Why did Lucas sell the franchise?

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

First I know why he sold it to Disney. He has always felt that if any company could shepherd his property it would be Disney. For the past fifteen or twenty years, he shows up with his son at the Florida Parks every spring.

What I'm asking is.. was it the the heavy criticism of the prequels that caused him to sell? If people reacted with love to the prequels, would he have made the sequels on his own?

 

[USS Triumphant]

I really think it was that he wanted the money to do other projects, and fan response to the prequel trilogy and the changes in the Special Editions of the OT probably convinced him that he wasn't doing anyone any favors holding onto the property until he died, possibly leaving it in hands he did not trust to caretake it. I mean, even HE was seen wearing a "Han Shot First" shirt - and I doubt that was entirely to rib the fans.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I think he just wanted to enjoy his retirement content with the knowledge that his life's work was in good hands.

And most of the money from the sale was donated to various education concerns.

 

[DWF]

He was going to be married again and no doubt talking about starting a family, both of which he did. And no doubt no longer had the energy to devote to his five companies.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Also, I can't help but think that the decision shortly before by Henson Studios to sell Disney the rights to The Muppets and The Bear In The Big Blue House to make sure that they were in hands their creator would have approved of may have played a role in Lucas's thinking, too.

 

[The Old Mixer]

My wild, uninformed guess would be some variation of "I'm getting too old for this shit!"

 

[Trekkin]

Why not? If he's not feeling the need to play with his toy anymore, he might as well pass it on and let someone else enjoy it.

Considering his latest plans seem to revolve around funding independent projects and running various charitable organisations, no doubt the money was just the icing on the cake.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

$$$

 

[fireproof78]

Can't be the $$$ because it all went to charity. Honestly, it sounded like he wanted more time to spend with his family.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

The cash went to charity, but I believe he got a significant amount of Disney stock. However, I agree that it probably had a lot to do with his (then) impending marriage and their newborn baby.

My wild, uninformed guess would be some variation of "I'm getting too old for this shit!"

That's certainly one way of putting it. I remember him expressing disappointment because he spent decades with people telling him to make more SW movies, and then he spent ten years of his left doing it, and then he got loads of criticism for those movies.

 

[The Wormhole]

Age-old story, he'd done everything he wanted to do with the franchise, but knew someone else was salivating to have their crack at it, so he handed the rights over and let someone else play in the sandbox.

 

[Captain Worf]

Because he had no interest in making more films. He'd fulfilled his promise to make the first three episodes and gave up on making episodes VII, VII, and IX when he made Return of the Jedi.

 

[martok2112]

I guess there's always been some conflicting reports about his stance on Star Wars as far as RotJ is concerned.

Many years before, it was supposed to be twelve movies (four trilogies), then it ended up being that Return of the Jedi was the end of the story. The Empire's dead, the New Republic is born, the Jedi have returned (even if singular in persona).

In any case, even though I enjoyed the prequels (especially RotS), I know that many folk did not, so, just like them, I am gratified that Lucas decided to bow out, and leave it in what he thought were capable hands. Lucas has fulfilled his destiny, even if (despite monetary returns that suggest otherwise) his prequels were supposed turkeys.

 

[RoJoHen]

One wonders what his reaction will be to all the new films being made.

 

[USS Triumphant]

One wonders what his reaction will be to all the new films being made.

From a financial perspective: If he has a clue, and I believe he does, then he won't be at all surprised - he knows Disney is a business, and businesses exist to make money, and they aren't going to blow the massive amount that they did purchasing Lucasfilm from him without following up to monetize that investment for hopefully a large return. And Disney is pretty good at squeezing every last cent out possible, usually without killing the goose laying the golden eggs in the process.

From an artistic/creative perspective: Yes, that will be interesting, I guess - but what he did with the Prequel Trilogy shows that while I will always appreciate him having created the ideas behind Star Wars and getting it made, he's FAR from the final word on what makes GOOD Star Wars. So... eh.

 

[martok2112]

One wonders what his reaction will be to all the new films being made.

From a financial perspective: If he has a clue, and I believe he does, then he won't be at all surprised - he knows Disney is a business, and businesses exist to make money, and they aren't going to blow the massive amount that they did purchasing Lucasfilm from him without following up to monetize that investment for hopefully a large return. And Disney is pretty good at squeezing every last cent out possible, usually without killing the goose laying the golden eggs in the process.

From an artistic/creative perspective: Yes, that will be interesting, I guess - but what he did with the Prequel Trilogy shows that while I will always appreciate him having created the ideas behind Star Wars and getting it made, he's FAR from the final word on what makes GOOD Star Wars. So... eh.

Aye, G-Rod and G-Luc both suffered from that fall. At least Lucas got 4 bil out of it and donated it to education. G-Rod pretty much had Trek taken away from him, so to speak.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Aye, G-Rod and G-Luc both suffered from that fall. At least Lucas got 4 bil out of it and donated it to education. G-Rod pretty much had Trek taken away from him, so to speak.

Are you suggesting, good sir, that those two men are the "original g's" of which I've heard so much about?

 

[Kor]

Now that MCU and Star Wars are under Disney's control, we can undoubtedly look forward to years of crossovers.

Kor

 

[RoJoHen]

From an artistic/creative perspective: Yes, that will be interesting, I guess - but what he did with the Prequel Trilogy shows that while I will always appreciate him having created the ideas behind Star Wars and getting it made, he's FAR from the final word on what makes GOOD Star Wars. So... eh.

I'm mostly just curious to hear about his reaction upon seeing the new trilogy. Will he think, "They did a good job. My work is in good hands." Or will he think, "OMG, what a pile of garbage! I can't believe I let Disney do this!"

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Now that MCU and Star Wars are under Disney's control, we can undoubtedly look forward to years of crossovers.

Kor

I have to wonder if future Guardians of the Galaxy films will be a way to vet potential Star Wars directors.