Geonosis execution arena

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Homeworld:
  Geonosis

• 

From the Movies

After toiling in the droid foundries, a Geonosian worker's sole outlet of entertainment are the bloodsports found in the Geonosian execution arena. Those who have committed crimes against Geonosis are sentenced to death. In the case of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, who were found guilty of espionage by Poggle the Lesser, they were to be killed by deadly arena beasts. Poggle and his guests, Count Dooku, Nute Gunray and Jango Fett, watched from an exclusive viewing box high above the arena floor.

Each captive was chained to a sturdy stone pillar. Three large gates unleashed the creatures, which were kept in line by Geonosian picadors. The ghastly trio included the brutish reek, the agile nexu, and the terrifying acklay. The captives were able to outwit their assigned killers long enough for Jedi reinforcements to arrive.

Led by Jedi Master Mace Windu, these Jedi fought against scores of battle droids that surrounded the arena. Many Jedi fell in the conflict, and the few survivors appeared to be doomed. The sudden arrival of Yoda and the newly formed Republic clone army saved the day, and heralded the start of the Clone Wars.

From the Expanded Universe

Geonosians carefully guard their resources, and think it foolish to squander supplies in the keeping of prisoners. As such, execution is a common verdict in Geonosian courts. The execution arenas also serve as entertainment for the simple-minded beings. Ruling Geonosians earn praise for staging the most impressive beast-battles, called petranaki or "venations." Archdukes such as Hadiss the Vaulted and Poggle the Lesser have used the arenas to eliminate political dissidents.

Arena competitions are so popular that the Geonosians have managed to wipe out some of the more popular beasts on their planet. Corporate clients looking to curry favor with the weapons manufacturers have offered deadly and exotic beasts as payment for the Geonosian services. The acklay, a champion among arena beasts, came from offworld and has run rampant in the Geonosian ecology.

For many ambitious Geonosians, the arena serves as the only possible means of advancement in the rigid caste-separated Geonosian society. By proving his worth in the execution arena, a lowly Geonosian is capable of advancing in status, and even earn a begrudging brand of respect from the Geonosian aristocracy.

Behind the Scenes

Inspired by the brutal contests found in ancient Rome, the Geonosian arena was an environment far removed from previous Star Wars settings. Though Episode I had the Mos Espa Grand Arena, its architectural style of repeated curves and patterns easily facilitated the addition of digital extras to provide a sense of teeming audience. The Episode II arena was markedly different, with almost random organic shapes carved from the living rock.

In its concept stages, light and shadow played an important role in visualizing the environment. It helped evoke a mood of confrontation and vulnerability, as the chained captives stood in the harsh light while the beasts emerged from the shadows. To better visualize the environment, concept model-makers R. Kim Smith and Carol Bauman built an elaborate four-foot wide model of the arena which, though unpainted, was extremely detailed.

For the finished film, ILM built the arena as an immense miniature. It was built in sections for ease of shooting. The miniature arena formed the majority of the background plates for the environment, since the set photography with the actors and stuntmen consisted mostly of bluescreen with a sandy floor.