George Lucas Blocked Legendary Director & Friend Spielberg from Directing a Star Wars Movie

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The Star Wars franchise has been in existence for close to half a century, giving it an extensive history that has played a crucial role in its remarkable achievements. It’s worth mentioning that George Lucas, the original creator, wrote and directed the first movie. Later, other filmmakers took over for the subsequent films of the original trilogy. Eventually, Lucas revisited Star Wars as both writer and director for the prequel trilogy.

Back in 2012, I found myself stepping back from the Star Wars universe after selling Lucasfilm to Disney. The sale marked a fresh beginning, leading to a new line of movies and series, giving a whole new batch of talented filmmakers like J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson the chance to leave their mark on a distant galaxy. Yet, amidst all this change, seasoned director Ron Howard stepped in following some behind-the-scenes upheaval. With so many filmmakers contributing to Star Wars over the years, it’s surprising that one of the greatest, who has such strong ties with the franchise, hasn’t helmed a single installment yet.

Steven Spielberg Supported Star Wars From the Very Beginning

  • George Lucas and Steven Spielberg both attended the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
  • Spielberg was one of the few who believed in Star Wars after seeing an early cut of the film.

Lucas and Steven Spielberg are known for creating some of the most enduring movies from the past fifty years. What’s more, they’ve been friends since their days at the University of Southern California’s renowned film school. This friendship has led to a long-term collaboration in filmmaking, with their partnership being particularly evident in the Indiana Jones series.

In the early days, before the first “Star Wars” film was polished and perfected, it was a bit of a chaotic mess – at least that’s how it seemed to many. But I, along with a few others, saw its potential for greatness. So much so, that I made a wager with George Lucas himself, betting that “Star Wars” would outshine his previous work, “Close Encounters of a Third Kind.”

But my belief in the film’s success didn’t stop at just placing a bet. I also played cupid of sorts, introducing George to the legendary composer John Williams, who would go on to create some of the most memorable and iconic scores in cinematic history for the Star Wars franchise. As a friend and supporter of George, I may not have directed a single film in the series, but my influence has been significant behind the scenes.

2012 saw Steven Spielberg expressing high praise for a film, stating that its action sequences bore striking similarities to those found in James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day, implying George Lucas was inspired by Cameron, and he believed that Lucas delivered exceptional direction with this particular production.

Steven Spielberg Nearly Directed a Star Wars Film in the ’80s

  • Lucas had his eyes set on several filmmakers to close out the original trilogy before hiring Richard Marquand.
  • While Lucas didn’t direct Return of the Jedi, he was still very hands-on with the film’s production.

Following the release of the original “Star Wars” movie, George Lucas handed over directing responsibilities and concentrated on producing sequels instead. The director for “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” was Irvin Kershner, whom Lucas had previously known as a professor at USC. For “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”, Lucas eventually chose Richard Marquand to direct, although he wasn’t his initial pick. Notably, many renowned directors like David Lynch and David Cronenberg were considered for the director position in “Return of the Jedi”.

In a different scenario, Lucas decided that Spielberg would be ideal for directing “Return of the Jedi”, given that Kershner declined to return. Despite their strong friendship, the reasons why Spielberg never ended up directing “Return of the Jedi” are still shrouded in speculation. It is believed that this was due to a rule breach on Lucas’ part regarding the opening credits for “The Empire Strikes Back”. Reportedly, Lucas left the Directors Guild of America when they requested traditional opening credits instead of the famous opening crawl. Since Spielberg remained a member of the DGA, it was not possible for him to direct “Return of the Jedi”. Nevertheless, the film managed to conclude the original trilogy successfully and secure “Star Wars” as one of the most legendary film series ever created. Spielberg continued to flourish in Hollywood, directing numerous other classics independently.

Ultimately, George Lucas Didn’t Want Steven Spielberg To Direct a Star Wars Film

Star Wars Films Directed by George Lucas
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

As Lucas departed from the Star Wars franchise while Lucasfilm was working on the sequel series, numerous film enthusiasts hoped to see him direct the much-anticipated new episode. Steven Spielberg, with his close ties to Lucas and a knack for creating films that mirrored the original trilogy’s spirit of adventure and emotion, was often mentioned as a top choice among fans. Interestingly, it’s been suggested that Lucas once desired Spielberg to direct Return of the Jedi, but his opinion on this matter shifted over the years.

I requested permission from Lucas, but he declined my proposal. Fifteen years ago, I had wished to engage in a project similar to that, however, he disapproved. I comprehend his reasoning – Star Wars is Lucas’ creation, his business, and it bears his unique touch. He recognizes that I have Jurassic Park and Raiders, but Lucas holds the reins on Star Wars, and I feel he isn’t keen on relinquishing any control.” Steven Spielberg about.

Spielberg maintained a robust collaboration with Kathleen Kennedy, who served as president at Lucasfilm and was instrumental in producing numerous films directed by Spielberg. It was logical to consider him for directing ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’, but the esteemed director declined the opportunity early on, expressing that George Lucas didn’t want him due to his other franchises. However, he remained a potential candidate to lead the franchise, which eventually came to fruition.

Steven Spielberg is widely recognized as one of the most exceptional movie directors ever, thanks in large part to his knack for consistently producing masterpieces spanning diverse genres. Though Spielberg himself may argue that Star Wars doesn’t fall within his typical genre, his body of work indicates otherwise. It isn’t hard to envision a Spielberg-directed Star Wars movie given his experience with family films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, adventures such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, and war movies like Saving Private Ryan. Just as Lucasfilm has benefited from experienced filmmakers like Ron Howard on Solo, they might also find success by involving veteran directors instead of younger ones who are deeply invested in the franchise.

Currently, it seems unlikely that Steven Spielberg will directly lead a Star Wars project; however, his extensive collection of timeless movies ensures he’ll continue shaping Star Wars for years to come indirectly. For instance, Rogue One took inspiration from Saving Private Ryan due to its war film essence, and more recently, Skeleton Crew was successful in a similar vein. In essence, Spielberg’s influence can be felt throughout modern cinema, including Star Wars, even though he doesn’t have a personal Star Wars movie. Instead, fans have enjoyed the next best thing: his work inspiring recent projects that have stood on their own merits.

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2025-06-06 00:07