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Are you working very closely with LucasArts in creating the Star Wars The Force Unleashed video game? If so, could you offer us some insight into how the idea for Vader to have a secret apprentice came about?
George Lucas: Yes, the Force Unleashed is the first Star Wars video game, which I have contributed heavily to involving the plot and what you see in the video game itself. When I was deciding how to showcase the decimation of the Jedi Order beyond the films, I didn't want the fans to actually be Darth Vader in the video game. We needed someone new and exciting for the audience to embrace for the adventure. The secret apprentice is a necessary story device and compliments the idea of the Sith Lords constantly betraying each other.
Vader isn't suppose to have an apprentice, but he doesn't really care about what Darth Sidious thinks. The Force Unleashed has a complex plot, which is equal to the film trilogies in many facets. Some will enjoy it more than the films because you actually control the action in the video game. It's immersive and allows you to live briefly in the Star Wars galaxy.
Dear Mr. Lucas. I have a few questions for you and I would be very grateful if you answered them.
1. How has Star Wars changed your life? 2. Which is your favourite Star Wars film? 3. Which is your least favourite Star Wars film? 4. What is your biggest regret about the way Star Wars has affected your life?
I am truly grateful for you bringing us Star Wars. I wish you the best for the future. Thanks!
George Lucas: Thanks for the words of encouragement. The fans are very important to me. Star Wars has made all my dreams a reality. It has allowed me to be financially independent and able to create my films without the interference of the film studios. Without Star Wars, my life would be drastically different in ways I do not wish to imagine. Even worse, there would be no SuperShadow.com dedicated to Star Wars if I never made A New Hope. This would be an absolute nightmare for all fans to be without SuperShadow.
I don't really have a preferred film or a film I didn't care much about. They're all the same film to me. It's just one 14 hour film in the end. I'm especially attached to A New Hope because it's the one that allowed me to pursue a life that is beyond what I could ever hope was possible.
Unfortunately, Star Wars ruined my first and only marriage to Marcia. This is a tragedy that still haunts me to this day. However, we can't dwell on the past. Things happen for a reason. I have my children and that's what matters the most to me. I don't need a wife to have a fulfilling life. Every fan wants to be me. That's the best part of being me.
Hey Sir Lucas, your no. 1 fan of Star Wars is back. All I need to say is that you don't need to worry about your upcoming movie's promotion in India since I work in a channel I have already promoted your movie and currently I am making a half an hour documentary on Star Wars so that I can show the entire public of India about it and its upcoming movie.
I'll do whatever I can to promote Star Wars and I have already saved 1,000 dollars for watching this movie in cinema halls. You are my idol and I will not let you down. If possible, I will be looking forward to join your production company.
George Lucas: We need as much help as possible promoting the new Clone Wars film. India is very, very important to us. It's such a beautiful and great nation. The financial prospects for this film in theaters are very dire right now. The fans don't seem to really care about it. I guess many of you are burned out on Star Wars in theaters after watching the prequel trilogy so many, many times in cinemas. I can't exceed what I accomplished with the prequels. This is something the fandom must accept. The prequels are me at my best.
However, each of you needs to start waiting in line already for tickets to this film. The theatrical release of this film is less than four months away. I guess Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is absorbing the entire scope of fan interest at the moment. I can hope the fervor to see the Clone Wars film will increase once Indiana Jones 4 has completed its run in theaters.
I would be elated to have such a fine and talented person as yourself working for me. There aren't many jobs available and the salary is at a paltry low level. Visit the official web sites for ILM, LucasArts and Lucasfilm to see what jobs we currently have available. I hope you have the most rewarding life because you deserve success.
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Hi George Lucas! What is the latest update on the new Clone Wars TV series? Thanks!
George Lucas: To get straight to the point, I'm very, very worried about how well the Clone Wars film will do at the box office this August. Our internal polling numbers indicate that fan reception and general interest for this film are a lot lower than what we had for the prequel trilogy. I know I can't deliver the exact magic and wonderment of the prequels a second time.
Also the Clone Wars film will be the fourth Star Wars film released to the public over a span of nine years. The reason it is important to take a 16 year break in between film trilogies is in order to recharge and boost the demand from the audience. The longer we wait for Episode 7 the more I increase the overall worldwide box office gross for Episode 7.
You can't make much money from broadcasting a TV series on regular television. We're trying to make back our entire investment in the Clone Wars TV show with the theatrical release. I'll admit the production budget for this film is extremely meager. It cost practically nothing to make. The computer animation is primitive compared to the level of modern computer animation and I get a steep discount from ILM since I own the special effects company.
The fans need to get enthused for this film. As it stands at the moment, we'll be fortunate if the Clone Wars film breaks $ 150 million U.S. dollars in North American cinemas. This is about 40 % of what Revenge of the Sith earned during its theatrical run in North America.
I'm going to have to spend more money advertising this film than I would prefer. Tell your friends and family about this film. We need your support so that we can give the audience additional films in theaters based on the Star Wars TV series.
Hi GL, please post this up because this is a message to the fans. Please don't pick on Lucas' amazing films because remember he's Human and all Humans make mistakes. Imagine being in his shoes receiving messages that undermine tiny bits of the films that don't matter. All I'm trying to say is celebrate the films instead of sending in negative comments because we're blessed by having these films. From your biggest fan.
George Lucas: Thanks for the support, but neither SuperShadow nor I care about your personal criticisms towards us or the films. None of your critical responses matter. I learned from the beginning that a select segment of the population is going to be upset no matter what I do. These malcontents don't have any relevance in life. 90 % of the fans were ecstatic with the prequel trilogy.
However, I do enjoy reading the ideas the fans have regarding Star Wars. There are thousands of these concepts I can integrate into Episode 7, 8 & 9 and the various Star Wars TV series. All and all, you can't make a motion picture, which is embraced by 100 % of the fandom. For example, the average fan is going to adore Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Yet the same individuals who didn't enjoy the prequels are also going to be upset with the new Indiana Jones film. We know this, but we don't care what these people think. Life is never going to go their way. Instead of being so vocal with criticism, they should just enjoy what we do. Indy Jones 4 is a gift to the fans. We don't need the money so we aren't doing it for the profits involved.
I'll admit the cash generated by Indy 4 will be staggering and breath taking. The prequels were much more profitable than the old films. It's not about increasing our net worth. We want to have fun and make films. That's what we are all about. So relax and enjoy life for a change.
I may have already asked this, but have you ever regretted the fact that you can never walk blindly into a Star Wars film? Can you ever really experience a movie the way a fan does? You already know the stories and the endings already.
George Lucas: The irony is not lost on me. Star Wars exists only because of me. There's no way to separate myself from the films. It's my vision with a few fan ideas thrown in. If Star Wars were the only film, then I would be upset at my situation. However, there are hundreds and hundreds of other films I can watch without knowing every twist and turn of the plot.
I'm thankful for Star Wars because it made all my dreams a reality. I appreciate it in ways I can never fully express. It was a once in a generation creation, which was given to me. Special thanks to the fans for making this possible.
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In Return of the Jedi, the Emperor tempts Luke Skywalker to kill Darth Sidious. "Strike me down and your journey to the dark side will be complete." Luke went to strike Sidious down, but Vader blocks Luke. So was Luke really tempted? Why did Vader block Luke? Thanks for your time! You are the best!
George Lucas: Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy reading the many questions sent in by the fans. You, as individuals, are what really matter to me. Only my children are more important to me than the fans.
This is something many fans aren't capable of comprehending, but the Sith Lords are never truthful. Total and utter deception is what they are all about. Darth Sidious realized he had a real challenge in turning Luke to the dark side because Luke does not possess the same weaknesses that made Anakin an easy target for Sidious.
Luke is pure good. In contrast during the prequel trilogy, Anakin was constantly conflicted, angry and ready to betray those he loved. Sidious has no way of getting Luke to join the dark side unless Sidious tricks Luke into accepting his offer. What Sidious doesn't realize is that the will of the Force is behind Luke and the Force is guiding Luke to his ultimate fate.
There is no real hope for Sidious to transform Luke into a Sith. However, Sidious has no way of knowing Sidious' time is short and that the Force has decided to end the reign of the Sith permanently. I know many of you don't understand what happens in the films.
I try to make certain aspects of the films ambiguous and unfathomable. It is important to watch and re-watch the films as many times as possible. Slowly over time, you may begin to unravel the secrets I have hidden in the films.
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George, you've had a remarkable beneficial impact on cinema your entire career. If my religion permitted the worship of secondary gods, you would be my top pick as something worth revering. You seem to have a gift for master minding movies, which have not been equaled. Nobody claims to be on the same level of your creative genius.
I know life always goes in your favor because it's what you deserve. However, if you reflect back on your life, what do you regret most of not doing over the past 35 years? Thanks for giving us Star Wars especially the prequel trilogy, which were without question the best films of the past decade.
George Lucas: I don't really think about the past with an eye to what I could have done differently. But if I went back in time, I wouldn't definitely write and direct both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi without any third party screen writers or film directors. I appreciate what these people did to make the old films a memorable experience for myself and the fans.
Yet I learned from working on the prequel trilogy that the best Star Wars stories are based on my original ideas without outside interference. The three most monetarily successful Star Wars films (The Phantom Menace, Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope) were the ones I wrote and directed all by myself.
