It was news that broke the Internet a few years back when Disney purchased Lucasfilm for a whopping $4 billion, announcing a new trilogy of Star Wars movies including several spin-offs. But prior to their announcement, Lucas himself was working a new trilogy that he intended to write and direct for release in May 2015.
However, when the offer came through, the decision was easy for Lucas to make.
“It’s better for me to get out at the beginning of a new thing and I can just remove myself,” Lucas told USAToday, promoting his new movie Strange Magic. “The time is more important to me than the money.”
SEE ALSO – George Lucas hasn’t watched the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer
Lucas laments that a new trilogy would have taken another decade off his life, which he wants to spend with his wife and newborn. However, he says he will be first in line for Star Wars: The Force Awakens when its released in December.
“The only thing I really regret about Star Wars is the fact I never got to see it — I never got to be blown out of my seat when the ship came over the screen,” Lucas says. “The next one, I’ll be able to enjoy it like anybody else.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set for release on December 18th 2015 and sees returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) joined by Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Andy Serkis (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Domhnall Gleeson (Dredd), John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen. The Raid stars Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman are also rumoured to be featuring. You can listen to the Flickering Myth Podcast review of the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens using the player below:
