Earlier this evening The Drudge Report posted that a story was in development regarding a security breach involving Star Wars.

A few minutes ago, Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News announced on Matt Drudge's radio show that he has seen Episode II, in its entirety!

Since word broke that a copy has gone out, Drudge told listeners that 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm have gone on full security alert. It's not up for download on any Internet outlet that he's aware of (and we don't know of any either).

When Knowles came on the show he revealed how he was able to watch the movie: during a recent signing of his new book a person gave him a slip of paper, asking him to come to a certain hotel room at a certain time. Knowles went and today saw Episode II. It was an early cut of the film, with lots of unfinished stuff, "but by God, it was the film!" When all was said and done, "this is working," he told Drudge.

Among other things, Jar Jar's role is significantly diminished. There is definitely lots of foreshadowing of Anakin's fall to the Dark Side: "It's full bore. He's young and empowered... been too controlled for his life," Knowles tells Drudge. As for Hayden Christensen's portrayal of the older-young Anakin, he's "as whiny as he should be, in terms of what he wants to do but what he's not allowed to do," Knowles continues.

In talking about Episode II's digital effects, Knowles said that "the key thing is the film is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. It's gorgeous!" Also, the story "is quite Machiavellian. How the plotline unfolds... this is good enough to make The Phantom Menace a very good movie. I think the problems that Lucas made with The Phantom Menace was that he made a movie that was dependent on the next two."

Knowles is quite sure that he's covered his sources well, that the leak will not be traced, cackling as he told this to Drudge.

Shortly after the interview on Drudge's show Harry posted his review of the Episode II roughcut.

Thanks to scores of readers for pointing it out - thanks to Todd for assisting first!