Additionally, I would also have directed both Willow and the Indiana Jones films if I could do it over again. The creation of A New Hope was such a personally miserable experience for me that I promised myself I would never direct a full length film again. Twenty or so years after the theatrical release of A New Hope, SuperShadow convinced me that I owed it to the fans to write and direct each episode of the prequels.
This was, by far, the best advice I've ever been given. The fans can't imagine how terrible the prequels might have been without my skills as writer and director. We should be thankful that Shadow is in our lives even if none of you can meet him or be his friend. Just be glad Shadow serves the fans tirelessly at SuperShadow.com.
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GL, I'm amazed by your imagination, but I'm concerned about the unchecked powers of SuperShadow. The Carolina Tar Heels have won just a few NCAA basketball national championships since the early 1980's. This means SS is sabotaging the flagship university of the state of North Carolina over 90% of the time.
9 out of 10 years the Tar Heels don't win anything. I know we should count our blessings because the mega awesome SS could mess with the Tar Heels 120% of the time, which would make their basketball team as pathetic as the football team. Will there ever be hope again in Chapel Hill?
George Lucas: There's not even an iota of evidence that Shadow has anything to do with such things. Sasquatch. Ghosts. The Loch Ness Monster. The Russian Spetsnaz. Wall of Voodoo hit records. Conspiratorial machinations. Extraterrestrials. Chinese secret agents. The Illuminati. What each of these has in common is that they don't exist.
If such things were a part of our reality, then there would be proof beyond any scientific doubt that they are real. Shadow is kind, compassionate and caring. He spends most of his day serving others for the benefit of Mankind. Shadow has no interest in sports. If the North Carolina Tar Heels won 20 national titles consecutively, then you might be right. None of what you claim can be fact.
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George, we love your vision especially the prequel trilogy and the future Star Wars TV projects. Why didn't you create any Star Wars TV series in between 1983 and 1999?
George Lucas: The problem is that I didn't have the necessary technological tools to make Star Wars in the way I really wanted to until the mid 1990's. We needed revolutionary computer animation in order to unlock the ideas I had in my mind. Today, I can do exactly what I need to do at a reasonable cost. The new Clone Wars TV show is extremely cheap to produce. We will earn incredible profits from it. The live action Star Wars TV series should do well also.
It's more of a risk because it's not based on what we did in the film trilogies. It will have a slower pace with few, if any, daring action scenes. I don't really care about success at this point because I don't need the money. What I want to primarily do is achieve my artistic goals, which is all that matters in the end.
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George, do your children have any interest in continuing with the Star Wars movies or TV shows when you are gone?
George Lucas: It would be a daunting, near impossible, endeavor to follow in my foot steps with Star Wars. I created six of the most popular films to be released in cinemas. I think it would be highly unfair to ask my children to write and direct films equal to The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
It can't be done. From the comments I get here daily, the fans adore the direction and future of Star Wars as planned by me. In the end, I have enough wealth so that my children can follow whatever career path they want to take in life. None of them is interested in Star Wars.
Hahaha. Really! Don't care how you twist things around. "The Empire Strikes Back" is the best Star Wars episode. Sure, you made more money from the others, but "EMPIRE" is the bomb. Please comment on your irrational beliefs.
George Lucas: I fully understand that a few of you live in an illusory world where your opinions matter and have an influence on society. Some of you are bitter that I created Star Wars while you haven't managed to create anything imaginative your entire life. All the objective facts counter your argument. The Empire Strikes Back has a world wide box office gross adjusted for inflation, which is equal to about half of what A New Hope earned.
The fewest Star Wars DVD's and merchandise we have sold are all related to The Empire Strikes Back. A paltry insignificant group of you remember the films through rose colored glasses. Life is hard for you now. It hasn't gone your way. You shouldn't take out your frustrations on Star Wars.
The films are exactly the same. There's absolutely no difference between them. I made the same film six consecutive times as the Star Wars plot formula reveals. However, none of you figured this out until SuperShadow introduced you to this reality.
Greetings Mr. Lucas, I've been reading your responses to fan questions and I really think it's awesome that you take time out of your day to talk or at least respond to us. Thank you. I can honestly respect that more than any other producer/director/writer out there with a big headed attitude.
I've noticed that no one that I've seen of thus far has asked these questions.
1) Luke Skywalker claims that he has no memory of his mother. Will Luke and/or Princess Leia find their family on their mother's side on Naboo?
2) In the plot script for Episode 7, it says that Luke has replenished the Jedi numbers. How is this possible? Seeing how long Obi-Wan was under Qui-Gon Jinn's tutelage. For Luke to even find Jedi not killed from the Jedi Purge, how could he replenish so many so quickly? (I'm sure with your genius, you will make it awesome as always).
Thank you and many blessings. **** from San Diego, California
George Lucas: I enjoy giving back to the fans. Answering questions at SuperShadow.com is the least I can do to reward you for spending untold numbers of dollars on Star Wars collectibles. I pinch myself every morning to make certain this is real. I still can't believe so many people dedicate their entire lives around Star Wars. It's almost similar to a religious cult. It's stunning in many ways.
The films only last about 2 hours and 20 minutes. That's not enough time to explore the histories of the characters. By the time of Episode 7, Luke and Leia have found out all the information they can about Padme. They don't dwell on her memory. They move forward to establish a New Republic and a new Jedi Order, which will flourish for thousands of generations.
I'm not surprised certain aspects of Episode 7 have you confused. You have to be extremely intelligent to understand the complex details involved with the plots. To this day, only I and SuperShadow understand the entire story for the prequel trilogy.
There are certain secrets related to Star Wars that the fans can never fully grasp. You shouldn't be despaired with this failing. Star Wars should be a small part of life. Don't worry about things you can't control. Thanks for being such a caring fan. You are important to me in ways you cannot fathom.
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What is the true meaning of life?
George Lucas: The key to existence is to spend as much time with your family and friends as possible. My children are what matter most to me. Also you need to strictly control what is known about your individual life. No truthful or accurate information is available about myself or SuperShadow. I've published an official biography, but none of you know me personally.
You can't name my favorite restaurant. You don't know the name I call my favorite Lamborghini. You don't know what I enjoy doing in my free time. In fact, the fans know nothing about me personally. Absolutely nothing is known about Shadow and this is the way it will be for all eternity. It's also important to be kind and compassionate at every moment in life. Think of other people first. Each of us is special in our own unique way.
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Dear Mr. Lucas, I have an urgent suggestion about the script of Episode 9. Before I begin, I want to tell you that I am a complete fan of the movies and your scripts have always been brilliant. In most parts of the movie, I think I would do exactly the same.
Now to the point. In the script, it is written that the source of the dark side of the Force is in the Valorius system. That's a bit funny because then the light side of the Force must have a source too, which would mean that they are both destroyable. That is weird because light and dark are like yin and yang and will always be there.
It's the person that makes things evil like Palpatine. It's not the dark side. So I suggest that all the information written about the dark side is within the Valorius system. When it's destroyed, the dark side will be forgotten forever and it becomes a part of the light side and can only be used for good purposes.
If you make it like this, you don't have to change the script that much and the movie will look better and more realistic. I hope you will read this and send something back or just change the script on the SS web site, so I know that you've seen my message. Good luck in the future
George Lucas: Thanks for the praise. The fans have an important role in the future of Star Wars. The basic story idea for Episode 7, 8 and 9 has been with me for over 30 years. The plot continues to change as I receive insightful suggestions from the fans. The dark side and the light side of the Force are not mirror reflections of each other. The dark side is not immortal. It is flawed and weak when compared to the all powerful nature of the light side.
No one knows how or when the light side first originated, but what we know is that it is eternal and cannot be defeated by mortals from the Star Wars galaxy. In contrast, the dark side is susceptible to the battles of ordinary beings because there must be a way for us to destroy evil in the end. Thanks for your concepts. You have given this much thought. Continue to develop ideas for Star Wars. You may find one of your gems in a future Star Wars adventure.
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George, you never mention what you have contributed to Hollywood. It seems to be SuperShadow's primary job to constantly remind us of how you are the most influential, ground breaking and wealthiest film director/writer/producer in the history of cinema. I guess that's why SS is your favorite. None of us ordinary fans can promote your genius as effectively as SS.
From a personal viewpoint, what do you consider your greatest addition to the film making world? I know it would take many eons to fully answer this question, but tell us what you really believe. We hope you live forever because we want the Star Wars adventure to continue for eternity.
George Lucas: When I reflect back on my film career, I can't really point at something I did that wouldn't have happened without me. Eventually my ideas would have been thought up by other film makers. If I have to give an answer, then on a basic level, I think my brightest moment was the decision to found ILM.
When I was working on A New Hope, the film studios didn't have special effects units I could turn to for the special effects needed for Star Wars. I had no choice but to create the modern special effects industry all by myself. The reason special effects are important is because it allows a film artist to fully render their creative ideas without restrictions.
It was literally impossible to make the prequel trilogy until state of the art, advanced computer animation existed. The primitive and down right embarrassing special effects technology employed for the old Star Wars films was unable to capture my complete vision.
If I hadn't created ILM in the mid 1970's, other film creators would have established their own special effects businesses because Hollywood films have always needed visual effects. I might have sped up the development of computer animation by a few decades. Films like The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and the Matrix film trilogy probably couldn't have been made without enhanced computer technology.
