George Lucas Almost Sold Star Wars (A Lot Earlier…)
Hard to fathom. The Maker, himself — George Lucas — almost sold Star Wars (a lot earlier).
A seldom noted footnote to an Empire Magazine feature article, Screenrant’s Chris Agar noticed this quote:
At first I was contemplating selling the whole thing to Fox… I’d just take my percentage and go home and never think about Star Wars again. But the truth of it is, I got captivated by the thing… And I can’t help but get upset or excited when something isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. I can see that world. I know the way the characters live and breathe.”
Difficulties Encountered
There’s no doubt that those fans who remain immersed in the landscape Lucas created over 40-plus years ago.
Agar wrote about the difficulty Lucas encountered while creating Star Wars.
It’s no secret Lucas had a very difficult time during production on the original Star Wars movie, which he directed. The project took a tremendous toll on him and affected his health as he struggled to just simply get the movie made. When it came time to move forward on a sequel, Lucas decided he wasn’t going to put himself through that experience again and only served as producer. Irvin Kershner, Lucas’ mentor at USC, was brought in to direct the film that would become The Empire Strikes Back.
Star Wars: Four Decades Later
Now, 40-years-old, The Empire Strikes Back stands as a tremendous achievement. And the love and respect engendered in the creatives connected to the movie remain obvious via video.
Perhaps more interesting, are the thoughts of those who needed to engineer the success — literally — of ESB.
Now, looking back at the film – it’s hard to imagine Star Wars without “I am your father…” Or, for that matter, the reveals in other films to follow.
It really was the difference-maker; the “moment” that marked the Original Trilogy as different.
Finally, thank goodness for that difference. Moreover, “Thank The Maker” for Star Wars.