George Lucas, the visionary behind some of the most iconic franchises in cinema history, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones, recently shared his candid views on the current state of the film industry and its future. Speaking at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival during an interview with Brut, the 80-year-old filmmaker expressed concerns about a lack of originality in today’s cinema landscape.
George Lucas criticised the industry’s heavy reliance on sequels and remakes, stating, “What happens now — and it happens in streaming probably more than features, but features, it’s the same thing — nobody knows what to do,” he told Brut.
“The stories they’re telling are just old movies. ‘Let’s do a sequel, let’s do another version of this movie.’ And it’s not just in movies, but in almost everything, there’s almost no original thinking.” He also highlighted the difficulties original concepts face in the industry, noting, “If you go in and say, ‘I’ve got something that you’ve never seen before and you don’t understand it,’ it’s very hard to get a deal.”
Lucas also reflected on the evolution of his own creation, Star Wars, especially after selling his Lucasfilm empire to the Walt Disney Company for over US$4 billion in 2012. Since the acquisition, Star Wars has expanded significantly, with numerous new movies, series, and spinoffs. Lucas shared some disappointment with how some of the original ideas and depth of the universe, particularly aspects like the Force, have been handled post-sale.
“I was the one who really knew what Star Wars was…who actually knew this world, because there’s a lot to it. The force, for example, nobody understood the force,” Lucas said. “When they started other ones after I sold the company, a lot of the ideas that were in [the original] sort of got lost. But that’s the way it is. You give it up, you give it up.”
Despite stepping back from his franchise, Lucas watches as Star Wars continues to grow, with projects like The Acolyte, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and Skeleton Crew on the horizon. His commentary provides a poignant look at the challenges and realities facing modern filmmakers, emphasising the need for innovation and creativity amidst a sea of familiar narratives.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Edwin Teo
Trinity Sun