So very reluctantly, I have to admit I have somewhat been beneficial to the film business. I think Shadow exaggerates my accomplishments, but that's what you expect from your closest and best friend. Shadow wants to cement my legacy as the most outstanding and most fan friendly film maker. I've got a long way to go before I'm worthy of Shadow's opinion of me. It's fantastic to have Shadow in my life. Thanks to everyone who has made it all possible.
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What do you and the hallowed SuperShadow do when you're together?
George Lucas: Our personal lives are extremely secretive. You would be even more jealous of us if you knew what we get to enjoy in life. During NCAA football season, Shadow and I attend all the Southern Cal Trojans home football games in Los Angeles.
We have our own luxury box seats because I'm a generous financial donor to the university. Over the years, I've given a couple of hundred million U.S. dollars to USC so they give us the red carpet treatment.
I've got a private race track at Skywalker Ranch so Shadow and I can spend many hours driving my fleet of luxury European automobiles. We get to do the things in life most people only dream about. There's no point in being successful if you don't invest money in entertaining your closest friends.
I have to say I look forward to the times when Shadow visits California. I don't deserve to have such a loyal best friend like Shadow. He's the most rewarding surprise, which has evolved from the creation of Star Wars. Shadow is important to each of us for many reasons.
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Hello George, I realize you more than likely won't read this, but why do you have such a large timeline between the Star Wars movie trilogies?
George Lucas: Working on the old films in the late 1970's and early 1980's was extremely frustrating because of the severely limited special effects of the era. You couldn't really do anything epic and expansive. All of the exotic extraterrestrial species had to be muppets or some person in an alien mask and costume. Needless to say, I could not achieve my complete vision with the old films.
In the mid 1990's, we finally had sufficient computer animation that I could go back and vastly improve the old films for the 1997 special editions. Most fans prefer the special editions over the original theatrical releases because the new versions more closely match the vision I have for the films.
The reason The Phantom Menace was released in theaters 16 years after Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters is because I had to wait all those years for special effects technology to catch up with my creative instincts. Thanks to SuperShadow and the fans, the prequel trilogy were finally the perfect Star Wars films I had always envisioned in my mind.
In the end, the prequels were much more financially successful than the old films because I wrote and directed each prequel episode. The fans expect me to be heavily involved in all future Star Wars motion pictures.
Hi - in the live action TV series of Star Wars in 2010, will you have actors such as Ewan McGregor playing Obi-Wan or will you have new actors as the characters?
George Lucas: The production budgets of the Star Wars TV shows are very, very tiny. We're spending as little money as possible on them. As a result, we can't afford to have famous actors in the TV series. The major characters from the prequel trilogy will have no role in the live action TV show. This TV series will feature a cast of unknown actors, who work at cheap rates so that we can maximize profits.
Hello Mr. Lucas, my name is **** ****** and I'm a young actor, who is currently in four productions. Now this is going to sound really pushy, but have you held the auditions for the next Star Wars movies? I would really like to audition. My friends say I kinda look like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) when he was 15 years old, but I don’t know. I’ve watched Star Wars since I was six years old. (I would have watched them earlier, but I was terrified by Darth Vader) and I always wanted to be apart of it. I was so jealous of the kid who played little Anakin in The Phantom Menace.
So yeah, I would really love the chance to audition and maybe be discovered and maybe have my dream. Thank you for your time. If you want to contact me, my e-mail is *****@***.com and if you want I could send you my resume. P.S. I have a completely random question. Do you like Harry Potter? And on a professional note, I am writing a book that I hope will be made into a movie (I can’t come up with a good bad guy name), but do you have any tips for me? I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time. I have to go to "You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown" rehearsal. (I'm Linus). Thanks again!
George Lucas: I applaud your enthusiasm for Star Wars. It's the young people such as yourself, who make the future of Star Wars very promising. We can't accomplish our mission without the involvement of the fans.
Fan auditions for Episode 7 will not begin for at least another ten years. For the next decade, I plan to invest most of my time in the creation of individual Star Wars episodes for television. There will be no fan auditions for the TV series.
Mark is one of the most talented persons I've had the good fortune of meeting. He deserves to be highly successful in Hollywood. His portrayal of Luke is what really made the old films work. Jake Lloyd is also extremely special. He made so much money from The Phantom Menace that he is set for life. He will never have to work again the rest of his life.
I don't have enough free time to read the Harry Potter books or watch the Harry Potter films. I'm impressed with how financially viable it has become. I'm always surprised that certain ideas are profitable while most don't make any money at all.
When you create character names for stories, you need to write down thousands and thousands of names. Eventually you will find an original name, which will make your villain as legendary as Darth Vader. I wish you the best in life because you are a great person. Thanks for being such a wonderful fan.
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Hi Mr. Lucas, my name is *****, but my friends call me *****. And I buy all the Star Wars paraphernalia I can afford and I'm a little disappointed with the set back of the Star Wars The Force Unleashed video game, but any ways. I was wondering if you were planing on making a DVD box set for all 6 Star Wars films like you did with Episode 4, 5 and 6 or maybe even just Episode 1, 2 and 3 and if so what content would you place on the bonus disc if any? Plz reply. You never do. (I know you're a very busy man. No hard feelings. You're still my favorite director/writer).
George Lucas: The fans are important to me. It's your passion, which fuels the Star Wars experience, which finances future Star Wars projects. Without you, I wouldn't have a dream of a life with all my wishes granted. I always remember that my success is derived solely from the fans. We strive to give the fans the kind of Star Wars products they desire.
It's not realistic to expect us to release the old films and the prequel films as one DVD unit. First, few people could afford this because it would cost over $ 70 U.S. dollars at a minimum for the six films in one DVD set. Second, we've already sold all the Star Wars films on DVD multiple times. The home market has been completely saturated with Star Wars DVD's.
We can only produce Star Wars merchandise, which will earn excessive profits. Even for high definition DVD's, we'll probably never release all six films as one singular DVD product due to the prohibitive retail costs involved.
I want to thank you for being the most outstanding person possible. You are what makes my sacrifices in life more than worth it.
Dear George. No question really, just gratitude for making all the Star Wars films. The first time I saw Star Wars was by accident. I was a young Sailor in the U.S. Navy and was in the theater watching another movie. Once it finished my friend and I snuck in to the next theater and up on the big screen I saw Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO and R2-D2 making a run from the Millennium Falcon on Mos Eisley. I was transfixed. I have never experienced anything like that before. I was hooked and still am. I wish for you and your family long health and many blessings for giving me such a wonderful experience. You are truly a visionary.
George Lucas: When you closely examine reality, you find that the most rewarding moments happen completely by accident. Meeting SuperShadow was the greatest fortuitous event I've ever experienced. It altered the direction of my life and ended with the most successful Star Wars film trilogy I could have imagined.
When I worked on the old films, I didn't have Shadow and the fans to turn to for ingenious ideas, which provided the fans with exactly what they wanted to see in the Star Wars films. By harnessing the infinite number of fan ideas, I was able to finally place my finger on the pulse of the fans. The mistakes made with the old films were avoided for the prequels.
I don't take SuperShadow.com for granted. It's without doubt the best thing to happen to Star Wars in the first 30 years. We should take a moment to thank Shadow for what he does for each of us. He provides me with the most creative fan ideas so that they can be integrated into the Star Wars TV series and Episode 7, 8 & 9.
Thank you for being a fan especially a reader of SS.com. The greatest stories involving Star Wars have yet to be explored. The next ten years will be amongst the most exciting times in history. We have much to look forward to.
I don't know if Mr. Lucas will read this or not. But my mom is geez about 65 years old and a widow. She and I were watching The Empire Strikes Back and she really was in awe. We have had the Star Wars movies for years. I just wanted to say she really thinks Mr. Lucas is so creative and imaginative and a genius. "You have to have a great mind to think of these stories."
I do too. I am very thankful for the films over the years. I know that you probably get a lot of people that say this. But I am glad for the films. She really loves the Yoda character. She had an old figure of Yoda from the 1980's and lost it. She really loved it a lot. Just wanted to say thanks to Mr. Lucas.
George Lucas: Star Wars came at a steep price for me. During the making of the old films, I became estranged from my ex-wife Marcia and we eventually divorced about the time Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters. This break up was the worst experience I have so far encountered. I don't regret Star Wars. Not for a moment.
I've never been able to get re-married for various reasons. It's impossible for me to find a woman, who truly loves me without attachment to my wealth. The only way I was able to have a family was through adoption. My children are the highlight of my life. Sometimes I wonder what could have been if Marcia and I had stayed together, but fate unfolds in ways you can't predict.
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Hi, Mr. Lucas. I've always wondered, is "Darth" a Sith name (like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Obi Wan, etc.) or a title (like Master, Emperor, Chancellor and Senator, etc.)? The Sith are always addressed as Darth Something and it is never made clear in the movies or books (that I have read anyway) which one "Darth" is.
George Lucas: The word "Darth" is a Sith title description similar to the expression "Sir." Every Sith Lord has taken this name for many thousands of years. It's a long held tradition.
Skip Blu-Ray DVD. Can't you digitally distribute all 6 Star Wars movies in HD? That doesn't cost anything.
George Lucas: There's no significant demand for films downloaded over the Internet in high definition. 98 % of home viewing for films takes place on physical DVD's. We can't release Star Wars in high definition until the market place has maxed out in popularity. The reason it took many years to release the old films on DVD was because we had to wait for the regular DVD format to peak in popularity. We're a small company and need to maximize all revenue streams associated with Star Wars. You need to have patience. Eventually the Star Wars trilogies will arrive in high definition DVD's.
