George Lucas: No More Big Movies

**Fire Me Boy!** · 10-05-2006, 08:04 AM

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/737/737407p1.html

George Lucas: No More Big Movies

Talks Star Wars, Indy, Red Tails and more.

by IGN Staff

October 5, 2006 - George Lucas appears to be out of the big-budget movie business for good. The semi-retired Star Wars filmmaker recently granted an interview with industry insider mag Variety in which he reveals that he and his company Lucasfilm are finished making movies where a large financial investment is involved.

"We don't want to make movies," explains Lucas. "We're about to get into television. As far as Lucasfilm is concerned, we've moved away from the feature film thing because it's too expensive and it's too risky. I think the secret to the future is quantity." He adds that he would rather spend $200 million making 50-60 smaller movies than one big-budget film. "That's 120 hours as opposed to two hours. In the future market, that's where it's going to land, because it's going to be all pay-per-view and downloadable."

But Lucasfilm isn't getting out of the features game all together just yet. Lucas confirms that he still has Indiana Jones 4 in the pipeline. "Steve (Spielberg) and I are still working away, trying to come up with something we're happy with," he says. "Hopefully, in a short time, we will come to an agreement. Or something." At least he can't be accused of being overly optimistic. Lucas is also working on Red Tails, his long-in-development film about the Tuskegee airmen of WWII. Lucas says he plans to serve as executive producer on both pictures as well as the forthcoming live-action Star Wars TV series.

Once those projects are launched, the frequently-flanneled filmmaker revealed that he intends to focus on making "small movies, esoteric in nature."

Lucas also referred to the planned Star Wars animated TV series and hints that Lucas Animation may eventually make a feature film. "Right now we're doing television, which looks great. I'm very, very happy with it," he said. "And out of doing the animation, we're getting the skill set and the people and putting the studio in place so we can do a feature. But it's probably going to be another year before we have the people and the systems in place to do a feature film."

Hammock Parties · 10-05-2006, 08:08 AM

ROCK ON WITH YOUR BAD SELF!

**Easy 6** · 10-05-2006, 08:11 AM

I heard his next space-opera will explore the mystical universe that exists in his neck fat.

Deberg_1990 · 10-05-2006, 12:27 PM

Dont do us any favors George.

NewChief · 10-05-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Dont do us any favors George.

No kidding. Take away the grand scope, special effects, and childhood nostalgia of the SW series, and you're left with some really bad dialogue and poor acting (sorry GoChiefs).

Deberg_1990 · 10-05-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

No kidding. Take away the grand scope, special effects, and childhood nostalgia of the SW series, and you're left with some really bad dialogue and poor acting (sorry GoChiefs).

The best thing he has ever directed is still American Grafetti

StcChief · 10-05-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The best thing he has ever directed is still American Grafetti

Yep. without a doubt. True character build, great story. Everyone can relate to it.

A different generation, pre-star wars crowd.

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-05-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Dont do us any favors George.

Whether or not you've enjoyed Lucas's recent movies, his impact on movie making and the movie business is absolutely unparalled. Here's just a short list of achievements behind the camera and behind the scenes:

Wrote and directed American Graffiti, which was made for $770,000 and grossed over $115 million domestically. AG helped to finance Star Wars.

Wrote, directed and produced Star Wars.

Created ILM, which is the leader in special effects.

Created Droid, a film editing program in 1980. This was later sold to a couple of guys who renamed it Avid. Avid video editing and Pro Tools are the industry leaders in Film Post Production and Music creation and production, respectively.

Created Pixar. Sold it to Steve Jobs for $10 million.

Launched the film careers of Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, as well as directors Ron Howard, Joe Johnston and Steve Sommers, to name a few.

He recently donated $175 million to the USC film school, his alma mater.

I welcome his vision for television, especially considering the piracy issue that the film industry will soon be facing.

DMAC · 10-05-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Mark Hamill,

Launched? I would say Mark Hamill was the like the 1985 Challenger disaster.

**Easy 6** · 10-05-2006, 03:43 PM

I would rather see George re-release the Star Wars series for the 187th time, all the better to soak up more cash. He's gonna need that extra kwan to keep his chin well fed.

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-05-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

Launched? I would say Mark Hamill was the like the 1985 Challenger disaster.

Then I guess you're not familiar with his extremely successful voiceover and cartoon character career.

And FWIW, I think Mark Hamill is about a million freakin' times better than Hayden Christensen, which is something I thought could never happen. It's amazing how bad the choice of Christensen was for the most infamous character in the Star Wars universe.

