Lucasfilm has found itself in uncharted waters this year, with the latest Star Wars movie Solo: A Star Wars Story becoming the first instalment of the saga to tank at the box office, and many fans turning on Disney for its handling of the franchise, particularly after the hugely divisive Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Disney’s distribution chief Dave Hollis has previously revealed that the studio will be looking to reevaluate its approach in the wake of Solo’s box office failure, while rumours have been circulating that development on future Anthology movies have been put on hold (a claim that Disney quickly and firmly denied) and that Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm future may even be on the line (a claim that is yet to be denied).
What is clear at the moment is that there’s a lot riding on Star Wars: Episode IX, as Disney and Lucasfilm look to get the series and the fans back on track. And, if rumours are to be believed, this may have led to the Mouse House seeking out help from Star Wars creator George Lucas.
SEE ALSO: More details on the Solo fallout as Disney and Lucasfilm reassess their future Star Wars plans
According to That Hashtag Show, there is talk that Disney has enlisted Lucas to help work on the script for Star Wars: Episode IX, which has been written by J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Chris Terrio (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), and that they have been “consulting with Lucas on story ideas and plot points” for the closing chapter of the Sequel Trilogy.
When Disney first acquired Lucasfilm from Lucas, the deal included treatments for the Sequel Trilogy written by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3), and Lucas was acting in an unofficial consulting capacity on the planned films until the studio decided to throw out his ideas and start from scratch on what ultimately became The Force Awakens.
Lucas hasn’t been shut out entirely from the new films however; Kathleen Kennedy revealed last year that he still occasionally offers her small pieces of advice on the movies, while Ron Howard revealed that his old pal also visited the Solo set and ended up contributing to a scene.
What do you make of these rumours? If true, is it a smart move on Disney’s part to seek out advice from George Lucas? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
SEE ALSO: George Lucas says fans would have hated his Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Star Wars: Episode IX is set for release on December 20th 2019 with J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) directing a cast that includes Star Wars veterans Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) as well as new additions Naomi Ackie (Lady Mabeth), Richard E. Grant (Logan) and Keri Russell (The Americans).
Originally published July 29, 2018. Updated December 4, 2022.
