Why did Lucas sell the franchise?

[Greg Cox]

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!"

And, of course, it doesn't have to be either extreme. I mean, I imagine there's bound to be a pang seeing your baby move on without you, especially after shepherding it for a good chunk of your adult life, and I'm sure there are things he would have done differently, but there may well be parts that he quite liked as well. And I like to think that he knew what selling the franchise meant: that he would have to sit back and let somebody else take the wheel from now on.

Honestly, it's probably like anybody who retires after devoting their life to a career or a business. It's going to be hard letting go, but a relief too.

 

[Dream]

The man is 72 years old now, I doubt he was ever going to have it in him to make another SW movie.

Besides, Star Wars works better with different directors for every movie as the OT proved.

 

[Samurai8472]

The man is 72 years old now, I doubt he was ever going to have it in him to make another SW movie.

Ridley Scott at 80- Amateur.

 

[Relayer1]

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!"

That will have to be decided once 8 and 9 are out. Looking at 7 I can't think he'd be overjoyed, but the followups and stand alones might change that.

Rogue 1 does look promising...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

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?

I think that's giving the prequel-haters too much credit, to think that they could have any power over Lucas' decisions.

 

[Set Harth]

"Why would I make any more, when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?" - George Lucas

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ He said that? Hmmm.

You have to admit, the man has a point...

 

[LJones41]

Frankly, I wish that Lucas had never sold the franchise to Disney. I really do.

 

[USS Firefly]

But then we would never have new Star Wars movies

 

[C.E. Evans]

I sometimes wonder that, given time, if Lucas would have eventually handed over the reigns anyway to someone he handpicked. Sort of like how he let others direct Episodes V and VI, but perhaps even more so.

 

[Kor]

He sold the franchise so he could make a bunch of money. Why else?

Kor

 

[Ethros]

^ Ah yes because he was so starved for cash beforehand, he was practically penniless on his knees. That must be it.

 

[C.E. Evans]

He gave most of the money from the sale to Disney to charity, didn't he? That's already been mentioned in this thread.

 

[LJones41]

But then we would never have new Star Wars movies

Exactly. That's one of the reasons why I wish he had never sold the franchise.

 

[USS Firefly]

Because you also thought that TFA was a big disappointment?
I have every confidence that Rogue one will be a lot better

 

[LJones41]

Because you also thought that TFA was a big disappointment?
I have every confidence that Rogue one will be a lot better

"The Force Awakens" was a disappointment for me. And I do hope that "Rogue One" will be a lot better. I was impressed by the trailers.

 

[fireproof78]

I sometimes wonder that, given time, if Lucas would have eventually handed over the reigns anyway to someone he handpicked. Sort of like how he let others direct Episodes V and VI, but perhaps even more so.

Kathleen Kennedy would actually be pretty close, considering how closely she worked with Lucas when he owned Lucasfilm.

I don't think Rogue One will be as good as TFA, and I don't think TFA would have been any better if GL had been in charge of it.

 

[Ithekro]

'Good' when it comes to the newer films will be based on certain points of view.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Kathleen Kennedy would actually be pretty close, considering how closely she worked with Lucas when he owned Lucasfilm.

I don't think Rogue One will be as good as TFA, and I don't think TFA would have been any better if GL had been in charge of it.

I think if Lucas was still in charge, Episode III would have been the last movie.

But in a scenario in which Lucas would have still turned over the reigns to Kennedy even without the sale to Disney, we'd probably would have still ended up with the same things we currently have, but with Lucas in the "executive consultant" role that Gene Roddenberry had during Star Treks II-VI.

 

[Skywalker]

I'm just glad that when Lucas decided to sell off his company and IPs, he chose Disney. They're not perfect but they're by far the most competent of the major studios out there.