YODA:
Yoda will be fighting. Suposedly a miniature lightsaber has been constructed for his use. In the fight scenes he will be acting by CGI, instead of puppeting. This makes sense since a puppet would be too hard to maneuver in a battle scene which get very complicated as Lucas's do.
MACE WINDU:
Mace Windu is to become a major character in Episode II. We will see how sensitive he is with the force and his accute fighting skills.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
There are to be many new main characters in Episode II. And... I don't think we will be familiar with them.
JAR-JAR BINKS
Supposedly Boss Nass tries to assasinate Queen Amidala and Jar-Jar is chosen to be the ruler of the Gungans and Otoh Gunga. (go Jar-Jar!):)
OBI-WAN KENOBI:
Ewan Mcgreggor is going to be Obi-Wan Kenobi for both Episode 2 and 3, and he is going to have longish hair (not really long, but longer than it was in TPM) and a beard. I don't think he will have the braid in the back, because only padawan's have those and he is a master now. But if you go to Jedi Wear you can see a picture of what he will look like!
HOW DOES ANAKIN SKYWALKER BECOME DARTH VADER?:
You probably already know that suposedly he is dueling with Obi-Wan Kenobi and falls into a lava pit, as how he get's the cardiovascular suit. But have any of you thought, ever, how the sweet young Anakin get's turned over to the dark side? Some say that when he is away from home (Naboo) the planet get's destroyed. Devestated of his wife Amidala's death he is consumed by anger. Others think that he was just very unhappy. And there are always others who think that Emperor Palpatine turned him! Swift thinking my friends!
ARE DARTH SIDIUS AND EMPEROR PALPATINE THE SAME PERSON?:
YES. Ian McDiarmid played all of the characters. There are clues throughout E p i s o d e I that remind you of this. Senator Palapatine is a member of the galactic senate, and is working with and against Amidala at the same time! He is a member of the senate to make it look less obvious!
This isn't exactly new news but, Hayden Christensen was announced to be the new Anakin in late May. Episode II Filming began June 1st. 2000! I have also been informed that some of Episode III: was filmed also!