Sound System to Debut With New Lucas Film

The much-anticipated “prequels” to director George Lucas’ “Star Wars” films will provide a launching pad for a new theater sound system from Dolby Laboratories Inc. and Lucas-controlled Lucasfilm THX. The two firms announced the introduction of the Dolby Digital-Surround EX format at the ShowEast convention for theater owners in Atlantic City, N.J. The first of the three sequels--dubbed prequels because they are set in time before the original “Star Wars” films--is due out May 21. Both Dolby and Lucasfilm are privately held companies based in the Bay Area. Dolby is the worldwide leader in film sound, having sold 55,000 cinema sound processors and 17,000 Dolby Digital screens to theaters that play back films recorded in the Dolby format.