Editing George Lucas (section)

==Film career==
===1965–1969: Early career===
Lucas saw many inspiring films in class, particularly the visual films coming out of the [[National Film Board of Canada]] like [[Arthur Lipsett]]'s ''[[21-87]]'', [[cameraman]] [[Jean-Claude Labrecque]]'s [[cinéma vérité]] ''[[60 Cycles]]'', the work of [[Norman McLaren]] and the documentaries of [[Claude Jutra]]. Lucas fell madly in love with [[pure cinema]] and quickly became prolific at making 16&nbsp;mm nonstory noncharacter visual tone poems and cinéma vérité with such titles as ''[[Look at Life (film)|Look at Life]]'', ''[[Herbie (film)|Herbie]]'', ''[[1:42.08]]'', ''[[The Emperor (film)|The Emperor]]'', ''[[Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town (film)|Anyone Lived in a Pretty (how) Town]]'', ''[[Filmmaker (film)|Filmmaker]]'' and ''[[6-18-67]]''. He was passionate and interested in camerawork and editing, defining himself as a filmmaker as opposed to being a director, and he loved making abstract visual films that created emotions purely through non-narrative structures.<ref name=WiredMay2005 />

In 1967, Lucas re-enrolled as a USC graduate student in film production.<ref name=FGL>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/george-lucas |title=George Lucas |date=September 2012 |work=Forbes |access-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222070626/http://www.forbes.com/profile/george-lucas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He began working under movie and logo designer [[Saul Bass]] and film editor [[Verna Fields]] for the [[United States Information Agency]], where he met his future wife [[Marcia Lucas|Marcia Griffin]].{{sfn|Jones|2016|pp=68, 70}} Working as a teaching instructor for a class of [[U.S. Navy]] students who were being taught documentary cinematography, Lucas directed the short film ''[[Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB]]'', which won first prize at the 1967–68 National Student film festival. Lucas was awarded a student scholarship by [[Warner Bros.]] to observe and work on the making of a film of his choosing. The film he chose after finding the animation department closed down was ''[[Finian's Rainbow (1968 film)|Finian's Rainbow]]'' (1968) which was being directed by [[Francis Ford Coppola]], who was revered among film school students of the time as a cinema graduate who had "made it" in Hollywood.{{Sfn|Jones|2016|p=88}} In 1969, Lucas was one of the camera operators on the classic [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] concert film ''[[Gimme Shelter (1970 film)|Gimme Shelter]]''.

===1969–1977: ''THX 1138'', ''American Graffiti'', and ''Star Wars''===
In 1969, Lucas moved back to the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and co-founded the studio [[American Zoetrope]] with Coppola, hoping to create a liberating environment for filmmakers to direct outside the perceived oppressive control of the Hollywood [[studio system]].<ref>{{cite news |title=American Zoetrope: In a galaxy not from Hollywood ... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/17/zoetrope-coppola-lucas-star-wars |access-date=September 25, 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 17, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212032/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/17/zoetrope-coppola-lucas-star-wars |url-status=live }}</ref> Coppola thought Lucas's ''Electronic Labyrinth'' could be adapted into his first full-length feature film,{{sfn|Jones|2016|p=90}} which was produced by American Zoetrope as ''[[THX 1138]]'', but was not a success. Lucas then created his own company, [[Lucasfilm, Ltd.]], and directed the successful ''[[American Graffiti]]'' (1973).

Lucas then set his sights on adapting [[Flash Gordon]], an adventure serial from his childhood that he fondly remembered. When he was unable to obtain the rights, he set out to write an original space adventure that would eventually become ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''.<ref name=statesman>{{cite web |last=Cooray Smith |first=James |title=Starting Star Wars: How George Lucas came to create a galaxy |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2017/05/starting-star-wars-how-george-lucas-came-create-galaxy |website=New Statesman |access-date=May 26, 2019 |date=May 25, 2019 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124061718/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2017/05/starting-star-wars-how-george-lucas-came-create-galaxy |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite his success with his previous film, all but one studio turned ''Star Wars'' down. It was only because [[Alan Ladd Jr.]] at [[20th Century Fox]] liked ''American Graffiti'' that he forced through a production and distribution deal for the film, which ended up restoring Fox to financial stability after a number of flops.<ref>[[Tom Shone]]: ''[[Blockbuster (2004 book)|Blockbuster]]: How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Summer'' (2004). London, Simon & Schuster UK. {{ISBN|0-7432-6838-5}}. Chapter 2.</ref> ''Star Wars'' was significantly influenced by [[Jidaigeki|samurai films]] of [[Akira Kurosawa]], [[Spaghetti Western]]s, as well as classic [[sword and sorcery]] fantasy stories.

