The actor Liam Neeson is skipping the British premiere of Star Wars to open the epic movie in Ireland for the benefit of Kosovar refugees.
He secured the Dublin premiere of The Phantom Menace for UNICEF Ireland when he won a role in the film two years ago, shortly after becoming the charity's special patron, its director, Ms Maura Quinn, said.
He is to attend the opening show and party next month with his wife, the actress Natasha Richardson, and has requested that the £100,000 raised go towards relief work in the Yugoslav province.
Neeson, from Ballymena, Co Antrim, may yet persuade other stars of the film and its director, George Lucas, to stop off at the screening, the day after the premiere in London.
"Star Wars is the most talked-about movie of the moment and will be for the next 10 years. We're delighted that UNICEF is to benefit from its opening in Ireland," said Ms Quinn.
"It's an enormously popular story with children, and a fundamental theme running through the films is the triumph of good over evil which is very relevant to the work UNICEF does."
Neeson, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Schindler's List, plays Jedi master Qui Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.
"We're extremely fortunate to have Liam as a special patron," Ms Quinn said. When he got the role in the Star Wars film he went straight to Lucas and said: `I want the Irish premiere to benefit UNICEF'.
"He is extremely committed to us and raised our profile in so many ways. When he became our special patron we got a special little UNICEF badge made for him. "I'm always surprised to see photographs of him wearing it".
The movie opens in Dublin on July 15th at the Savoy cinema in O'Connell Street with the 800 tickets selling for £100 each.
The 300 seats at the party in the Gresham Hotel afterwards, costing £200 apiece, have sold out.