Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is the first instalment of the prequel trilogy, set 32 years before the original movie. It introduces a young Anakin Skywalker, who is living as a slave on Tatooine. It also features the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order before their downfall. Production started in 1997 after Star Wars creator George Lucas determined that digital visual effects technology had advanced to the stage where he could realise his ambitious plans to tell the backstory leading up to the original Star Wars trilogy. The Phantom Menace was the highest grossing film of 1999, and following a 3D re-release in 2012 its world-wide takings surpassed $1 billion.