''Star Wars'' quickly became the [[list of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of all time]], displaced five years later by Spielberg's ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''. After the success of ''American Graffiti'' and prior to the beginning of filming on ''Star Wars'', Lucas was encouraged to renegotiate for a higher fee for writing and directing ''Star Wars'' than the US$150,000 agreed.<ref name=pollockskywalking /> He declined to do so, instead negotiating for advantage in some of the as-yet-unspecified parts of his contract with Fox, in particular, ownership of licensing and merchandising rights (for [[novelization]]s, clothing, toys, etc.) and contractual arrangements for sequels.<ref name=pollockskywalking /><ref>{{cite book |last=Harris |first=Mark |title=Pictures at a Revolution: Five Films and the Birth of the New Hollywood |url=https://archive.org/details/picturesatrevolu00harr_0|url-access=registration |year=2008 |publisher=Penguin Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/picturesatrevolu00harr_0/page/378 378–9]|isbn=9781594201523 }}</ref> Lucasfilm has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from licensed games, toys, and collectibles created for the franchise.<ref name=pollockskywalking />

The original ''Star Wars'' film went through a tumultuous production, and during editing, Lucas suffered chest pains initially feared to be a heart attack, but actually a fit of hypertension and exhaustion. The effort that Lucas exerted during [[post-production]] for the film, and its subsequent sequels, caused strains on his relationship with his wife Marcia Lucas, and was a contributing factor to their divorce at the end of the trilogy.<ref name=statesman/> The success of the first ''Star Wars'' film also resulted in more attention focused on Lucas, both positive and negative, attracting wealth and fame, but also many people who wanted Lucas's financial backing or just to threaten him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rinzler|first=J. W.|url=https://archive.org/details/TheMakingOfTheEmpireStrikesBackJWRinzler/mode/2up|title=The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — The Definitive Story|publisher=[[Aurum Press]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84513-555-3|location=United Kingdom|pages=2–3|oclc=657407687}}</ref>

===1977–1993: Hiatus from directing, ''Indiana Jones''===
[[File:Lucas - Henson - 1986.jpg|thumb|Director [[Jim Henson]] (left) and Lucas working on ''[[Labyrinth (1986 film)|Labyrinth]]'' in 1986]]

Following the release of the first ''Star Wars'' film, Lucas worked extensively as a writer and producer, including on the many ''Star Wars'' spinoffs made for film, television and other media. Lucas acted as executive producer for the next two ''Star Wars'' films, commissioning [[Irvin Kershner]] to direct ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' and [[Richard Marquand]] to direct ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', while receiving a story credit on the former and sharing a screenwriting credit with [[Lawrence Kasdan]] on the latter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/star-wars-making-of-empire-strikes-back |title=The Making of Empire Strikes Back |date=June 2002 |work=Empire Magazine |access-date=May 8, 2014 |archive-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506213609/http://www.empireonline.com/features/star-wars-making-of-empire-strikes-back |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas also gave away his screenwriting credit out of great respect for [[Leigh Brackett]] for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' after her death from cancer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=W. |first=Rinzler, J. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/657407687 |title=The Making of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back: The Definitive Story (Digital) |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey Books |page=n390 |language=English |chapter=The Road to Oz |oclc=657407687 |quote=I don't think Leigh Brackett would've gotten a story credit. I said that to George and he said, you know, from his heart he felt she should get a co-writing credit on it, so he gave that to her.-Howard Kazanjian "I didn't like the first script, but I gave Leigh credit because I liked her a lot," Lucas says. "She was sick at the time she wrote it and she really tried her best. |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510123344/https://search.worldcat.org/title/657407687 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also acted as story writer and executive producer on the first four ''Indiana Jones'' films, which his colleague and good friend Steven Spielberg directed.

