George Lucas Reveals What Ended His Star Wars Directing Plans

George Lucas says he walked away from plans to direct three more Star Wars movies because he wanted to finish the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. The 82-year-old filmmaker discussed the decision during a recent interview with Norah O’Donnell on CBS Sunday Morning, where he appeared with his wife and business partner, Mellody Hobson. Hobson said Lucas put so much work into the museum that the level of detail “nearly killed him.” Lucas responded, “Well, I’m 82, so there is a limit to…” Lucas said the museum changed his plans after Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, which arrived in theaters in 2005. “When I did this, I decided to retire from making movies, which was a big deal because I had three more Star Wars to make,” he said. “But I realized that I was running out of time, and I did want to make this museum, and I’d spent a lot of time developing digital technology for the movie business,” Lucas continued. “You know, all art depends on technology.” Lucas directed the first Star Wars film, 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope, then returned to direct the prequel trilogy, beginning with 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace. He did not direct 1...