What's poppin, Mr. Lucas? How's everything? My question to you is about General Grievous. Will his story be explored during the new Clone Wars TV show? I am very interested in finding out about his history. Grievous just so happens to be one of my favorite characters. Keep up the great work!
George Lucas: General Grievous is an important and prominent character in the Clone Wars TV series. Over the next few years, many secrets regarding the villains including Grievous and the Sith will be explored in great detail. The TV series allows me more exposition in the screen plays so that I can explain the background of certain characters.
The films are limited to about 2 hours and 20 minutes in running time each so you can't invest any time in the life histories of the characters. There's no ability to do such things. The TV shows are completely different. You're given much more time to explain what is really going on over the course of an entire season of episodes.
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Hello Mr. Lucas, I am a huge fan of yours and for school I needed to interview someone and I chose you. I have a few questions which I would like to ask.
1. What inspired you to make the Star Wars series? 2. What plans to do have to expand the Star Wars phenomena? 3. Do you plan to create any other movies of different genres? 4. Were you always interested in the sci-fi genre? Why? 5. Were there any sacrifices that you made while creating the movies? 6. What plans do you have for keeping your fan base?
7. Are there any plans for another Star Wars movie? 8. Do you feel as though the movies as they are now are perfect and that there aren’t any plans for a re-make of any of the episodes? 9. Of all the Star Wars episodes which was your favorite? Why? 10. If you were one of the characters in the films, who would you be? 11. Which of the episodes did you find as the hardest to film? 12. What do you have in store for the Star Wars series? 13. Were you always interested in the film industry?
14. Did you always want to be a movie director? Why? 15. Why did you release the episodes in different order? 16. Where did you get the idea for doing that? 17. What was the coolest thing about Star Wars? 18. Were you allowed to keep any of the items in the movies as souvenirs? 19. In what way has making the films affected your life?
George Lucas: 1. I've always been a fan of the science fiction film serials from the 1930's and 1940's. That's the basis for Star Wars. 2. We've pretty much literally made every product possible related to Star Wars. There are no new ideas left unfortunately. 3. I have no plans to direct full length motion pictures. 4. I've enjoyed science fiction for as long as I can remember. 5. Working on the old films resulted in a divorce from Marcia. This was the worst event in my entire life. 6. We're constantly conducting research and surveys with the public to maximize the Star Wars brand.
7. The next Star Wars film is called The Clone Wars. It will be released in cinemas worldwide this August. 8. The prequel trilogy is perfection in my mind. The old films need much, much improvement, but I'm getting too old to worry about it. With current special effects technology, I'm limited in what we can do to make the old films the breath taking equal of the prequels. 9. I consider the Star Wars saga to be one 14 hour film. There is no favorite.
10. Every character in the films represents me on a tangible level. You can't pick one above the others. 11. The most difficult episode to create was definitely A New Hope. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The experience nearly ruined my life, but I got lucky. To this day, the success of Star Wars surprises me.
12. For the next decade, the adventures of Star Wars will take place mostly on television. With a few of the TV episodes combined as a film for theaters from time to time. For me personally, this is the most exciting and rewarding moments in my life. 13. I didn't really have an interest in film until after I had a car wreck, which nearly ended my life. Up to this point, I wanted to be a race car driver, but the accident completely altered my life. I got involved with film purely be chance.
14. No, I never really thought about being a director early in life. It amazes me I can make money with my artistic vision. 15. I didn't have the necessary special effects in the 1970's to start with The Phantom Menace. Anyway at the time, I thought the second trilogy had the most interesting plot. That's why I ended up starting with A New Hope. 16. Star Wars is all about being fortunate beyond my wildest expectations. None of this was planned. 17. The best aspect of making the films was the people I met along the way. I cherish those friendships greatly.
18. We preserve thousands and thousands of items from the films at Skywalker Ranch. It all belongs to me. I own Star Wars. Nobody else can possess items from the films unless I give them away or auction them for charity. 19. Star Wars has been a 30 year detour. It destroyed my marriage, but it made me financially independent, which has resulted in all my dreams in life becoming a reality. Special thanks to SuperShadow and the fans for contributing so many ideas for the prequels and the Star Wars TV series.
Hey, do we get to see Kyle Katarn or Mara Jade in the Episode 7 - 9 movies? Because the story of the Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast video game is after Return of the Jedi. The story of the video game is very good and does John Williams also make the music for the upcoming Star Wars film trilogy? Because he's an awesome musician. Thanx for your time.
George Lucas: Many characters from the Star Wars video games, comic books and novels will be integrated into Episode 7, 8 and 9. It's a reward for the few of you who actually buy the expanded universe materials. Johnny will create the sound track for Episode 7. Things in life go my way. That's what makes life so special for me.
Dear George Lucas, for as long as I can remember, I've been a Star Wars fan. I have one question: My family and I recently watched Episode I and my mom saw the battle scene between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul. She asked me why Darth Maul was more skilled and I told her it had to do with the masters they received. Later I thought it had to do with their own use of the Force. So which answer is the right one? How come Darth Maul was so much better than Obi-Wan?
George Lucas: Your perception of reality can't be trusted. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul are exactly the same in light saber fighting skills and Force powers. Always remember that Obi-Wan won the duel in The Phantom Menace, not Maul.
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Hi George, I have an idea for the live action Star Wars TV series. In the early days of the Rebel Alliance to help their resistance the Rebels attempt to re-activate the battle droids of the deserted Trade Federation droid factories on Geonosis. The Empire learns of this.
An army of storm troopers, led by Commander Cody, attack the factories destroying the outdated droids and a small group of Rebels shutting down the factories for good. The battle shows the invincibility of the Empire and intentions of the Rebel Alliance that they will not stop until the galaxy is rid of the Empire. Please consider this, George. Thank you for your time.
George Lucas: The live action TV show will not focus on the Rebel Alliance. The story of this valiant resistance is the basis of the old films. That's where it begins and ends. The live action TV show gives me the opportunity to explore plots, which couldn't be included in the Star Wars film episodes. It will be different from the films, but I believe the fans will accept my vision with the same staggering support the prequel trilogy enjoyed. My best ideas have yet to be revealed to the fans.
Please answer George, but me and my friends all want answers for the following questions! PLEASE RESPOND! But first, can the Sith use a mind trick? Also, does Luke Skywalker have a middle name? If so, what is it? What becomes of Jar Jar Binks after Episode 3 and will he appear in the forthcoming sequels? Also, what are Obi-Wan's origins? Where was he born? And also does Jar Jar have the wisdom or the confidence to become a Jedi?
I've always pictured Jar Jar as a Jedi and I was hoping once Episode 3 came out, we would get to see him wield a light saber and kill droids trying to use it. And if Jar Jar is in Episode 7, 8 and 9, can he wield a light saber for just a few seconds of the film? Also, I'm interested in writing the scripts for Episodes 7, 8 and 9, so just contact me at ****@yahoo.com. Thanks.
George Lucas: The Sith Lords can manipulate weak thinking individuals with Force mind trick. This is a basic Force ability mastered by even the most novice of Force users. Luke has a middle name, of course, but it will never be released to the public. Jar Jar Binks has an extremely, extremely robust, rewarding and long life after Revenge of the Sith.
Although Jar Jar is one of the greatest Star Wars concepts of all time, he will not be seen again ever. Not in Episode 7, 8 or 9 and not in any future Star Wars TV series. We don't hire fans to write screen plays for Star Wars. I always employ professional writers for the films and upcoming TV shows. Thanks for having such a profound interest in my creation. Each of you is an inspiration to me on a daily basis.
Hello, do you think you will be making films round about the time of "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video games?" P.S. You should.
George Lucas: No, none of the Star Wars video games will be translated into full length films or TV shows. The vast majority of fans want plots originating solely from me. Attack of the Clones was the least successful prequel film because it had a second script writer. I appreciate what he did for the film, but the most popular Star Wars films are the ones written by me alone: The Phantom Menace, Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The fans know I can produce authentic Star Wars stories superior to anyone else on Earth. It's what I do better than everybody else.
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George Lucas, what happened to Yendar Platis? And how did Asajj Ventress survive that fall she took after she and Anakin Skywalker fought in the TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars? You said that Asajj Ventress is gonna appear in Episodes 7, 8 or 9. And even though Count Dooku is dead and that he won't have a role in the next trilogy, will he at least be mentioned?
George Lucas: If you don't see an event portrayed in the Star Wars films, then there is no answer to your question. For example, if a character dies on screen meaning you actually see the death, then you can safely assume this character no longer exists.
Otherwise, all characters are considered alive and I have the option to bring them back for Episode 7, 8 and 9. There could be a mention made of Darth Tyranus in the next film trilogy. However, it's not feasible to reference every single character from the previous films in the future film trilogy.
George, I have read the overview of the story lines for the planned movies Episode 7, 8 and 9 and see that the plot involves the children of both Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia as Jedi. I have a question. I was working off the understanding that a key teaching of the Jedi was to relinquish from personal relationships that could twist the thoughts (such as Anakin & Padme)?
