do like unknowns a lot better than easy-to-remember people from idiotic television shows," says 18-year-old Garrett Gilchrist, writer, director and star of the Star Wars spoof "The Phantom Movie". So why is the virtually unknown Gilchrist nonetheless interested in the part? "Pure hubris. I'm actually a real asshole," he informs. "But I am right for the part. Most of the qualities George tends to talk about in a young Anakin are my own in real life. But mostly I would want to play Anakin just so no one else gets in and fucks it up. And just like Jake Lloyd, either way I get an action figure."

Gilchrist is confident he has the right qualities for the role. "What Lucas needs this time around is an Anakin who can approach his part without any real reverence for the material," he confides. "You know, like Harrison Ford in the first picture. I wouldn't go that far, but I certainly wouldn't read the part like I was reading the Old Testament, like Liam, or like I was reading the ingredients of a hot dog, like Jake."

While the enthusiasm of the Anakin campaign cannot be disputed, the reasons why the role is so sought after are as varied as the would-be candidates themselves, ranging from the philosophical to the philanthropic to, yes, a fascination with a certain queen from Naboo.