George Lucas Still Occasionally Gives Input on the Jedi!
He may be retired, but George Lucas can’t help but be a presence in the creation of Star Wars even if his role does seem to shrink with each passing release. Entertainment Weekly has a nice piece out today that gives us a bit of insight into the ongoing presence of the creator.
EW spoke with Kathleen Kennedy back at Star Wars: Celebration and shared some of it with their readers in the most recent piece. During their conversation, the topic of Lucas came up and EW asked if he still gives his input on the new films.
Not really,” she said. “But he’ll whisper in my ear every now and then. Usually it’s something specific or important to him about Jedi training. Things like that.
It is interesting to note that although he may have removed himself from the creation of the planets, aliens, and galactic war, George can’t help but continue to give input on the Jedi. It really speaks to what he saw as the focus of these stories. The Jedi, their spirituality, and their presence and impact on this fictional universe.
But don’t fret too much for the creator’s lack of presence these days. He is just finally getting to experience these movies as a fan. Passing off the reigns of the franchise to Kennedy just as Han, Luke and Leia must hand off the story to a new generation.
I think he’s starting to settle into this and just be a fan,” she said. “It’s taken a while. It’s hard to let go, after 40 years. That’s a lot of expectation and things he thought a lot about. Suddenly that next generation, that whole thematic idea he came up with, is in process.
So what tidbit about Jedi training do you think George whispered in Kennedy’s ear? And head over to EW for the complete article.
Tip # 1: All Jedi love banthas.
Seriously, who doesn’t love a bantha!?
Bantha poodoo sweepers I imagine. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/668e5bb06833eb3a6a671b28021122864dde00925a0a110557c14134e44d48ad.jpg
“Eh, it’s a living.”
I would love for George to be a consultant on every Star Wars movie as long as he lives. He has lots of great ideas. He just never was a great auteur, IMO.
I agree. I would like for George’s input to continue to have an impact on the overall story of the films. He just doesn’t need to write the scripts or direct the movies.
Yep, what I wouldn’t give for Lucas to be the guy saying ‘okay, what this story we’re telling is actually ABOUT is X, and here’s how it works thematically, and here’s why these characters decide to do X in the broader context’ WITH a script writer to go away and synthesize all of that into coherent dialogue, to hand off to a director who likes actors, and who likes the collaborative process of making movies.
Yes, this is exactly what I wish had happened with the prequels. Overall, the prequels have a good story, but I think they were poorly executed in writing and directing.
Yeah, it didn’t help he did ask at least one director to do TPM (Ron Howard, now working on HS), before doing it himself. It’s well-known he’s never been good with actors. Even back in the 70s. There’s funny bts video of Mark, Carrie and Harrison openly mocking him during another botched take for ANH, late in the night, when everyone is sick and tired.
Didn’t he dislike TFA because it didn’t follow the story he wrote for?
I thought he disliked it for the same reason Frank Oz threw shade on it – because it’s vacuous, and doesn’t really mean anything.
It’s a combination of that, plus retreading cliff-notes for ANH/ESB/ROTJ. His original idea was a terrorist group being the main villains in ep.7, while neo-Imperials would be behind them and emerge in ep.8 and 9. The overarching ideas can be seen in novels like Bloodlines, so they are being used, just not in the way Lucas would have liked. I’m hoping with 8 and 9, more of his outlines will be seen on-screen.
That sounds a bit like a retread of the prequel trilogy (one group of the Separatists in Episode I before the whole group emerges in Episodes II and III).
I agree.
Agreed. I’m very interested in finding out what his input has been on the Han Solo film, given it was one of the story arcs scheduled for SW: Underworld.
If Lucas can just have little chats like this with the people involved with Star Wars I’d be happy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DByPy8aEPw&list=LLJr4qLygpIZtKDbdvZ0R1og&index=87
I am good with him giving insight, but that’s about it. let him enjoy his retirement.
I want to chime up more often,he won’t be around forever.
Well, I do hope they start taking that advice already
I’m very happy with this. As TCW showed, George Lucas is a great source of ideas; he just shouldn’t be allowed to be in charge of their execution.
It’s great to know that George still has a small amount of input for Lucasfilm, he has a brilliant imagination.
He’s ‘the maker’ not the creator.
Loved reading that headline. I would hate to think George completely stepped away and had nothing to add. I really hope it all goes in the right direction and I hope it doesn’t demystify the force, but keeps it mythological and mysterious and doesn’t feel the need to explain everything too much, like the animated shows and other off-shoot storytelling tends to do.
The Maker!!!