"I just got really interested in psychology and what could possibly turn an apple-cheeked Jake Lloyd into a guy who blows up planets, cuts his son's hand off, and kills his own goons," says 16-year-old New York City student Aaron Reiser, who is also campaigning online. It is a question on the mind of many who have found the philosophy of the Jedi applies to our world as well. "As I've gotten older I've begun to look more for the underlying meanings in things -- politics, world leaders, just society in general -- and my feeling is that Star Wars just encompasses the basic elements of good versus evil and simplifies rather then complicates them," notes Sam Brown, a vocal music major from Indianola, Indiana. "But don't get me wrong," he adds, "I love the effects and the stories, especially the Jedi and lightsabers and all that."

The fortune attached to the Skywalker name is also an attraction -- but not for the reasons you would think. "The money is a very strong motivation because I think the world needs some redistribution of wealth and needs some charitable rich people like a tree needs water," says David Marcon-Smith, an 18-year-old student from Montreal. "With all the money I receive from completing the films I would invest it in the stock market, turn it into a vast fortune and use it to help developing nations with their incredible poverty." Ah yes, Obi-Wan has taught him well.

Of course, not all of the concerns are quite so altruistic. "It has something to do with it," answers J. Scott McKinnon when asked whether his interest in the role had anything to do with the chance to kiss Natalie Portman. "It would be a nice perk, to keep me motivated." Indeed, Amidala seems to be the queen of motivation; nearly all the men interviewed widely praised the merits of getting paid to make out with the famed actress. There are, however, some stipulations: "Not if Lucas was watching," quips Garrett Gilchrist.

Though most contenders realize their chances to actually be chosen for the role are slim, many find that their campaign, and the internet community of Star Wars fans it is a part of, are more than consolation. "I thought, Why does everyone want to be Anakin Skywalker, besides the fact that he would be really famous," says Colin Hebb. "Then I realized it. Star Wars is unlike any other movie. The makers are well-known, like George Lucas, and they make us, the fans, feel part of the making. We can see all the different things that take place; we feel closer to the behind-the-scenes part of the movie. Because we feel closer, we see the filmmakers as sort of a family, and now I think everyone wants to be part of that family."

"There is definitely a whole new level of involvement and enthusiasm on the part of the fans, with the 'community' aspect of the net taken to the full extreme," notes Joshua Griffin, whose site dedicates as much information as to the moviemaking process as to the film itself. "The promotion of the movie, especially on the official site, has been groundbreaking, and the fan based sites like TheForce.Net have also fueled the machine of Star Wars."

According to Griffin's sources, preliminary casting for the role of Anakin began ages ago, and chances of one landing an audition are at this point very slim. That doesn't stop hundreds of young men from swamping Lucasfilm with calls and resumes -- and neither does public skepticism. "Naturally, my friends tell me that I'm nuts, but that if I happen to get the part they would like to have roles like 'Third Jedi on the left in the fourth scene being disemboweled by an unnamed Sith warrior,'" explains Andre Miron. Reiser agrees: "For the most part, peoples' reactions have been, 'Oh, that's nice. You know you'll never get the role, right? Don't even bother.' It's a speech I've come to expect, but I'm not getting my spirits down yet."

And why not? In an age where mainstream media increasingly plays catch-up with internet innovation and popular artists issue their work in web-only forms, perhaps the dream of the online Anakin contender isn't quite so far-fetched, if not so much for this movie than for those yet to come. But on the off-chance that Lucas takes the hint, finds the web page and crowns you heir to the Skywalker throne? Says McKinnon: "I would collapse, get up, soil myself, totally freak out and probably go run out in front of traffic on the highway and get run over, ending my life and keeping me from ever actually playing Anakin." Spoken like a true successor to Mark Hamill. Suffice it to say, no matter what uncertain future lies ahead for these ambitious padawannabes, we shall be watching their careers with great interest.

The 11th Hour would like to extend special thanks to all the Anakin candidates for graciously agreeing to answer our questions.

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