Australia’s SCI FI TV are reporting that the long talked about live action Star Wars series has actually started pre-production in Australia.

According to the report a number of ‘big names’ in the Australian television industry have been approached by Star Wars producer Rick McCallum.

SCI FI TV also speculate that the new series will be more adult centered, drawing the conclusion from the fact that some of the talent supposedly approached comes from adult centered Australian shows Love My Way and Secret Life of Us.

This speculation may actually be accurate given in the past George Lucas described the series as “Deadwood meets The Sopranos in space.”

The new series will be set between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.  The story is said to follow the Rebel Alliance as it gains strength.

It is also said that no major characters will appear in the series and neither will any Jedi’s, nor Darth Vader.  However, if true this news doesn’t preclude appearances from the Sith (those that wield the dark side of the Force) or other not-so-major characters.

In one such example actor Jay Laga’aia has been in talks with George Lucas to star. Laga’aia played Captain Typho in both Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Rose Byrne, who appeared as Dormé in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, has also confirmed casting in Australia has been happening.

Additional rumors have it that fan favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett will also feature.

George Lucas himself has stated the series will be 100 episodes in length.

Given the series has been tentatively slated for a 2010 release, if these pre-production reports are true fans can expect to hear a lot of new Star Wars news in the near future.