Why George Lucas Won’t Make Any More Star Wars Movies

From an interview with The New York Times.

(Top photo by Ethan Miller | Getty)

Discuss

(86 Comments)
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  • [–]

    Nick

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 3:56 PM

    In other words, we won?

  • [–]

    Neo-Kaiser

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 3:58 PM

    Hey, how about you make a movie while not surrounded by Yes men?

    • [–]

      Sam

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:05 PM

      Because he’s a massive narcissistic twat that thinks he knows better than everyone else despite being a horrible writer/storyteller and at most a competent director. So naturally he can ONLY work with yes men.

  • [–]

    Ben

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 3:58 PM

    Jar Jar fucking Binks!!!
    that;s why you’re terrible

    • [–]

      Alinos

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:59 PM

      Eh jar jar is nothing compared to changes he made to his films

    • [–]

      Kyle_Katarn

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:41 PM

      If Lucas promises to take that god awful “No”ing out of the end of Jedi, and that stupid Krayt dragon call that sounds like a gungan being raped up the arse, then I will kiss Jar Jar’s feet.

      • [–]

        N0NEoftheAB0VE

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11:50 PM

        “No”ing???

        Do you mean at the end of Empire where the only change he made to the whole film (apart from a shot of Vader’s shuttle) was audio of Luke screaming “Nooooo” as he fell to his imminent death thus changing the whole tone of that scene – Lucas took the “Nooooo” scream back out for the DVD release.

        • [–]

          AerintheADEQUATE

          Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 3:56 AM

          That’s not what he’s talking about at all.

          Imagine the “NOOOOO!!!” that Vader howls from Revenge of the Sith and paste it onto the scene where Vader throws the Emperor down the shaft at the end of Return of the Jedi.

          That’s what he’s talking about.

  • [–]

    SOX

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    Hahaha awesome. Can he also go back and remove any changes he made to the originals while in this frame of mind?
    I’ve got the theatrical releases on DVD but I’d prefer it on Blu-ray :)

  • [–]

    oggob

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    Perhaps people wouldn’t have told you what a horrible person you are if you left the existing movies alone.

    multiple extended cuts and changes… now turning them into 3D movies? Just stop!

    • [–]

      Bob

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:03 PM

      He must be quite used to the ka-ching sound.

      • [–]

        oggob

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:05 PM

        I know other movies have done it with special anniversary editions and things like that, but I honestly can’t think of any other movie/franchise that has been abused as much as Star Wars.

        • [–]

          ilzydroid

          Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:53 PM

          Disney….. I say no more

          • [–]

            Mic

            Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 9:56 PM

            Please do, because I can’t think of any Disney movie(s) that’s been abused as much as ‘Star Wars’

            • [–]

              Neil Williams

              Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11:21 PM

              The changes to both The Lion King and Aladdin are getting up there.

              • [–]

                Sam

                Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 7:29 AM

                Honestly, minus adding a song I was quite happy with the lion king changes, the re-animations looked better, Can you Feel the Love Tonight looks truly stunning with the changes. Though I can’t see the point in changing the crocodiles, there was nothing wrong with them.

                That said, I’d still like ‘actual’ theatrical versions, my main issue with Disney is their shady claims, if it says original theatrical version, it damn well should be.

  • [–]

    Barry

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    Guys be kind, if it wasn’t for him you wouldn’t have Star Wars to begin with. I for one think GL is one of the greatest

    • [–]

      Chuloopa

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:10 PM

      He WAS great, until he went batshit crazy.

      I actually mostly liked the first edits. they added some great stuff, like the dewbacks up closer and the the better space battle scenes.

      But then he didn’t stop.. he just kept going, until the movies became completely bastardised.

      I can close my eyes and ignore the prequel trilogy, which i am fine with, but to destroy the originals to the point where i can’t even BUY the non-shit versions is just stupid.

      Honestly, Lucas used to be brilliant, then he just took it too far, all for a few dollars.

      • [–]

        NegativeZero

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:42 PM

        The CG insertions were ‘better’ in 1997 (with the obvious exceptions of Greedo shooting first and them buggering up the party at the end of Return of the Jedi and probably the redone music sequence in Jabba’s palace) but the problem is that those new additions look like crap now, plus they stick out really badly against the rest of the film.

        The original space battle stuff with the models might have been kind of primitive but it was amazingly well done given the technology and it actually fit the films, where the CG doesn’t.

        But the real problem with his constant fiddling is that it goes hand in hand with his determination not to release a decent quality release of the original THX Remastered version of the films from 1994 or so. I want my films without any changes or additions but I can’t have them without being a pirate. :(

    • [–]

      Kyle_Katarn

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:46 PM

      He was also the same man who said special effects were only to enhance the movie, not be the movie.

      Guess he sort of fucked that up, huh?

  • [–]

    Marky Martin

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    Um, cause you don’t wanna be a complete pussy with a soft ego and you want to make something that you’re passionate about! Grow a bloody backbone Lucas!

  • [–]

    K-Man

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:17 PM

    Awww Georgie Georgie… Don’t be like that… We’re not saying that you’re a terrible person! Oh you Silly Duffer! We’re just saying that you suck tremendously at making movies! .. … … Okay that didn’t come out right… Okay okay… You’re tremendously talented and great at ruining your legacy. … … Hmmm that sounded more positive in my head. … Sorry George I got nothin’!

  • [–]

    attila

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:17 PM

    Lucas is at his best when he has someone else helping call the shots – always remember that he only directed one of the original trilogy, and it wasn’t (IMO) the best of them. Same with hooking up with Spielberg.

    Give Lucas complete control and surround him with only yes men, and you get the prequels.

