George Lucas was on everybody’s mind after the fervor caused by the first glimpse of the J.J. Abrams helmed Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, had finally subsided. I mean, who wouldn’t want to know what the man responsible for one of the most profitable franchises in history thought about the first Star Wars movie without his direct involvement?
Well, as it turns out, George Lucas doesn’t think much. That’s due in large part to the fact that he was not one of the roughly 72 million views garnered by the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer that had the internet and Star Wars fanboys alike buzzing over the holiday weekend. That’s right, the man who directed Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars Episodes I, II and III hasn’t yet seen the minute and a half long teaser for the newest edition to the expansive Star Wars Universe. When speaking to a reporter at Page Six, George explained, “I don’t know anything about it. I haven’t seen it yet.”
So why is there so much distance between George Lucas and Star Wars? For those who don’t recall, Lucasfilm was sold to Disney in 2012 for the super affordable asking price of 4 billion dollars. The hefty boost to Lucas’ bank account came at the cost of his relinquishing the Star Wars franchise, the empire he had built since the late 70’s. (I couldn’t resist.) The subtext in George’s comments about the trailer is clear: he hasn’t made it a top priority to check out the newest Star Wars film. In fact, when asked if he was curious about the new direction of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, George Lucas merely replied, “Not really.”
George’s ambivalence towards the newest Star Wars film will probably elicit one of two reactions from fans and casual observers alike. It is likely the die-hard fanboys will celebrate Lucas’ disconnect from the film with the hopes that it will not be a repeat Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The second reaction will be people understanding how difficult it must be for George Lucas to see the sum of his life’s work moving on in a new direction without him (and with people cheering his absence, no less.) As a huge Star Wars fan, I am torn between cautious optimism that we will not have to endure Jar Jar Binks again but also empathy for George himself. In light of the emotional turmoil he must be feeling, I think George Lucas’ reaction is, understandably, to be expected.