George Lucas: You have to realize the prequel era Jedi were failures in the end. Their beliefs became extinct with few, if any, followers. Luke wanted to create a new Jedi Order that would last forever. To do this, Luke had to reject the ancient Jedi Code, which forbid Jedi from owning possessions and marrying and having children. Under Luke's teachings, each Jedi can amass great wealth and produce as many children as possible. The wisdom of Luke is what makes the new Jedi Order the most successful Jedi organization in the history of the galaxy.
Are you going to put the Star Wars films in 3D and re-release them in theaters? I'm too young to have seen the originals on the big screen and I bet that'd be pretty cool. Thanks a bundle.
George Lucas: No, there are no current plans to transfer the Star Wars films into a 3D format. Right now, it's not economically feasible. Few theaters have 3D projectors so you can't make any money releasing films in 3D right now. We can hope that more theaters will adopt some type of 3D exhibition system so that we can make a new version of the Star Wars trilogies for theaters. This probably won't happen in my life time though.
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Hi Mr. Lucas, I'm a big fan of Star Wars and I have a question. I was wondering what the limits are of a person using the Force? What can a Jedi or Sith push it to save their lives or kill an enemy?
George Lucas: The Force abilities seen in the films are limited in scope. The action has to seem believable. If the Jedi or Sith had godlike powers, there would be no drama or tension. Practically all science fiction avoids having real gods in the stories because the gods are invincible and can do anything.
You need for your characters to be mortal with weaknesses and foibles in order to maximize interest in the plots. That's why you don't see any Force skills above a personal level of sophistication in the films.
Hey George, you say that your company lost a lot of money with STAR WARS video games, but what about STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 1 and 2? Weren't those the highest selling STAR WARS video games ever? (Until the Star Wars The Force Unleashed video game comes out!)
George Lucas: Lucasfilm is a private company owned entirely by me. We don't reveal sensitive financial information to the public. The Star Wars video games are hits and misses. For every video game that makes a large profit, you have two or three that lose money. We limit the numbers of video games we release to the public since you can increase demand by limiting supply.
Our tracking surveys for The Force Unleashed video game are at an all time high. This video game has the potential to be the most successful video game in the history of LucasArts. In the end, it's a myth to say that every single product related to Star Wars produces excessive profits. It's just not true.
Hi George. I have a question. If the dark side of the Force is destroyed for all time at the end of Episode 9, then what evil force would be left to make a story in Episodes 10 - 12?
George Lucas: Sadly, your query explains the extremely poor quality of fan fiction written by the fans based in the Star Wars galaxy. You need to have more imagination. The vast majority of fan fiction involves Darth Maul or Boba Fett. The lack of creativity explains why there are no major Star Wars web sites dedicated to fan fiction.
When you pen stories, you need to do something that has never been attempted or even conceived of before. The possibilities are endless. I know many of you scoff and point to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones plot formula as an example of how I keep repeating the exact same plot themes in the Star Wars film trilogies and the Indiana Jones films.
However, those are not the entire breadth of my creations. You need to remember that THX-1138, American Graffiti, Willow and many other story ideas were also from my mind. Episode 10 features what may be the most startling and original villains in the long tradition of science fiction. You haven't seen everything. The future holds much promise for each of us.
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Mr. Lucas, I am a huge fan of your works. You have made many great contributions to society through your work. With the new Clone Wars TV series and the later trilogies coming up, you must very busy. Are you going to be as involved with these new films as you were with the last two Star Wars trilogies?
George Lucas: No, I won't have as significant role with Episode 7, 8 and 9 as I did with the first six episodes. I'll serve as the executive producer, but I won't be directing the next film trilogy. Most fans will be upset at my reduced involvement, but I'm getting too old to invest another 10 years to a Star Wars film trilogy. The reason the prequel trilogy has greater esteem amongst the fans than the old films is because I wrote and directed each of the prequel films. I hope the fans will not be too dispirited with my decision on this matter.
Hi Mr. Lucas. I love Star Wars so much and I have to ask you. Can you estimate when the new Star Wars TV series will start? And are they launched in Europe the same time they are launched in the USA? Thank you for creating Star Wars. Good luck in your life.
George Lucas: The computer animated Clone Wars TV show will start in Europe by late 2008. The live action Star Wars TV series will not be ready for broadcast until 2010. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to explore a vast number of original Star Wars stories through the TV medium. This will definitely be the best era for Star Wars.
George, I really enjoyed Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Mace Windu, but don't you think that it's unrealistic that he survived following Revenge of the Sith? He was not in any of the classic Star Wars movies, nor was he even mentioned. I wonder what Luke Skywalker would think if a Jedi Master hid during the entire purge. It doesn't seem very honorable to me.
George Lucas: Qui-Gon Jinn was not mentioned in the old films. In fact, most of the characters we saw in the prequel trilogy didn't get any reference either in the old films. You're forgetting that Obi-Wan and Yoda hid during the Jedi Purge. It's not plausible to expect the remaining Jedi, who survived the onslaught of Order 66, to battle millions of clone troops.
Windu was injured during Revenge of the Sith so it would have been impossible for him to fight for a long time after battling Darth Sidious. It is my vision for Windu to return in the future film trilogy. This is the way it has to be.
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Hey, I've just watched your first three Star Wars movies and I've some questions. Does Boba Fett survive falling in the Sarlaac Pit? And do all the actors of the Episode 4 - 6 films play in the Episode 7 - 9? Because they are all between 60 - 80 years old if something happens to them (hopefully not). And when are you going to announce the sequel movies?
Just one more question. Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi you're the last Jedi, but then Yoda says there's another Skywalker (his sister Princess Leia), but can Leia use the Force? And is that scene a hint for the sequel movies that Luke must train new Jedi in the Jedi Temple, (which you see at the end of the movie)? Please answer.
P.S. My English is not so good because I'm just 16 years old and from Europe. (Is there a chance that I can play in the upcoming movies (Episode 7 - 9))? Thanx for your time.
George Lucas: Boba Fett eventually escapes from the Sarlaac and will appear in the next film trilogy. The original cast will return for Episode 7, 8 and 9. I'm confident they will each be available to reprise their acting roles because life always breaks my way. I'm one of the luckiest persons as my life has proven thus far.
After Return of the Jedi, Leia eventually becomes one of the most powerful Jedi Masters in the galaxy. By the time of Episode 7, Luke has several thousand members of the new Jedi Order. Thanks for being such a caring fan. You are very important to me.
Hi George, um well, if Mace Windu didn't die in number three, where was he in Episode 4, 5 and 6?
George Lucas: After Revenge of the Sith, Windu hides out on a remote planet very distant from the action that happens during the old films. This hasn't been revealed yet, but in the future film trilogy there will be a triggering event, which convinces Windu he must return to prominence to achieve a mission of the utmost importance. This is a secret plot element for the new films that will not be revealed right now.
Dear George Lucas, are you going to plan to make a super trailer of all six Star Wars films? Please answer my wish. Thanks.
George Lucas: I guess you're asking how we're going to promote the Star Wars film trilogies for high definition DVD's. At the moment, there are no plans to release Star Wars on Blu-Ray. I won't consider marketing Star Wars in a new DVD format until the Blu-Ray machines have fully saturated society around the world.
Not many people own high definition DVD players. I waited until the regular DVD format peaked in popularity before releasing the old films on DVD in late 2004. It'll be a minimum of five years before we even begin to contemplate further DVD releases of the Star Wars episodes.
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Why do they (in Star Wars) call a B-wing a B-wing?
George Lucas: It became tradition to give the Rebel Alliance star ships simple names based on letters of the English alphabet. There's really no hidden meaning for any of these names. X-Wings, Y-Wings and A-Wings make logical sense given what you see in the films.
Hey, GL. What will Episodes 10, 11 and 12 focus on? Who will be the main characters and villains? Do you have any ideas yet? Will R2-D2 and C-3PO or will it show Cade Skywalker like in the comics? Will you think of making a prequel trilogy before The Phantom Menace? Do you have any ideas yet? Please answer.
George Lucas: The story idea for the fourth Star Wars film trilogy is rather bizarre. It focuses on themes, which have not yet been explored. In many ways, you will find the plot for Episode 10, 11 and 12 to be shocking. These ideas won't be revealed to the public for at least 20 more years.
There will never be a film trilogy taking place before The Phantom Menace. If we see the ancient days of the Sith and Jedi or whatever happens prior to the prequels, it will have to happen in a future Star Wars TV series. Currently, I'm planning for Episode 7, 8 and 9 to be the last film trilogy created during my lifetime.
However, it should be realized that if the new Clone Wars film is successful in theaters this August, then we will continue to release selected episodes from the TV shows in theaters. It depends on whether there is sufficient demand from the fans to continue with more of the TV shows in theaters.
Hi Mr. Lucas. I am a huge Star Wars fan. I buy everything I see that is Star Wars (movies, light sabers and action figures). I recently watched the first 3 Indiana Jones movies for the first time and I have to say I love them! Can't wait for Indiana Jones 4! May the Force be with you, ALWAYS!
George Lucas: You're the kind of fan who has made my dreams a reality. Without you, Star Wars would be nothing. It surprises me even to this day that Star Wars continues to prosper year after year. We're entering a time when there will be more official Star Wars stories given to the fans in the form of TV shows than any time prior to the TV projects. Previously, you were limited to the film trilogies as true continuity, but with the Star Wars TV series we will have dozens of episodes each year, which count as real Star Wars history.
Working on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was one of the best experiences in my whole life. The latest Indy Jones film combines all the most promising characteristics from the previous films. There will be plenty of action and humor. It will be interesting to see how well the film is received by theater audiences. You can never really know how well a film is going to do at the box office. It's either a surprise or a disappointment. That's what makes the film business so rewarding.
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George Lucas: I never understood the anger that Anakin had inside. Why does he change so much during the time of the movies? And in the movie series, it left me confused in the end
George Lucas: To understand the origin of Anakin's anger and hate, you need to examine his life history. Anakin spent much of his childhood as a slave. This would give him ample reasons to be bitter about life. When I first created A New Hope, Darth Vader and Anakin were different individuals. When we began working on the script for The Empire Strikes Back, I decided to merge Vader and Anakin into the same person.
I didn't reveal what happened to Anakin during his early days in the old films because I wanted to reserve the right to follow whatever direction I wanted to eventually take during the prequel trilogy. Some of Anakin's discontent arises from the death of his mother Shmi and the distinct fear that he is going to lose Padme. Anakin's ultimate descent to the dark side is a frightening story overall.
Hi George, will we see more of Plo Koon in the upcoming computer animated Clone Wars TV series? I felt we didn't see enough of him in the films. Can you do an episode of his missions on Cato Nemoidia, please? I was just wondering how old is R2-D2 at the end of the Return of the Jedi? Thanks.
George Lucas: Plo Koon will have a role in the new Clone Wars TV show. He's one of the most important Jedi from the prequel era. R2-D2 is quite aged for a droid. By the conclusion of Return of the Jedi, R2 is an extremely outdated droid, which is over 200 years old. I could spend many years exploring the adventures of R2 over the centuries.
Hi George, my name is ****. I'm Portuguese. I have been try to contact you, but you don't answer. Is true that Thall Joben will be in the TV show because there are rumors on a web site that Kuato have been saying about how could appear on the TV show? When you have free time, answer my question. Continue with the good work.
George Lucas: Only spoilers found at SuperShadow.com are always 100 % accurate because the information originates from me. Most of what you read on other web sites is false. SS.com is the only source for Star Wars facts based on my vision.
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Dear George, what century does Star Wars take place?
George Lucas: In comparison to present day Earth, the events depicted in the Star Wars film trilogies occurred millions and millions of years ago. It's suppose to be an enchanted mythological story, which has been obscured over time. Today, you would not recognize the Star Wars galaxy because it has been completely transformed over the countless eons. The technology at their disposal would boggle the imagination.
Hey GL, so SS says that Jar Jar Binks potters out the rest of his existence as one of Sidious' favourite minions. Is Jar Jar evil or is he oblivious to the evil Empire? Or more morally ambiguous like Pan? Didn't Jar Jar help decree the raising of a Grand Army in Amidala's absence?
George Lucas: Unwittingly, Jar Jar contributes to solidifying Palpatine's powers permanently over the Old Republic. Jar Jar trusted Palpatine because on the outside Palpatine seemed like a kind and gentle old man. The kyber crystal allows Palpatine to hide his true dark side persona from everyone even the Jedi. All and all, Jar Jar regrets in helping the Sith destroy democracy in the galaxy, but after Revenge of the Sith there's nothing Jar Jar can do to change his past decisions. Jar Jar is fortunate to be given immense wealth from the Empire.
Do you have any part with working on the Star Wars video games?
George Lucas: Generally, I don't have enough time to get involved with the creation of the LucasArts video games. The Star Wars The Force Unleashed is the first one, which heavily depends on my personal contributions. I've decided to get more involved in the expanded universe because SuperShadow advises me that only my ideas are what the fans want to experience. The fans don't enjoy third party derived Star Wars stories, which is why few people buy the Star Wars novels and comic books.
The reason the prequel trilogy is the most popular Star Wars films is because the basic plot was from me with a lot of fan ideas mixed in also. I'm not going to disappoint the fans like I did with The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Those failures of the early days will never be repeated. Thanks to Shadow, we're entering the pinnacle of Star Wars. Our future together is unlimited.
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Hey George Lucas, my name is ******. I live in New Zealand and I am a massive fan of Star Wars and I have 3 Star Wars video games, which are Star Wars Episode 3, Star Wars Lego: The Complete Saga and Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Oh yes, I want to say I have an X-Box360 and all my ordinary X-Box video games work except for Star Wars: Obi-Wan.
(My most favourite video game ever, which I don't have but I've played) so could you please help Star Wars: Obi-Wan work I would really like that and one last thing when are your new Star Wars movies coming out? You that question is not necessary, but the other one is. Thank you.
George Lucas: We don't have any control over cross compatibility between the X-Box video games. Unfortunately for us, the Obi-Wan video game you mention lost a huge amount of money. That's why the series was not continued with a second video game. The only way for LucasArts to guarantee the success of their video games is for me to be involved in the creation of the video games.
I decided to work with them on the Star Wars The Force Unleashed video game because we can't constantly lose money on our video games. As a result of my direct involvement, The Force Unleashed is tracking by our surveys as the most anticipated Star Wars video game in the history of LucasArts. Only stories written by me involving Star Wars are what the fans demand in the end.
Hey Mr. Lucas, it's **** ***** once again. I have been on starwars.com recently and been watching the videos for the new Clone Wars TV series and I am getting very anxious to see them. I am aspiring to be a film director and a writer at one point in my life. (Preferably within the next decade). But since I won't be able to afford the big time colleges, I'll be going to UVSC (Utah Valley State College).
It's cheap and they have a few courses on 3D animation, which is the program I'll be getting into because I also want to be a Modeler or an Animator. Others could be compositor or rotoscoper. I do a lot of that kind of stuff. Just to get to the point, do you think by going to UVSC I could at least get into some of the bigger animation companies like ILM or PIXAR?
Now for a question more related to Star Wars. 1. Is John Williams going to be the composer for either of the two Star Wars TV series? I love John Williams. He is my favorite by far and the world's best! 2. From previous postings, I read that you probably won't be directing the next Star Wars movie trilogy, but choosing some other talented directors.
Will you be looking for someone that has had a lot of experience in directing big hit movies or will you decide to do what you do with actors? Find someone who isn't known or is known very little? (Because it'd be an honor if I could direct one! Though I highly doubt I'll get the chance.) 3. I would love to see one or two large scenes, in the next trilogy, to have hundreds of Jedi attacking hundreds of Dark Jedi or some other enemy troops.
Because although in Episode 2 you do see a large group of Jedi fighting enemies, I think you could go even broader than that! More close up shots of Jedi fighting and less of the droids or storm troopers fighting. Though I did love the scene! And I do hope to see another double bladed light saber battle like The Phantom Menace had but better!
If you took the time to read this, Thank You! You don't have to post, but it'd be nice if you did! And if you do, you don't have to post all of it. Sincerely, One of your most Gracious and Loyal Fans. May The Force Be With You, Always!
George Lucas: Getting a job in the entertainment industry is very difficult because there are few jobs, but thousands of applicants for each position. It takes unbelievable good luck or insider connections to secure one of these jobs. The most important means to succeed is persistence. Never give up no matter what. It might take 20 to 30 years to break into the industry. For example, my first film, THX-1138, was one of the least successful films of the early 1970's.
However, this failure did not detour me. I did not give up. Instead I stayed true to my artistic vision and created American Graffiti. That one film made me a multi millionaire, which guaranteed I would never have to work again. Apply this experience to your life. No matter how long you are unsuccessful continue to work as hard as you can.
Johnny is too busy with composing music for Hollywood films to contribute to the creation of the sound tracks for the future Star Wars TV series. However, his musical themes, made for the films, will be the basis for the music you hear in the TV shows.
When I was working on The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, my entire financial net worth was invested in making each film. I almost didn't have enough money to complete the old films. As a result, I couldn't afford to hire mainstream directors, who received large salaries. Instead I had to hire directors, who worked at an extremely economical rate. Having enough money for Star Wars is no longer a problem. I will be able to hire the most well known directors for Episode 7, 8 and 9.
Episode 7 will feature the most epic and spectacular light saber battles ever seen. Instead of just two or three participants, you will see countless numbers of Jedi vs. Dark Jedi in amazing duels, which are beyond what you can fathom. This helps explain why Episode 7 is the most anticipated film in the history of cinema.
Mr. Lucas. I was always wondering if there are limitations to whom Force spirits can appear to. For example, is it possible for Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon Jinn to appear to Darth Vader?
George Lucas: There are some aspects of the films, which are so ambiguous as to defy explanation. Luke Skywalker could see the Jedi ghosts of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of Return of the Jedi. I'm never going to reveal secrets involving Jedi ghosts. This is something the fans are going to have to accept. Certain areas of the saga remain a hidden mystery.
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Hi George Lucas, I AM A big Star Wars fan. I want to ask you why does Mace Windu, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan and Anakin show up at the ending of Episode 9? Also is there a clone of Darth Vader in Episode 7, 8 and 9 and is there a new Jedi Order that Luke Skywalker makes? Well, that's all. I'll write back.
George Lucas: It's important to realize that the dark side of the Force prevents Jedi ghosts from appearing during Episode 7 & 8 and most of Episode 9. At the end of Return of the Jedi, the Jedi ghosts of Anakin, Yoda and Obi-Wan can be viewed by Luke only for a brief period of time. With the destruction of the dark side at the end of Episode 9, the past Jedi can now fully render themselves in the real world as Jedi ghosts.