[[Craig Barron]], who worked at ILM as part of the matte painting department, told ''[[Star Wars Insider]]'' that Lucas liked to spend time with the department's painters and often spoke of what movies he wanted to make. According to Barron, Lucas had wanted to make a film about [[Alexander the Great]], but this film was ultimately never produced.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Brandon Wainerdi |date=August 2, 2022 |title=It's a Matte, Matte World! |number=212 |url=https://titan-comics.com/m/106-star-wars-insider-212/ |magazine=[[Star Wars Insider]] |publisher=[[Titan Publishing Group]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831013245/https://titan-comics.com/m/106-star-wars-insider-212/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Projects where Lucas was credited as executive producer and sometimes story writer in this period include Kurosawa's ''[[Kagemusha]]'' (1980), [[John Korty]]'s ''[[Twice Upon a Time (1983 film)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' (1983), ''[[Ewoks: Caravan of Courage]]'' (1984), ''[[Ewoks: Battle for Endor]]'' (1985), ''[[Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters]]'' (1985), [[Jim Henson]]'s ''[[Labyrinth (1986 film)|Labyrinth]]'' (1986), [[Ron Howard]]'s ''[[Willow (1988 film)|Willow]]'' (1988), [[Don Bluth]]'s ''[[The Land Before Time (film)|The Land Before Time]]'' (1988), and the ''Indiana Jones'' television prequel spinoff ''[[The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles]]'' (1992–93). There were unsuccessful projects, however, including ''[[More American Graffiti]]'' (1979), [[Willard Huyck]]'s ''[[Howard the Duck (film)|Howard the Duck]]'' (1986), which was the biggest flop of Lucas's career, Coppola's ''[[Tucker: The Man and His Dream]]'' (1988) and ''[[Radioland Murders]]'' (1994) directed by [[Mel Smith]].

In some cases, George Lucas served as an actual executive producer without being credited, such as in the films ''[[Body Heat]]'' (1981), [[Latino (film)|''Latino'']] (1985)'', [[Return to Oz]]'' (1985), documentary ''[[Powaqqatsi]]'' (1988, credited only as "Presentation"), also ''Star War''s television projects: ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special|Holliday Special]]'' (1978), ''[[Star Wars: Droids|Droids]]'' (1985–1986), ''[[Ewoks (TV series)|Ewoks]]'' (1985–1986) and ''[[Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|Clone Wars]]'' (2003–2005).

The animation studio [[Pixar]] was founded in 1979 as the Graphics Group, one third of the Computer Division of [[Lucasfilm]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Rina |date=January 7, 2021 |title=George Lucas: Pixar Was Sold to Save Lucasfilm |url=https://www.shortform.com/blog/george-lucas-pixar/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Shortform Books |language=en-US |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215231935/https://www.shortform.com/blog/george-lucas-pixar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Pixar's early computer graphics research resulted in a digital film [[The Adventures of André & Wally B.]] and groundbreaking effects in films such as ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]''<ref name="PixarStory">{{Cite web |last=Hormby |first=Thomas |website=Low End Mac |title=The Pixar Story: Dick Shoup, Alex Schure, George Lucas, Steve Jobs, and Disney |date=January 22, 2007 |url=http://lowendmac.com/2013/pixar-story-steve-jobs-disney-toy-story/ |access-date=March 1, 2007 |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827220102/http://lowendmac.com/2013/pixar-story-steve-jobs-disney-toy-story/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Young Sherlock Holmes]]'',<ref name="PixarStory"/> and the group was purchased in 1986 by [[Steve Jobs]] shortly after he left [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]. Jobs paid Lucas $5&nbsp;million and put $5&nbsp;million as capital into the company. The sale reflected Lucas's desire to stop the cash flow losses from his seven-year research projects associated with new entertainment technology tools, as well as his company's new focus on creating entertainment rather than tools. As of June 1983, Lucas was worth $60&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Pollock |first=Dale |title=A Man and His Empire: The Private Life of 'Star Wars' Creator George Lucas |magazine=Life |date=June 1983 |page=88}}</ref> but he met cash-flow difficulties following his divorce that year, concurrent with the sudden dropoff in revenues from ''Star Wars'' licenses following the theatrical run of ''Return of the Jedi''. At this point, Lucas had no desire to return to ''Star Wars'', and had unofficially canceled the [[sequel trilogy]].{{Sfn |Kaminski|2007|p=227|ref=kaminski}}

Lucas, formerly a member of [[Writers Guild of America West]], left and maintained [[financial core]] status in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/wgaw-financial-core-list|title=WGAW Financial Core List|website=[[Writers Guild of America]]|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813205209/https://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/wgaw-financial-core-list|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also in 1983, Lucas and [[Tomlinson Holman]] founded the audio company [[THX]].<ref name=Softpedia>Truta, Filip Truta (May 5, 2011). [http://news.softpedia.com/news/Apple-Hires-Sound-Systems-Inventor-Tomlinson-Holman-198553.shtml "Apple Hires Sound Systems Inventor Tomlinson Holman"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421180100/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Apple-Hires-Sound-Systems-Inventor-Tomlinson-Holman-198553.shtml |date=April 21, 2017 }}. [[Softpedia]].</ref> The company was formerly owned by Lucasfilm and contains equipment for stereo, digital, and theatrical sound for films, and music. [[Skywalker Sound]] and [[Industrial Light & Magic]], are the sound and visual effects subdivisions of Lucasfilm, while Lucasfilm Games, later renamed [[LucasArts]], produces products for the gaming industry.

===1993–2012: Return to directing, ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones''===
[[File:George Lucas Medal of Technology.jpg|thumb|left|Lucas receiving the [[National Medal of Technology and Innovation]] from President [[George W. Bush]], February 2006]]

Having lost much of his fortune in a divorce settlement in 1987, Lucas was hesitant on making additional ''Star Wars'' features.{{Sfn |Kaminski|2007|p=227|ref=kaminski}} However, [[prequel trilogy|the prequels]], which were still only a series of ideas partially pulled from his original drafts of "The Star Wars", continued to tantalize him with technical possibilities that would make it worthwhile to revisit his older material. When ''Star Wars'' became popular once again, in the wake of [[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]]'s comic book line and [[Timothy Zahn]]'s [[Thrawn trilogy|trilogy of spin-off novels]], Lucas realized that there was still a large audience. His children were older, and with the explosion of [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] technology he began to consider directing once again.{{Sfn |Kaminski|2007|pp=294–95|ref=kaminski}}

By 1993, it was announced, in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' among other sources, that Lucas would be making the prequels. He began penning more to the story, indicating that the series would be a tragic one, examining Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side. Lucas also began to change the status of the prequels relative to the originals; at first, they were supposed to be a "filling-in" of history tangential to the originals, but now he saw that they could form the beginning of one long story that started with Anakin's childhood and ended with his death. This was the final step towards turning the film series into a "Saga".{{Sfn |Kaminski|2007|pp= 299–300|ref=kaminski}} In 1994, Lucas began work on the screenplay of the first prequel, tentatively titled ''Episode I: The Beginning''.

In 1997, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ''Star Wars'', Lucas restored the original trilogy and made numerous modifications using newly available digital technology to bring them closer to his original vision. The films were {{nowrap|re-released}} in theaters as the "Special Editions".<ref>{{Citation |title=George Lucas On the Special Editions of the Original STAR WARS Trilogy | date=November 18, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1zaTUnoTE |language=en |access-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215182041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1zaTUnoTE |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Star Wars – The Magic and the Mystery – Hosted by Howie Long – Fox TV Special | date=January 18, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5nMJ5gsQg |language=en |access-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216070259/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5nMJ5gsQg |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=December 19, 2022 |website=StarWars.com |language=en |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216130908/https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |url-status=live }}</ref> The trilogy received further modifications and restorations for DVD releases in 2004, Blu-ray releases in 2011 and 4K releases released in 2019. Additionally, Lucas released a director's cut of ''THX 1138'' in 2004, with the film {{nowrap|re-cut}} and containing a number of CGI additions.

[[File:Oliver Mark - George Lucas, Berlin 2005.jpg|alt=George Lucas liegt auf einem Sofa in einem Hotelzimmer mit einem Kissen auf dem Schoß.|thumb|George Lucas, Berlin 2005 (Portrait by [[Oliver Mark]])]]

The first ''Star Wars'' prequel was finished and released in 1999 as ''[[Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'', which would be the first film Lucas had directed in over two decades. Following the release of the first prequel, Lucas announced that he would also be directing the next two, and began working on ''Episode II''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=Star Wars Insider |title=Star Wars Insider |issue=45 |page=19 }}</ref> The first draft of ''Episode II'' was completed just weeks before principal photography, and Lucas hired [[Jonathan Hales]], a writer from ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'', to polish it.{{Sfn |Kaminski|2007| p= 371|ref=kaminski}} It was completed and released in 2002 as ''[[Attack of the Clones]]''. The final prequel, ''[[Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'', began production in 2002{{Sfn |Rinzler|2007|p = 36|ref=rinzler}} and was released in 2005. Numerous older fans and critics at the time considered the prequels more mixed compared to the original trilogy,<ref>{{cite news |title=Star Wars – Episode II: Attack Of The Clones |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020510/REVIEWS/205100305/1023 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 10, 2002 |access-date=December 30, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504045357/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020510/REVIEWS/205100305/1023 |archive-date=May 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace/ |title=Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace |date=May 9, 1999 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515010020/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_ii_attack_of_the_clones/ |title=Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones 3D |date=May 16, 2002 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218083931/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_ii_attack_of_the_clones |url-status=live }}</ref> though they were box office successes and popular with younger fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars.htm |title=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194200/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2742257153/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars2.htm |title=Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902041356/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm |title=Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013021507/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2020 |title=Ewan McGregor shocked by Star Wars fans who prefer prequels to original trilogy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/ewan-mcgregor-star-wars-prequels-obi-wan-series-disney-plus-b434088.html |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220181241/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/ewan-mcgregor-star-wars-prequels-obi-wan-series-disney-plus-b434088.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Lucas reflected that his transition from independent to corporate filmmaker mirrored the story of ''Star Wars'' character [[Darth Vader]] in some ways, but concluded he was glad to be able to make his films the way he wanted to.<ref>''[[Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy]]'' (2004). DVD. [[20th Century Fox Television]]. Event occurs at 2:24:45.</ref>

[[File:George_Lucas_cropped_2009.jpg|thumb|Lucas at the 2009 Venice Film Festival]]

Lucas collaborated with [[Jeff Nathanson]] as a writer of the 2008 film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'', directed by Steven Spielberg. Similar to the ''Star Wars'' prequels, the reception was mixed with fans and critics alike. From 2008 to 2014, Lucas also served as the creator and executive producer for a second ''Star Wars'' animated series on Cartoon Network, ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' which premiered with a [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|feature film of the same name]] before airing its first episode. The supervising director for this animated series was [[Dave Filoni]], who was chosen by Lucas and closely collaborated with him on its development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars/20967/dave-filoni-interview-star-wars-the-clone-wars |title=Dave Filoni interview: Star Wars: The Clone Wars |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194204/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dave-filoni-interview-star-wars-the-clone-wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sknr.net/2008/08/14/george-lucas-and-dave-filoni-talk-star-warsthe-clone-wars/ |title=George Lucas and Dave Filoni talk Star Wars:The Clone Wars |last=minshewnetworks |date=August 14, 2008 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194206/http://sknr.net/2008/08/14/george-lucas-and-dave-filoni-talk-star-warsthe-clone-wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcNXPNXOv2A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/hcNXPNXOv2A| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Dave Filoni Extended Interview – The Star Wars Show |last=Star Wars |date=August 12, 2016 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/new-lucasfilm-animation-projects/ |title=Dave Filoni Now Overseeing Creative Development of New Lucasfilm Animation Projects |date=September 26, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927123921/https://www.slashfilm.com/new-lucasfilm-animation-projects/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monkeysfightingrobots.com/how-dave-filoni-redefined-star-wars/ |title=How Dave Filoni Redefined 'Star Wars' |date=December 11, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194152/https://monkeysfightingrobots.co/how-dave-filoni-redefined-star-wars/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> This series bridged the events between ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith'', and featured the last ''Star Wars'' stories in which Lucas was involved in a major way.

In 2012, Lucas self-funded and served as executive producer for ''[[Red Tails]]'', a war film based on the exploits of the [[Tuskegee Airmen]] during [[World War II]]. He also took over directing of reshoots while director [[Anthony Hemingway]] worked on other projects.

===2012–present: Semi-retirement===
{{quote box|width=30%|quote=I'm moving away from the business ... From the company, from all this kind of stuff.|source=—George Lucas on his future career plans<ref name="NYT Lucas">{{cite news |first=Bryan |last=Curtis |title=George Lucas Is Ready to Roll the Credits |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |url-access=limited |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}

In January 2012, Lucas announced his retirement from producing large [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] films, and instead re-focusing his career on smaller, independently budgeted features.<ref name="NYT Lucas" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/george-lucas-ready-focus-personal-movies/ |title=George Lucas Ready to Retire From Blockbuster Filmmaking |last=Fischer |first=Russ |publisher=[[/Film]] |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301004157/https://www.slashfilm.com/george-lucas-ready-focus-personal-movies/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/17/george-lucas-promises-retirement-from-blockbusters-not-counting-indiana-jones-5/ |title=George Lucas Promises Retirement (From Blockbusters ... Not Counting Indiana Jones 5) |last1=Yamato |first1=Jen |work=Movie Line |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301021149/http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/17/george-lucas-promises-retirement-from-blockbusters-not-counting-indiana-jones-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2012, it was announced that producer [[Kathleen Kennedy (film producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]], a long-term collaborator with Steven Spielberg and a producer of the ''Indiana Jones'' films, had been appointed as co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd.<ref name=SWcom1Jun2012>[https://www.starwars.com/news/kathleen_kennedy_to_become_co-chair_of_lucasfilm-ltd.html "Kathleen Kennedy to become Co-Chair of Lucasfilm Ltd."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029134458/http://starwars.com/news/kathleen_kennedy_to_become_co-chair_of_lucasfilm-ltd.html |date=October 29, 2012 }}, ''StarWars.com'', June 1, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref><ref name=LATimes2Jun2012>Richard Verrier and Ben Fritz, [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-02-la-fi-ct-lucas-kennedy-20120602-story.html "Kathleen Kennedy to helm Lucasfilm as George Lucas phases out"], ''Los Angeles Times'', June 2, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref> It was reported that Kennedy would work alongside Lucas, who would remain chief executive and serve as co-chairman for at least one year, after which she would succeed him as the company's sole leader.<ref name=SWcom1Jun2012 /><ref name=LATimes2Jun2012 /> With the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney, Lucas is currently Disney's second-largest single shareholder, after the estate of [[Steve Jobs]].<ref name="WSJ Lucas">{{cite news |first=Joseph B. |last=White |title=The Mouse and the Wookie: Lucas Becomes a Big Disney Shareholder |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 30, 2012 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2012/10/30/the-mouse-and-the-wookie-lucas-becomes-a-big-disney-shareholder/ |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194203/https://www.wsj.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lucas worked as a creative consultant on the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]]'s first film, ''[[The Force Awakens]]''.<ref name=PM>{{cite web |work=[[PopMatters]] |author=Maçek III, J.C. |title=Can Star Wars Be Saved? |date=August 27, 2018 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/can-star-wars-be-saved-2598718617.html |access-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828104231/https://www.popmatters.com/can-star-wars-be-saved-2598718617.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas's involvement included attending early story meetings; according to Lucas, "I mostly say, 'You can't do this. You can do that.' You know, 'The cars don't have wheels. They fly with antigravity.' There's a million little pieces ... I know all that stuff."<ref name=BloombergMar2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308091739/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |title=How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for 'Star Wars' |last=Leonard |first=Devin |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=March 7, 2013 |access-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref> Lucas's son Jett told ''The Guardian '' that his father was "very torn" about having sold the rights to the franchise, despite having hand-picked Abrams to direct, and that his father was "there to guide" but that "he wants to let it go and become its new generation."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/09/star-wars-george-lucas-jj-abrams |title=Star Wars sequels: George Lucas 'constantly talking' to JJ Abrams |author=Child, Ben |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010083951/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/09/star-wars-george-lucas-jj-abrams |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the materials turned over to the production team were story treatments Lucas developed when he considered creating Episodes ''VII''–''IX'' himself; in January 2015, Lucas stated that Disney had discarded his story ideas.<ref name="Collider">{{cite news |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |title=George Lucas Says His Treatments for the New STAR WARS Films Were Discarded |date=January 21, 2015 |url=https://collider.com/george-lucas-new-star-wars-movies-treatments/ |work=Collider |access-date=January 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127051200/http://collider.com/george-lucas-new-star-wars-movies-treatments/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lucas_treatment_unused">{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-George-Lucas-Star-Wars-7-Ideas-Were-Used-By-Disney-69271.html |title=How George Lucas' Star Wars 7 Ideas Were Used By Disney |access-date=January 20, 2015 |publisher=Cinema Blend |year=2015 |author=Nick Romano |format=Written coverage /Video interview |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211034620/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-George-Lucas-Star-Wars-7-Ideas-Were-Used-By-Disney-69271.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Kerry Chats With 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Recipient George Lucas (23244763499).jpg|thumb|left|Lucas with Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2015]]

