Why George Lucas Retired After Selling Star Wars

As a huge fan of George Lucas and his groundbreaking work in the film industry, I can’t help but feel a mix of admiration and nostalgia when I think about his decision to retire after selling Star Wars to Disney. Lucas’s life experience is truly inspiring – from his humble beginnings as an independent filmmaker with films like THX 1138 and American Graffiti, to creating the beloved Star Wars franchise and revolutionizing special effects, and eventually selling it for a staggering $4 billion.

George Lucas caused a stir in 2012 when he sold Lucasfilm to Disney for an impressive $4 billion. Since then, Disney has reaped significant profits from Star Wars without Lucas’ involvement. The filmmaker, now among Forbes’ wealthiest celebrities of 2024, appears content with his fortune. However, why did Lucas decide to retire after giving away the galaxy? During a conversation with Brut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, he shared that advances in technology and viewer habits left him pondering the future of cinema.

As a gamer, I can tell you that streaming has been a game-changer, making things way more exciting for the movie industry. The theatrical business had its issues, and they weren’t pretty to see, the filmmaker explained. He recognized the signs of change and knew that companies like Netflix were going to disrupt the scene. And just like that, Netflix took off, and I found myself in uncharted waters. I didn’t have all the answers, and I sensed a massive shift was coming. In the end, I decided to sell my company and call it quits, ready for the next adventure.

Lucas played a significant role in ensuring a strong financial foundation for himself and brought Star Wars and Indiana Jones to life during an exceptional period. Though he no longer directly contributes to these flagship projects, the surge of streaming has contributed to new peaks for Star Wars.

Star Wars is prosperous in the streaming era

Since the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, we’ve been witnessing an abundant era for Star Wars productions. Following this purchase, Disney released numerous films such as “The Force Awakens” and “Rogue One.” Although some films like “Solo: A Star Wars Story” underperformed in cinemas, the franchise has largely flourished on streaming platforms. In response to growing competition from Netflix, Disney introduced its own streaming service, Disney+, towards the end of 2019.

At the debut of Disney+, “The Mandalorian” was introduced, signaling a fresh start for Star Wars. This series has gained immense popularity and a live-action film featuring Mandalorian and Grogu is in development. Since then, Star Wars on Disney+ has continued to thrive with critically-acclaimed shows like “Andor” and “The Acolyte.” Even classic characters from Lucas’ archive have been revived through initiatives such as “Ahsoka” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” Lucas himself is quite enthusiastic about a specific Disney-era Star Wars project, which may come as a surprise to some fans.

Although some Star Wars projects surpass others, having any new Star Wars is preferable to none. After the 2005 “Revenge of the Sith” release, George Lucas took a step back from the billion-dollar franchise. Now, a fresh batch of storytellers can inject life into the continuously growing saga.

What is George Lucas doing now that he’s retired?

After finishing his work on Star Wars, George Lucas has been pondered about how he’s spending his enormous fortune. Being an autonomous filmmaker who spearheaded significant franchises and collaborated with studios, his early works like “THX 1138” and “American Graffiti” were indie hits during a time when directors took on riskier projects. To some extent, the initial Star Wars was also an independent production as Lucas retained the rights to his future multi-billion dollar franchise.

Currently, Lucas appears disengaged from creating or overseeing his own movies. Given his extensive background in filmmaking, one might assume he would carry on making independent films. Contrarily, his energy is directed towards improving the world. As early as 2012, news emerged that Lucas planned to allocate his resources towards educational initiatives. He established the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the ’90s, which later evolved into Edutopia. Moreover, he contributed generously to New York University’s Tisch School of Arts in 2021.

I’m a huge fan of Lucas, and his passion for storytelling continues to inspire me, even in an unexpected way. In 2025, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is set to open in Los Angeles, where I’ll have the opportunity to learn about the captivating power of movies and other visual art forms firsthand.

2024-07-18 15:04

Star Wars is prosperous in the streaming era

What is George Lucas doing now that he’s retired?

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