Summary
After creating and overseeingStar Warsfor nearly four decades,George Lucassold the franchise to Disney in 2012, and his reactions to their various movies and TV shows have been mixed. It makes sense for the creator ofStar Warsto have strong opinions on how his saga has been handled in his absence, especially regarding projects that did something different than he would have. Lucas has expressed disappointment in some DisneyStar Warsprojects while offering praise and encouragement to others, though he had not really said as much as one would think.
While many fans and critics use Lucas' vision to defend or attack DisneyStar Wars, this is sometimes based on assumptions rather than evidence. It’s easy for fans to see a DisneyStar Warsproject repeat what Lucas did and assume that he loved it, or for Disney to do something radically different and believe that he must have hated it. However, Lucas' opinions - or lack thereof - on recentStar Warsmovies and TV showsmay surprise viewers. As the franchise expands through multiple cinematic adventures, it’s important to know what Lucas has actually said about DisneyStar Wars.
What Is George Lucas Worth, & How Did He Make So Much Money?
George Lucas is officially the richest celebrity in the world, but just how wealthy is he really - and how did he turn Star Wars into such a hit?
Disney’s firstStar Warsmovie may have received an overwhelmingly positive reaction upon release, but Lucas was decidedly unimpressed. He was very vocal about his criticism, with Disney CEO Bob Iger noting how he"…didn’t hide his disappointment…“after a private screening.Lucas' biggest gripe withThe Force Awakenswas its lack of originality, failing to add new elements or push the boundaries of filmmaking technology:
‘There’s nothing new,’ he said. In each of the films in the original trilogy, it was important to him to present new worlds, new stories, new characters, and new technologies. In this one, he said, ‘There weren’t enough visual or technical leaps forward.'”
He was also upset that Disney chose not to use the treatments he had written for the sequels and that they wanted"… to make something for the fans.“Rather than making a fuss or trying to work alongside the filmmakers, Lucas opted to let Disney do their own thing withStar Wars, as they”…weren’t that keen to have me involved anyway.“Lucas did believe that fans would love the movie before it came out, which proved to be true, even if he wasn’t one of them.
Star Wars: The Last Jediwas and remains the most divisiveStar Warsmovie of all time, but rather than jump on the hate bandwagon, Lucas surprisingly had something positive to say. However, his one comment was brief and not a direct quote, with one of his representatives, Connie Wethington, saying that Lucas thought it was"beautifully made.“It makes sense for Lucas, a highly visual filmmaker, to appreciateThe Last Jediin this regard, as even its harshest critics admit that it looks incredible. Of course, this doesn’t reveal what Lucas thought about the story, direction, or characters.
Lucas’ thoughts onStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerare unknown, though he was absent from the premiere.
Another DisneyStar Warsmovie with a positive word from Lucas wasRogue One: A Star Wars Story. LikeThe Last Jedi, there were no quotes from Lucas directly, butRogue Onedirector Gareth Edwards had a phone call with Lucas after he had seen the movie. Edwards said that while he didn’t”… want to put words into his mouth…”, Lucas' reaction toRogue Onemeant that he could"…die happy now.“The director didn’t go into more detail but insisted that Lucas"really liked the movie"and that his review was more important than anyone else’s.
Most of Lucas' public opinions of Disney Star Wars are about the movies, though his thoughts on theObi-Wan Kenobiseries have also been revealed. According to Lucasfilm creative executive Pablo Hidalgo,Lucas thoroughly enjoyedObi-Wan Kenobi, claiming it was”…one of his favorite things that’s come out of Star Wars.“Hidalgo further elaborated that Lucas recognized”… much of what he did in the prequels…“and how they were”…celebrated in a way that I’m sure surprised him.“WhileGoerge Lucashasn’t hidden his disappointment with much of DisneyStar Wars, it seems recent projects can still win him over.
