GEEKERY: Lucas’ Love/Hate Relationship with Disney
Tell us what you really think of the “white slavers” that gave you $4 billion, George…
The Star Wars creator is ever at odds with a large group of fans; and now he’s been [regrettably] honest on camera about his thoughts on Disney and how they’ve treated him and his franchise.
Earlier this year Lucas was interviewed by Vanity Fair and was asked about how much input he had into the new movie – he had this to say about his relationship with the Mouse:
“The issue was ultimately, they looked at the stories and they said, ‘We want to make something for the fans.’ People don’t actually realize it’s actually a soap opera and it’s all about family problems – it’s not about spaceships. So they decided they didn’t want to use those stories, they decided they were going to do their own thing so I decided, ‘Fine.’
They weren’t that keen to have me involved anyway. But at the same time, I said if I get in there I’m just going to cause trouble. Because they’re not going to do what I want them to do. And I don’t have the control to do that anymore. All I would do is muck everything up. So I said, ‘Okay, I will go my way, and I’ll let them go their way.’
… When you break up with somebody, the first rule is no phone calls. The second rule, you don’t go over to their house and drive by to see what they’re doing. The third one is you don’t show up at their coffee shop and say you are going to burn it… You just say ‘Nope, gone, history, I’m moving forward.'”
It seems that idea of letting go didn’t quite stick. In an interview with Charlie Rose – that was aired last week – his tune changed more than a bit. When asked about the new movie he talked about how he cared for his works and then said this:
“I loved them, I created them, I am very intimately involved in them… I sold them to the white slavers that takes these things, and…”
Someone’s bitter….
… and trying really hard to hide it after the fact. Lucas later retracted his statement in a carefully worded press release, but the damage had already been done.
“I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize. I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks. Most of all I’m blown away with the record breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of JJ and Kathy.”
Should George take a droid and go to Tatooine in exile… ?
