George Lucas planned to direct Episode VII before selling Lucasfilm

January 13th 2015, 11:29am

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

George Lucas has caught a lot of flak over the years as a director. Not only for his doctoring of the original STAR WARS trilogy, but also for delivering a prequel trilogy that was less than stellar. Lucasfilm is now under new management and the big shots are being called by the Mouse House after that infamous $4 billion sale, but this business maneuver, while inevitable, seemed to be more a matter of good timing. At least, as far as a J.J. Abrams-directed EPISODE VII is concerned. Speaking with USA Today, Lucas confided that his original plan was always to deliver unto us Episodes VII, VIII, and IX. Given the 10-year commitment directing a trilogy entails, Lucas was going to instead just direct EPISODE VII before handing the reins off to other directors (a la EMPIRE and JEDI). Instead, Disney approached him and the rest was history. Lucas married Mellody Hobson the following year and the two had a baby two months after that.

George Lucas on why he decided NOT to direct EPISODE VII and instead spend more time with his daughter:

By the time she's 5, she'll have her own career going and being in school and talking about her friends and her homework. The fun, goofy time will fall into place in reality, as opposed to right now, she doesn't have much else to do but hang out with her father.

It's better for me to get out at the beginning of a new thing and I can just remove myself. The time is more important to me than the money. The only thing I really regret about STAR WARS is the fact I never got to see it — I never got to be blown out of my seat when the ship came over the screen. The next one, I'll be able to enjoy it like anybody else.

There's no denying that Lucas is a smart businessman and while I feel he has a wealth of creativity, I'm happy he decided to leave the execution up to others this time around. Besides, Lucas will always be involved in film in some form or fashion, as evidenced by the animated STRANGE MAGIC that's looking to hit later this month, in which he executive produced. Here's hoping that Lucas, as well as everyone else, will be blown out of our seats when STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS hits this December.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS will be released on December 18.

Do you think this really would have been the case had Lucas returned to the director's chair?