The central story of the next film trilogy is based around the cloning of Anakin and Luke by the Dark Jedi. Also, Luke has re-established the Jedi Order pretty solidly by the time of Episode 7. Thanks for being such a special fan.
Hi George, my name is ****. I'm Portuguese. I wanna tell you that you are a great director. I wanna know what you mean about the series be about the live of robots?
George Lucas: Profuse compliments from the fans are really important to me. In the end, it's all about the fans. You have each made my dreams come to fruition. Right now, we're beginning work on the live action Star Wars TV series. The debut of this TV show keeps getting delayed for various reasons beyond my control. You probably won't see this TV series until late 2010. Eventually, I will allow SuperShadow to reveal the entire premise and plot summaries for this TV show.
For the time being, it's paramount that the fans support the new Clone Wars film and TV series. You need to prove that Star Wars on TV in regular episodes is something you are willing to invest your time with. Our brightest days are in the future. We have much to appreciate in our world.
Hi George! I'm **** from France. Aren't the original actors (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams and Mark Hamill) will become too older to play their characters in 2021? Wish you the best.
George Lucas: The time frame of Episode 7 is set several decades after the events of the old films. The primary cast is suppose to be much older. However, the film will feature many young characters such as Ben Skywalker and Anakin Solo. The wait for Episode 7 has got to be one of the most pleasant aspects of being a fan.
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Dear George Lucas, what do you prefer working on Indiana Jones or Star Wars?
George Lucas: This is a superb question. One is my life's passion of obsession while the other series I can view as a fan. I pour my entire heart into the Star Wars films. They're the ones I write the scripts for and the only films I have directed over the past thirty years. There's no way to see Star Wars objectively because I have to invest ten years of my life to create each trilogy.
In contrast, I can really enjoy Indiana Jones. All I have to do is supply the story. Steven Spielberg does the real work. It's his vision in the end. I get to watch the Indiana Jones films as a fan. I can't do that with Star Wars. I can't read negative comments about Star Wars because I have given so much of myself to each film. The old films and the prequel trilogy are the best films I know how to make. SuperShadow appreciates the sacrifices I make even if some of the fans take the franchise too seriously and are overly critical.
We should enjoy life to the fullest. People shouldn't have their entire lives revolve around my films. It's really an insignificant portion of life. I enjoy working on Star Wars and Indiana Jones for different reasons. However, Star Wars represents me more as a person. They're personal films that reflect on my inner being.
George Lucas. I am a massive fan. Could you make Episodes 7, 8 and 9 will coincide with the expanded universe Star Wars books?
George Lucas: The expanded universe is not intended to be my personal vision of what happens after Return of the Jedi. Only the plots written by me count as official Star Wars history. You should enjoy the expanded universe as entertainment. It is meant to give the fans something to embrace in between film trilogies. Some aspects of the expanded universe will be seen in Episode 7, but 95 % of the screen plays will be based on my original ideas with a generous amount of fan ideas also included.
Hi Mr. Lucas, I grown up with your astonish creations, so thanks a lot! I would like to know if we can hope for a new Indiana Jones trilogy, with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, like first chapter, and with Atlantis like final chapter?! Thanks.
George Lucas: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will be the last Indy Jones film for a long time. Harrison and Steven have told me this is it for them. I can understand why they don't want to make additional Indy Jones films because they have many other film ideas to explore instead of Indy Jones. We're lucky Indiana Jones 4 happened at all. It was an arduous process to get this film made.
I know critics lament that I'm always saying this is the last one when I'm really planning many more films, but this is it for right now. Indiana Jones 5 is a minimum of 15 years in the future. There is no need to worry about this. The myth surrounding Atlantis will never be the focal point of an Indy Jones film. I expect you to be the first in line this May. We're giving you our full combined efforts with Indy Jones 4. You will not be disappointed.
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Hey George! I'm from Finland. Do you know where that are? But where do you think the next Star Wars will be filmed? And do you give money to Africa? I'm waiting at Star Wars Episode 7, 8 and 9. Please answer
George Lucas: Episode 7 will be filmed where I can get the best exchange rate for the U.S. dollar as long as the place has adequate facilities for filming. I don't reveal what I do for charity. I have invested a substantial sum of money in the George Lucas Educational Foundation. I care about what happens to the world, but I'm not wealthy enough to solve all the problems on Earth.
Was the idea for midichlorians inspired by mitocondria, which live in symbiosis in all our cells and help provide us with energy, like midichlorians provide Jedi with Force energy?
George Lucas: I was never really satisfied with the description of the Force given in the old films. It was too mystical and unknowable. When SuperShadow and I were writing the script for The Phantom Menace, we felt it was important to give a concrete scientific explanation of how the Force really works. The idea for the midichlorians seemed like the best way to explain the secret workings of the Force.
In one of the comments that I read, you said that you had ideas for 4 Star Wars trilogies. Does that mean that you will try to make Episode 10, 11 and 12? Thanks for answering, Mr. Lucas. I'd really like to know.
George Lucas: I'm not always going to be here. I realize this because I'm getting old. Lucasfilm has to be able to survive without me. Episode 7, 8 and 9 will be the last film trilogy made during my life time. However, Episode 10 will not happen while I'm alive. It probably won't happen until May 2043 since a sixteen year break must be taken in between each film trilogy. This is in the best interests of the long term success of the franchise.
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I am indeed a great fan of your work, not just STAR WARS, but films like American Graffiti. (I have not had the chance to see THX-1138, though I want to.) I've been playing STAR WARS EMPIRE AT WAR (and FORCES OF CORRUPTION) and was wondering, where did you get the names for most of these planets (Tatooine, Coruscant and other planets) and creatures like the Hutts, Bothans and other alien creatures (not including Ewoks and Wookiees and what ever Master Yoda is because I know from the documentaries from the original trilogy as to what they are based from)?
And what age do you remember first thinking of STAR WARS ideas? Oh, and three more questions, when Vader tells Luke the truth about him being Luke Skywalker's father, did you get that idea from the ‘The Iliad,’ the epic Greek poem by Homer? Who did you base Han Solo and his funny personality? When and how did Han meet Chewbacca? I wish I could think of suggestions or anything else, but I have to say you are a Master and need little help, but hey you’re still Human. (To respect how much I love your work, my mom and I named my overgrown canine Chewbacca, as he chews up everything and he some what looks like a Wookiee. Hahaha.)
George Lucas: I haven't directed a lot of films. It's not about the volume of films you create. Steven Spielberg has been fortunate to have been able to work on dozens of successful films. This was not my fate. Star Wars has permanently detoured my life. I'm now too old and too secure in life to keep chasing success. I have to admit I was lucky to have thought up Star Wars and Indiana Jones. THX-1138 and American Graffiti were decent ideas, but I don't own those films. You should never take things for granted. Each day I reflect on what has happened and I enjoy each moment in life.
The Star Wars names are based on words I find interesting. When I'm writing the screen plays for the films, I make an extremely long list of words, which seem to be something of an exotic extraterrestrial origin. Most of the names have no special meaning or significance. The names that sound the most intriguing to me are the ones that end up in the films. Yoda's species is called the Whills. Thanks for being such a special fan. You are a remarkable person and you should do well in life.
Hey George Lucas, I am a huge fan of Star Wars. I use to watch it when I was only 4 years old and I want to ask you something:
Does the same characters from Episode IV, V and VI will be on the new Star Wars movie trilogy? You know the main characters like the same ones on Episode IV, V and VI? Oh and when The Hidden Circle, The Republic in Crisis and Victory of the Force Episode movies coming out because I can't wait to watch it. P.S.: Please get back to me and it was an honor to send this message to you.
George Lucas: The third Star Wars film trilogy is comprised of Star Wars Episode 7, 8 and 9. It is a continuation of the story of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. These films focus on the ultimate destiny of the Skywalker family. We won't begin working on Episode 7 for another decade at a minimum. It is currently scheduled to be released in theaters during May 2021. You should enjoy the wait because the sequel trilogy will be the last Star Wars film trilogy created in my lifetime.
There have been several recent news articles concerning major movie studios subsidizing the installation of digital and 3-D projection equipment in theatres nationwide, with an anticipated total conversion date within the next 10 years.
How do you feel about 3-D? Do you think it will be beneficial as a tool to movie makers, opening up new and original possibilities? Or do you think that due to the technical limitations, it will actually negatively impact the options of the movie makers (much like with the 1950's 3-D fad)? Do you envision any 3-D Star Wars projects?
If this conversion were to happen as projected by the newspapers, do you see an impact on Lucasfilm or the movie industry as a whole? I know that you have been pushing the industry to convert to digital for many years, so at least that part seems about to happen.
Do you see a future for movies beyond the 2-D screen? Will movies as we have known them for the last 100 years disappear as technology brings total fantasy environment immersion? Do the people in Star Wars even have movies/TV or have they reverted to reading?
I also notice that you keep getting asked about a Star Wars theme park, even though you have stated your position many times that one or two movie franchises are not enough to support a theme park on the scale of Disney's parks (which are still at risk of failure as in the case of EuroDisney). I assume you are aware that plans have been announced for a Harry Potter theme park in Orlando.
Since this would be the real world test of a theme park based on one film franchise (one which I personally feel is far inferior to Star Wars, although enjoyable as entertainment), are you monitoring this at all? If it were to succeed, would you reevaluate your position? If it fails, as I feel sure it must if it ever even makes it to opening day, please feel free to post a great big "I told you so" on this SS web site as I think you are on the money on this one.
Thank you for your time and the attention you lavish on your fans. We all appreciate it.
George Lucas: I would like to take a second to congratulate you on asking one of the most thought provoking questions I have gotten in several months. This topic is of the utmost importance. Cinema has evolved radically since I first got into the business. The feature length film presentation in theaters now has a diverse set of competing entertainment structures such as the Internet, video games and the home viewing market.
I've been saying for years that theaters need to do something unique, which cannot be duplicated in a home environment. 3-D is one of the innovative ways cinema can explore just to survive. Major Hollywood films are now costing over $ 250 million to 300 million U.S. dollars or more. I believe the future is in the favor of television. However, I want to see an experimental 3-D film such as James Cameron's Avatar succeed at the box office.
I don't know how much longer the theater business can last. The owners of the major theater chains seem to change very reluctantly. I think transferring the Star Wars trilogies to a 3-D format would be extremely exciting. However, I will never work on this project until the theaters adopt some type of 3-D projection format on a large scale.
If theaters aren't more innovative by giving the audience something they can't replicate at home, then cinema will have a limited life on the silver screen. Of course, alarmists are always predicting the end and nothing ever changes in the end, but I really think Hollywood needs to wake up and re-invent the entire entertainment industry especially related to theaters. It would be interesting to be able to make Episode 7 in 3-D, but I'm not optimistic about this happening. Hollywood won't react until it's too late.
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Hayden Christensen made a great villain (the best) in Episode 3. He also made a great hero, one of the best, since he can't be SUPERMAN, then he should be the villain in SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL (2009).
George Lucas: Hayden is one of the most talented actors I have encountered in my life. People like to point out that I usually hire unknowns for Star Wars, but this doesn't reflect reality. I had to employ a mostly anonymous cast for A New Hope and the first Indiana Jones film because the film production budgets were so small. Alec Guinness agreed to do the first Star Wars film for a percentage of the net box office gross. I simply didn't have any money to hire well known actors in the key roles.
Fast forward several decades and with the prequel trilogy and the new Indiana Jones 4 film, I could afford to hire some well known actors like Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson for Star Wars and Cate Blanchett and John Hurt for Indy Jones 4. Those who say I prefer unknowns because they're "cheap" to hire have no understanding of how difficult it was to create my films in the early days.
I LOVE STAR WARS, but I think that it needs to show more people from the past and flash backs from before Episode 1. And I personally believe that you are one of the most skilled people in the world! What are the costumes going to look like in the next Star Wars Episodes? Bye. (Please answer).
George Lucas: Film makers have certain techniques for making their films. I don't have flash back sequences in Star Wars. I have a tradition for how I make the films. This is not going to change. The fans of SuperShadow.com suggested I utilize a dream sequence in one of the prequels so I integrated this idea into Revenge of the Sith. That's unusual for me, but sometimes the fans convince me to change my ways.
There's no way to know what Episode 7 is going to look like this early in the process. The designs for the next film won't be created for an extremely long time. This is one of the most exciting aspects of working on Star Wars because you get to have dozens of artists create hundreds of new characters and star ships for the films.
Hey. So Mace Windu did not die? Also, are the next Star Wars movies going to pick up right where Episode VI left off?
George Lucas: For a character to be truly deceased, you have to see them perish on screen. You leave your options open when you make the results of the final scene for a character as ambiguous as possible. Episode 7 takes place many, many years after Return of the Jedi.
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George, I adore each Star Wars episode from both the classic and prequel trilogy, but not everyone agrees with me. With the recent release of the prequels, some critical individuals credit you with ruining their lives and destroying their memories of the classics. Does this matter to you even slightly? Continue to harness the unlimited riches of Star Wars. Always wishing you the best.
George Lucas: Well, I don't make the Star Wars films for the fans. Each one is a personal film based on my artistic expression and vision. In the end, I'm really making the films for my self. That's what is important. When I created Star Wars, nobody liked the idea. Not a single person told me Star Wars would work with theater audiences.
Lucky for me, I followed my heart, which resulted in the creation of A New Hope. SuperShadow tells me the reason The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi weren't nearly as popular as A New Hope is because Episode 4 is the only old film I wrote and directed on my own without third party interference. With the sequels to A New Hope, I hired screen writers and film directors. Shadow told me this undermined my artistic goals.
Shadow said I owed it to the fans to write and direct each episode of the prequels. As always with Shadow, this was the best advice I have received in my entire film career. Based on our own research, the vast majority of fans were ecstatic with the prequel trilogy. This explains why the prequel episodes were a lot more profitable than the old films.
The few fans, who were negative about the prequels, don't have a positive outlook on life in general. It basically revolves around jealousy. I created Star Wars. They didn't. These people are envious of my success. There's nothing I can do to improve the overall quality of their lives. We each have to take this journey on our own.
Some of us are better at it than others. Life seems to always flow in my favor. You don't question fate. You have to accept it. All and all, I'm entirely more satisfied with the prequels than I ever will be with the old films. Special thanks to Shadow for making it possible.
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Hi George, I was just wondering, can animals have Force powers like untrained Jedi? I'm a fan of all your works.
George Lucas: Insightful question. The Force is connected to every piece of matter in the galaxy. All life forms have the potential for Force abilities. It depends on whether the species has midichlorians. Non-sentient creatures with midichlorians would be able to harness the powers of the Force. This would make some entities very formidable even if they weren't very intelligent.
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George, I saw in an interview that after Episode 3, you would go back to making art films that few people would like and slowly fade into obscurity. However, with all of this talk of new Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows, will this happen?
George Lucas: At one point in time, I wanted to write and direct some low budget and esoteric films for theatrical release, but I've changed my mind. The future of Hollywood is television. Blockbuster Hollywood films are becoming prohibitively expensive. After investing ten years of my life creating the prequel trilogy, I've decided to retire from writing and directing full length motion pictures.
For the next decade and preferably much longer, I will invest my time in working on transferring Star Wars successfully to TV in the form of new Star Wars TV series. The next Clone Wars movie and TV show are beyond state of the art computer animation. We are doing things that the computer animation industry has never even attempted before. Thanks to SuperShadow, Star Wars will finally be able to survive on TV. We owe so much to the persistence and imagination of Shadow and the fans.
Mr. Lucas, love your works. As to Anakin Skywalker being the one "who will bring balance to the Force," Anakin does that by helping wipe out all the Jedi but two. Then there are two Jedi and two Sith Lords. Does that mean the battle between the light and dark sides of the Force is forever and that another will appear who will help the Force to restore balance between the Jedi and the Sith?
George Lucas: No, your theory is completely wrong. For the Force to be brought into balance, the Sith Lords have to be permanently destroyed. The existence of the Sith is what makes the Force out of balance. By destroying the Sith at the end of Return of the Jedi, Anakin finally achieves balance of the Force. The struggle between good and evil does not go on and on all through eternity. In the end, the light side destroys the dark side as is the result of Episode 9 whereby the dark side of the Force is finally destroyed and never returns to the galaxy.
Hi George, thanks for making such a large impression on my childhood as I grew up. I wasn't around for the beginning of it, but fortunately with your release of the original trilogy special edition in 1997, I've been able to see all 6 Star Wars films in theatres.
I have to say, I am very pleased to hear that Mace Windu is still alive (I am right in assuming this, yes?) because ever since I saw his final scene I was firm in the belief that he was not really dead. I even came up with the idea that all those years afterwards he's been in hiding with these cool cybernetic enhancements and an almost Boba Fett like outfit and helmet to hide his identity.
Perhaps you could work something like this in, as I'd love seeing an old Mace Windu make some awesome beat downs. He was just amazing in Gendy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars series (as was General Grievous, who I was expecting much more of in Episode III sadly) and I never really accepted Mace's death as I felt he deserved a much cooler one - just like Boba Fett, Qui-Gon Jinn, Vader and others.
Question: I believe Mace might just have been the most powerful Jedi of his time. Is this what you were implying? I say this because even though Yoda could not defeat Darth Sidious, Mace had Sidious on the ropes and could have ended it all right there had Anakin not interfered.
Also, why oh why did you leave out the Qui-Gon scene in Episode III? Seeing and/or hearing Qui-Gon again was what I looked forward to ever since Episode One, as I think he was one of the coolest characters you introduced in the new trilogy and I wish you had kept him around until at least Episode II. I understand the Star Wars 'plot formula' and everything, but I believe you should be more willing to bend those rules in favor of what could be the most awesome, if you'll forgive the silly phrase (there are kids around after all).
George Lucas: I would like to take a brief moment to give you gratitude for being the most loyal fan. It is individuals like you who make my efforts worth the long hours of work. You have a special place in my heart.
Yes, Mace Windu survived Revenge of the Sith and will be featured in the next film trilogy at least in a limited but significant role. During the prequels, Windu probably is slightly more powerful than Yoda since Yoda is many centuries past his prime.
I thought about having an appearance by Qui-Gon at the end of Revenge of the Sith, but to me it didn't meet my expectations. I wanted to make it ambiguous as to how Yoda and Obi-Wan obtained the secret knowledge to vanish at death and reappear as a Jedi ghost. Some peculiarities are not explained fully. That's the realistic nature of life in general.