''The Force Awakens'', directed by [[J. J. Abrams]], was released on December 18, 2015. Kathleen Kennedy produced the film and its sequels.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/george-lucas-creative-consultant-role-in-star-wars-2012-11 |work=Business Insider Australia |title=Here's What George Lucas' Role As Creative Consultant in the New Star Wars Films Mean |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194218/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/george-lucas-creative-consultant-role-in-star-wars-2012-11 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-star-wars-is-coming-in-2015-2012-10 |work=Business Insider Australia |title=A New Star Wars Is Coming |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194254/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-new-star-wars-is-coming-in-2015-2012-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new sequel trilogy was jointly produced by Lucasfilm and [[The Walt Disney Company]], which had acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.<ref name="British Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news |title=Disney buys Star Wars maker Lucasfilm from George Lucas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20146942 |work=BBC News Website |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194241/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-20146942 |url-status=live }}</ref> During an interview with talk show host and journalist [[Charlie Rose]] that aired on December 24, 2015, Lucas likened his decision to sell Lucasfilm to Disney to a divorce and outlined the creative differences between him and the producers of ''The Force Awakens''. Lucas went on to say that he needed to support the company and its employees who were going to suffer financially.<ref>{{Citation |title=George Lucas Calls Disney "White Slavers" in Charlie Rose interview | date=January 2, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWtbJxzGpQ |language=en |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027235404/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWtbJxzGpQ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas described the previous six ''Star Wars'' films as his "children" and defended his vision for them, while criticizing ''The Force Awakens'' for having a "retro feel", saying: "I worked very hard to make them completely different, with different planets, with different spaceships – you know, to make it new." Lucas also drew some criticism and subsequently apologized for his remark likening Disney to "white slavers".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Attack of the moans: George Lucas hits out at 'retro' Star Wars: The Force Awakens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |access-date=April 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 31, 2015 |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001032034/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Jeff |title=George Lucas elaborates on his reaction to 'The Force Awakens' |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645039/George-Lucas-elaborates-on-his-reaction-to-The-Force-Awakens.html |access-date=April 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=January 7, 2016 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414125407/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645039/George-Lucas-elaborates-on-his-reaction-to-The-Force-Awakens.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2015, Lucas wrote the CGI film ''[[Strange Magic (film)|Strange Magic]]'', his first musical. The film was produced at [[Skywalker Ranch]]. [[Gary Rydstrom]] directed the movie.<ref name="Heat Vision">{{cite web |url=http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/george-lucas-cgi-musical-kevin-munroe.html |title=George Lucas producing a CGI musical! Featuring ... fairies? |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130213432/http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/george-lucas-cgi-musical-kevin-munroe.html |archive-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref> At the same time the sequel trilogy was announced, a [[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny|fifth installment]] of the ''Indiana Jones'' series also entered pre-development phase with [[Harrison Ford]] and Steven Spielberg set to return. Lucas originally did not specify whether the selling of Lucasfilm would affect his involvement with the film. In October 2016, Lucas announced his decision to not be involved in the story of the film but was nevertheless credited as an executive producer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/10/24/george-lucas-is-no-longer-involved-in-indiana-jones-5/ |title=George Lucas Is No Longer Involved In 'Indiana Jones 5' |first=Dani Di |last=Placido |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194242/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/10/24/george-lucas-is-no-longer-involved-in-indiana-jones-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/indiana-jones-5-george-lucas-david-koepp/ |title=Exclusive: George Lucas Not Involved in 'Indiana Jones 5' Story; Writer David Koepp Talks 'Crystal Skull' |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194243/https://collider.com/indiana-jones-5-george-lucas-david-koepp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, ''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]]'', the first film of a ''Star Wars'' anthology series was released. It told the story of the rebels who stole the plans for the [[Death Star]] featured in the original ''Star Wars'' film, and it was reported that Lucas liked it more than ''The Force Awakens''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/george-lucas-likes-rogue-one-more-than-force-awakens-a-1789694908 |title=George Lucas Likes Rogue One More Than Force Awakens, and Other Fun Facts We Learned This Weekend |first=Cheryl |last=Eddy |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162409/https://io9.gizmodo.com/george-lucas-likes-rogue-one-more-than-force-awakens-a-1789694908 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Last Jedi]]'', the second film in the sequel trilogy, was released in 2017; Lucas described the film as "beautifully made".<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |title=George Lucas Thinks 'The Last Jedi' Was "Beautifully Made" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-george-lucas-thinks-last-jedi-was-beautifully-made-1067092 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 25, 2019 |date=December 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-george-lucas-thinks-last-jedi-was-beautifully-made-1067092 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lucas has had cursory involvement with ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'' (2018),<ref>{{cite web |last=McCreesh |first=Louise |date=February 13, 2018 |title=George Lucas was already developing a Han Solo movie before Disney bought Lucasfilm |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a849876/george-lucas-solo-a-star-wars-story-han-solo-movie-disney-lucasfilm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016234917/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a849876/george-lucas-solo-a-star-wars-story-han-solo-movie-disney-lucasfilm/ |archive-date=16 October 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/02/09/ron-howard-solo-a-star-wars-story/ |title=Ron Howard: A Star Wars Story—Why the Oscar-winner joined Solo in its time of upheaval |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414012221/https://ew.com/movies/2018/02/09/ron-howard-solo-a-star-wars-story/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ''Star Wars'' streaming series ''[[The Mandalorian]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |title='The Mandalorian' Actor Giancarlo Esposito Describes the New Technology Used on the 'Star Wars' Show |url=https://collider.com/the-mandalorian-filming-details-giancarlo-esposito/ |website=Collider |access-date=April 22, 2019 |date=April 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422214859/http://collider.com/the-mandalorian-filming-details-giancarlo-esposito/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the premiere of the [[Game of Thrones season 8|eighth season]] of ''[[Game of Thrones]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Julia |title=George Lucas helped direct Game of Thrones' season 8 premiere |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412156/george-lucas-game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-behind-the-scenes-jon-snow-daenerys-targeryen |website=The Verge |access-date=April 25, 2019 |date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227194247/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412156/george-lucas-game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-behind-the-scenes-jon-snow-daenerys-targeryen |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas met with J. J. Abrams before the latter began writing the script to the sequel trilogy's final film, ''[[The Rise of Skywalker]]'', which was released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/george-lucas-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-1202058551/ |title=How George Lucas Helped J.J. Abrams With the Script for 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=April 13, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |first=Michael |last=Nordine |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818035047/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/george-lucas-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-1202058551/ |url-status=live }}</ref>