Rumors have been commonplace about what the first trilogy in the Star Wars saga would be about, and who (if any) of the existing characters would appear. Lucas and company have been increasingly more open, but remain typically cryptic. However, a few things have now been disclosed and in the coming weeks, months, years there will obviously be more.
Here's what we do know:

That it will be set about 30-40 years before "A New Hope".

- It will feature a younger, middle-aged Obi-Wan Kenobi and a youthful Anakin Skywalker, showcasing their friendship and Ben's teaching of the Force to Anakin. Over the course of the trilogy, we will see Anakin seduced by the power of the Dark Side of the Force, his fall from hero to villain, and the rise of his new persona, Darth Vader. Lucas wants to give these new films a 'darker' atmosphere than the previous trilogy, centering on the themes of friendship, betrayal and the fall from grace into darkness.

• "Episode I" is said to be the "feel good" and "positive" of the new trilogy, with each film getting increasingly darker and more pessimistic.
• Anakin's relationship with his Mother will be a focus in "Episode I", as well as his introduction to The Force.
• Anakin will be a very pure and heroic figure in the first film, which will make his fall much more painful to observe.
• "Episode I" is said to be very much like 'ANH' in tone, which means that the film will likely revolve around Obi-Wan having some kind of adventure, with the mood being very upbeat used to introduce characters.
• Coruscant and Tatooine will be main settings in the film.
• R2 and 3PO (in their earlier forms) will also be in the 1st film, and we will be introduced to a character known as "the young Queen". It is presumed that this will indeed turn out to be Anakin's love and Luke & Leia's Mother in the films, but this has not been officially confirmed.