Key takeaways:
• The plot point of Rey seeking Luke Skywalker was initially a part of George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars: Episode VII.
• Despite selling Star Wars franchise to Disney, Lucas had some plot inputs that eventually made it into The Last Jedi.
• Lucas admitted that while he had original plans for the sequel trilogy, Disney preferred to chart its own creative direction.
• After recognizing his diminished creative control over the franchise, Lucas consciously distanced himself from the sequel trilogy’s creation.
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi and other films of the franchise are available on Disney+.
The Star Wars saga has been a cultural phenomenon for decades. But one aspect which has intrigued fans endlessly is the extent to which Star Wars creator George Lucas was involved in crafting the sequels after the franchise was sold to Disney. A recent revelation uncovers that Lucas indeed had a plan for Star Wars: Episode VII, a portion of which was included in The Last Jedi.
George Lucas’ Original Vision for Star Wars:Episode VII
Star Wars series creator George Lucas had initially planned to continue the space opera saga himself, before eventually selling Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012. As Disney commissioned work for a sequel trilogy set after the events of Return of the Jedi, Lucas embarked on a more limited role.
One significant development that Lucas planned was the character arc of Rey, according to details from The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Lucasfilm executive Pablo Hidalgo . During the initial story briefings in 2013, Lucas conceptualised a storyline of Luke Skywalker meeting and training a young force-sensitive character, who later became Rey, creating a pivotal foundation for the narrative of The Last Jedi.
Lucas’ Diminished Role in the Sequels
Despite having some of his ideas included in the sequel, Lucas largely stepped back from the saga’s creation after its acquisition by Disney. In a candid interview with CBS This Morning, the Star Wars creator revealed that his ideas for the sequels didn’t align with Disney’s vision. Regretfully, he accepted that his inclusion could potentially derail the new direction Disney intended for the franchise.
Lucas deliberate distancing from the sequels stemmed from recognising the diminished control he held in shaping the Star Wars universe. He also realised his involvement could likely result in disagreements disrupting the sequels’ production process. Hence, he nobly decided to step away, allowing Disney to steer the Star Wars ship into new waters.
The Legacy Continues
Despite his limited role, traces of Lucas’ creative genius still echo in the sequel trilogy. While his original vision for Star Wars: Episode VII changed under Disney, his influence on Rey’s character formation reflects the true spirit of the Star Wars saga.
Fans can explore these elements in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and other movies from the franchise on Disney+. The magic of Star Wars, as initially envisioned by Lucas and later adapted by Disney, continues to enthral viewers around the globe.
