Maul Ready To Duel With Mickey

It's not usual to spot a celebrity at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on any given day: But when you see a member of the "Star Wars" universe there over the next four weekends, please know that The Force is definitely with them and they want you to share in the experience.

The reason is Disney's annual Star Wars Weekends event, which kicks off Friday through Sunday with an appearance Ray Park, who played the iconic villain Darth Maul in director George Lucas' first film in the prequel trilogy: "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace."

Park is already at Disney World, along with his wife and two kids, hoping to get in some time with the attractions before he becomes the attraction himself. And even though he'll be busy entertaining throngs of "Star Wars" fans in the coming days, Park doesn't even look at his time at Disney as work.

"This weekend is going to be fun. Even though I have a commitment, it's fun," Park said in an @ The Movies interview Thursday. "My other work is fun anyway."

Besides, Park said, the familial atmosphere at Disney provides another perfect opportunity in that he's come to embrace his colleagues in the "Star Wars" films as a second family.

"I've actually gotten to meet most of the cast members from all of the movies," Park beamed. "I'm a big fan of 'Star Wars' myself. I watched all of the original movies when I was a kid in school, so to be a part of it now is really nice. Daniel Logan, who plays the young Boba Fett, is like a little brother to me -- he looks after my kids and works out with me. And it's good to see Warwick Davis again. He's such a nice guy."

Davis will be joining Park this weekend for the opening of this year's Star Wars Weekend event, along with James Arnold Taylor, who voices Obi-Wan Kenobi for "The Clone Wars."

Star Wars Weekends runs for a month at Disney, with event regular Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Matthew Wood, the voice of General Grievous, slated for May 29-31. Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), David Prowse (Darth Vader) and Matt Lanter (voice of Anakin in "The Clone Wars") are set for June 5-7, while "Clone Wars" director Dave Filoni and Jango Fett actor Temuera Morrison wrap up the event June 12-14.

In addition to appearing at Star Wars Weekends in 2007, Park often appears at the movies' conventions. At Disney, not only does he shake hands and sign autographs, he gets a kick out of participating in events with the fans.

"I like going to appearances and being on-stage, playing with both little kids and big kids, and teaching them lightsaber moves," Park enthused. "I'm there to have a great time and meet the fans because I'm a fan myself. It's because of the fans that I keep doing this. I like to hear what they have to say about Darth Maul and the other characters I've played. When I do a project now, I do it wondering what the fans are thinking, because I know that I am going to see them again."

Wanting to avoid any sort of bias, Park humbly said that he's not sure why Darth Maul is so revered by the fans -- but he ventured to guess that a lot has to do with the character's aura, which is intensified by his appearance.

"I think fans respond to the character's looks, but he's mysterious, silent and deadly," Park said. "Plus, the film gave 'Star Wars' fans the opportunity to see some martial arts and gymnastics that were popular in Hong Kong movies, but not in Western cinema yet. It was pretty groundbreaking at time in Hollywood films. George wanted to let loose and show some of the classic styles to show the Jedi and Sith warriors at their best. Plus, I got to use a double-bladed lightsaber, which audiences had never been seen before."

Park's appearance at Star Wars Weekends also holds special meaning this year because his appearance comes just a couple days after "The Phantom Menace" celebrates its 10th anniversary.

"It's crazy. Sometimes it feels like a dream -- it was my first big movie where I was playing a character and considered an actor," said Park, who's since starred as Toad in "X-Men" and the axe and sword-wielding version of Headless Horseman in "Sleepy Hollow." "It was nice to be a part of it and a very important part of my life."

Park 34, recently finished up on another important movie chapter, with role of Snake Eyes in the upcoming action adventure "G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra." Like "Star Wars," Park, who began training in the martial arts when he was 8 years old, was a fan of G.I. Joe growing up, so landing a role in the film was a major coup.

"When I heard that they were looking for someone to play Snake Eyes, I made as many calls as I could to see if there was anyone who would listen," Park said. "I was a big fan of Snake Eyes as a kid, so going into the film it was perfect world for me to play a ninja commando."