**Easy 6** · 10-05-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then I guess you're not familiar with his extremely successful voiceover and cartoon character career.

And FWIW, I think Mark Hamill is about a million freakin' times better than Hayden Christensen, which is something I thought could never happen. It's amazing how bad the choice of Christensen was for the most infamous character in the Star Wars universe.

I'll second that Dane, Hamill is DeNiro compared to "Hayden" my tool has more acting chops than that goof. BTW, i hope Hollyweird is treatin' ya' right. I lived there for a year, on Alvarado, just off Sunset, cant believe i am alive after a year in Echo Park

KCinNY · 10-05-2006, 07:32 PM

Let's not forget his masterpiece "Howard the Duck."

Frazod · 10-05-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then I guess you're not familiar with his extremely successful voiceover and cartoon character career.

And FWIW, I think Mark Hamill is about a million freakin' times better than Hayden Christensen, which is something I thought could never happen. It's amazing how bad the choice of Christensen was for the most infamous character in the Star Wars universe.

I don't blame Christensen entirely; he's been decent in other things. Portman has been awesome in other things. Together, under the inept direction of Lucas, they suck ass. The acting was horrible in the original Star Wars, too (only Cushing and Guinness had the chops to overcome Lucas).

The only good acting occurred in Episodes V and VI; ironically, these were the ones that Lucas DIDN'T direct. Imagine that.

Lucas is a great visionary. He should have stayed behind the scenes in all the movies and let somebody who's a lot better with people get behind the camera.

Halfcan · 10-05-2006, 01:06 PM

His last few movies LOOKED like TV quality special effects-so that seems to be a good move.

10-05-2006, 08:04 AM	Topic Starter
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	George Lucas: No More Big Movies http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/737/737407p1.html George Lucas: No More Big Movies Talks Star Wars, Indy, Red Tails and more. by IGN Staff October 5, 2006 - George Lucas appears to be out of the big-budget movie business for good. The semi-retired Star Wars filmmaker recently granted an interview with industry insider mag Variety in which he reveals that he and his company Lucasfilm are finished making movies where a large financial investment is involved. "We don't want to make movies," explains Lucas. "We're about to get into television. As far as Lucasfilm is concerned, we've moved away from the feature film thing because it's too expensive and it's too risky. I think the secret to the future is quantity." He adds that he would rather spend $200 million making 50-60 smaller movies than one big-budget film. "That's 120 hours as opposed to two hours. In the future market, that's where it's going to land, because it's going to be all pay-per-view and downloadable." But Lucasfilm isn't getting out of the features game all together just yet. Lucas confirms that he still has Indiana Jones 4 in the pipeline. "Steve (Spielberg) and I are still working away, trying to come up with something we're happy with," he says. "Hopefully, in a short time, we will come to an agreement. Or something." At least he can't be accused of being overly optimistic. Lucas is also working on Red Tails, his long-in-development film about the Tuskegee airmen of WWII. Lucas says he plans to serve as executive producer on both pictures as well as the forthcoming live-action Star Wars TV series. Once those projects are launched, the frequently-flanneled filmmaker revealed that he intends to focus on making "small movies, esoteric in nature." Lucas also referred to the planned Star Wars animated TV series and hints that Lucas Animation may eventually make a feature film. "Right now we're doing television, which looks great. I'm very, very happy with it," he said. "And out of doing the animation, we're getting the skill set and the people and putting the studio in place so we can do a feature. But it's probably going to be another year before we have the people and the systems in place to do a feature film."
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10-05-2006, 08:08 AM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	ROCK ON WITH YOUR BAD SELF! __________________ Chiefs game films
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10-05-2006, 08:11 AM	#3
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3747775	I heard his next space-opera will explore the mystical universe that exists in his neck fat.
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10-05-2006, 12:27 PM	#4
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Dont do us any favors George. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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10-05-2006, 03:43 PM	#10
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3747775	I would rather see George re-release the Star Wars series for the 187th time, all the better to soak up more cash. He's gonna need that extra kwan to keep his chin well fed.
Posts: 91,648

10-05-2006, 07:32 PM	#13
KCinNY Chiefs Goon Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Center Ice Casino cash: $10008350	Let's not forget his masterpiece "Howard the Duck."
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10-05-2006, 01:06 PM	#15
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	His last few movies LOOKED like TV quality special effects-so that seems to be a good move.
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