NOT BEATEN YET! "STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS" SEASON FOUR

Jedi heroes Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi bravely return for more battles during THE CLONE WARS. All images: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

Unceremoniously, and quite surprisingly, pulling the rug out from underneath UK STAR WARS fans feet, SKY MOVIES HD recently announced that, after three exclusive and consistently high standard years, they will no longer be showing the superb hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, created by George Lucas, whose ambitious, action-packed fourth season recently commenced its new run in the States. Presumably this is down to failed contract/price re-negotiations.

Keeping very mum indeed on this current situation, there's no news yet from any of the main players (WARNER BROTHERS, LUCASFILM, CARTOON NETWORK) as to who in the UK will be taking up the reins in showing the series- if indeed there will be anyone- but KOOL TV will let viewers know anything as soon as it can. Regardless of what happens, fourth season episodes will surely be available in episode batch DVDs and complete series sets on Blu-ray, from WARNER BROTHERS, by October next year. The complete Season Three box set of THE CLONE WARS also arrives on Blu-ray and DVD later in the month.

Check out this great YAHOO! interview with series Animation Director Dave Filoni about the new fourth series here: Supervising Director Dave Filoni Tells Us What to Expect from Season 4 of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' - Yahoo! TV , a look at the opening episodes via ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY here: Star Wars The Clone Wars season four premiere video | Inside TV | EW.com, as well as this fun behind the scenes look via TIME MAGAZINE KIDS: TFK & Star Wars: The Clone Wars - YouTube

Here's a fun and highly diverse selection of images from the opening episodes to give UK viewers a taster of what we'll hopefully/eventually see on Blighty screens...

Epic battles become even more ambitiously realised this season, as seen in the Year Four opener Water War.

Anakin and Padme go deep into the waters of Mon Calamari to assist Captain Ackbar  fight the Separatists in the episode Water War.

The next JAWS? A distinctive new evil Separatist baddie leads his droid forces into aquatic conflict in Gungan Attack.

Anakin Skywalker triers to stop the villainous Count Dooku's revenge plans towards the peaceful world of Naboo in Shadow Warrior.

Cyborg baddie General Grievous under-estimates the agility's of the Gungans in Shadow Warrior.

Iconic droid heroes C-3P0 and R2-D2 encounter strange new life forms on the disaster struck planet Aleen in Mercy Mission.

Another incredible epic outer atmosphere space battle between the Republic and Separatists will be witnessed in a later episode.

Seasons One and Two of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS are available on DVD and Blu-ray from WARNERS BROTHERS.