  • [–]

    Chuloopa

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:18 PM

    He also doesn’t want to make them because

    1. Alec Guiness is dead. He can’t contribute his voice-over to guide luke anymore.

    2. Harrison Ford has made it damn clear on numerous occasions that he would never, ever do another star wars movie

    3. George, long before this whiny statement, declared that he had no plan of ever doing the last 3 movies as was rumored once many many years ago.

    Seriously, George, you’d just destroy them anyway. You’re not the starry-eyed visionary you once were. You think everything will work out with enough CGI sugar-coating.

    By not doing these movies, you’re probably doing the franchise a favor.

    • [–]

      Alinos

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:04 PM

      Problem is that there is no where to really go with another 3 movies.

      Sure you could maybe try the Yuuzhan Vong of the New Jedi Order. The problem is that even if you could get all the relevant characters. I don’t believe the series could work in a 3 movie format without severely altering the overall story. And probably writing out a good chunk of the characters.

      Plus if he chewy actually died in the movie as he does in the book id hate too see the shitstorm that would incur

      • [–]

        clinkyy

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:20 PM

        I think it would be awesome to see 3 new films based in that time period. I also think the people who were responsible for the TOR trailers should be involved.

      • [–]

        N0NEoftheAB0VE

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11:55 PM

        I always thought if there were 3 sequels they would be the Thrawn trilogy.

  • [–]

    Deadman

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:21 PM

    Here I thought he was getting yelled at for constantly messing with the original films and re-re-re-releasing them

  • [–]

    crotchdot

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    Awesome.
    Now hand the series over to someone else and maybe I can start caring about Star Wars again.

  • [–]

    Desert Dog

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    Lucas is one of the great filmmakers. Star Wars has contributed so much more to the art and science of films and the science fiction genre that cannot be dismissed because of Jar Jar or tinkering.

    But then again, I didn’t watch Star Wars during my formative years, so I see things without rose-tinted glasses (something which I’m afraid a lot of you can’t do BECAUSE you watched Star Wars during your formative years).

  • [–]

    Lillee

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:28 PM

    The Star Wars franchise ended in 1983 for me with release of Return of the Jedi… so all this is meaningless dribble

  • [–]

    Akra

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:36 PM

    George won’t make another star wars movie, that’s not saying someone else won’t do it to make him some cash.

  • [–]

    Matthew K

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:39 PM

    Are we supposed to feel bad about this? He said recently he’s not scared of maknig a bad movie – and it’s true! You don’t see him remastering Howard the Duck every 5 minutes. But Star Wars? He was one success and WON’T STOP REINVENTING IT.

    George Lucas is DETERMINED TO FAIL.

    He’s a fool, and a terrible person, and I’m glad he’s not making more Star Wars movies. When ol’ goiterneck eventually shuffles loose this mortal coil we might get from Star Wars movies from talented directors… assuming there are any.

    • [–]

      FRIENDLYUNIT

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:48 PM

      Aahhhh!! You are ASKING for screen based fanfic? DO NOT WANT

  • [–]

    GooberMan

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    KotakAU getting in to a serious discussion about a one-liner non-videogames article from Plunkett?

    This Wiki outage must be going to our heads.

    • [–]

      Akra

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:15 PM

      You must be new around here.

  • [–]

    Ben

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    What he says is right. But until he dies and the control of the franchise passes to someone else, we aren’t getting any more films. And thats fine by me. I’ve avoided all this Clone Wars junk that gets hurled at kids. And I’m fine with that

  • [–]

    Gemini

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:06 PM

    It’s a trap!

  • [–]

    NotheMama

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Its not just Star Wars, most movies these days are style over substance. With action scenes so insane you have no idea whats going on! A new Star Wars movie that isnt filmed entirely behind a blue screen would be nice!

  • [–]

    Erebus

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    This constitutes an article?

    A picture with a quote Windows painted on?

    Really?

    • [–]

      Zythrone

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:32 PM

      This isn’t even a news site…

      Its a blog.

      • [–]

        Smythe

        Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:41 PM

        No, it is a news site, just Luke Plunkett is terrible at news.

        • [–]

          The Steeng

          Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 8:18 PM

          Kotaku AU is a news site. Kotaku US is a blog. Mark Serrels is a journalist. Luke Plunkett is a twit.

    • [–]

      Dave

      Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 7:22 PM

      “From an interview with The New York Times.”

      I know it can be hard to read 8 words, but sometimes it can prevent you from looking silly.

  • [–]

    JellyFox

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    Poor George Lucas. He tries so hard.

  • [–]

    Stevorooni

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    Sequels to the original trilogy would no doubt have storylines that ignore all of the spinoff media anyway, which would enrage the hardcore fans.

    I think the only way to do any new films that would’t mess too much with established stories is to go way way way into the future, all new characters and new storylines.

    If George doesn’t want to make them, all the better, bring in someone else to do it.

  • [–]

    STENDEC

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    Once again George Lucas proves he’s king at entirely missing the point. He’s ranting about fans saying he should leave the movies alone, while they themselves are re-editing them. Number 1 – At present there’s maybe 20 or so edits of all the films in TOTAL. Number 2 – Most of the fan edits are from people trying to return the films TO THEIR ORIGINAL FORMS. And Number 3 – No one is complaining about the changes specifically. What they ARE complaining about is GL saying “This new version of the movie is the ONLY one now. You can’t see the originals anymore.” No one would care about him editing the movies if he’d just release the original versions as well along with the Special Editions, fully restored and in as high quality as possible – not some shitty Laserdisc port.

    Also, Plunkett you have sunk to new lows. Kotaku is NOT your personal Twitter account.

  • [–]

    hobobeard

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    Now if only he’d leave well enough alone and stop changing the things he has already made.

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