Well he's been saying it for a while, he's claimed to be "done" with "Star Wars," but now, it's official: George Lucas is retiring from Lucasfilm Ltd., the very Empire company he built from the ground up.
In an official press release from Lucasfilm, Lucas said:
“I’ve spent my life building Lucasfilm and as I shift my focus into other directions I wanted to make sure it was in the hands of someone equipped to carry my vision into the future…”
What that future is, is at the moment uncertain. Is it finally time for George to start making those experimental flicks that he's been talking up for years now? In an interview with the fittingly titled "Empire" magazine, he said:
I'm moving away from the company, I'm moving away from all my businesses, I'm finishing all my obligations and I'm going to retire to my garage with my saw and hammer and build hobby movies. I've always wanted to make movies that were more experimental in nature, and not have to worry about them showing in movie theaters.
Seriously, George. I would love that. Do it.
Filling the flannel for Lucas as Lucasfilm Co-Chair is Kathleen Kennedy, longtime producer, who with partner Frank Marshall shepherded such Spielberg-centric smash hits as the "Indiana Jones" series, which Lucas co-created and "Jurassic Park." She will be stepping down from her role at The Kennedy/Marshall Company, sending the work Frank's way.
What this means for "Star Wars" is unclear at this point. Could be business as usual. Could be a drastic shift. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Check out the full Lucasfilm press release on the matter below.
SAN FRANCISCO, California—June 1, 2012—Lucasfilm Ltd. today announced that Kathleen Kennedy will become Co-Chair of Lucasfilm. In an effort to move forward with his retirement plans, George Lucas will work with Kathleen Kennedy to transition into her new role. Lucas will become Co-Chairman of the Board of Lucasfilm and continue as CEO. Micheline Chau will remain as President and COO of Lucasfilm, and continue to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business.
“I’ve spent my life building Lucasfilm and as I shift my focus into other directions I wanted to make sure it was in the hands of someone equipped to carry my vision into the future,” said George Lucas. “It was important that my successor not only be someone with great creative passion and proven leadership abilities, but also someone who loves movies. I care deeply about my employees—it is their creativity and hard work that has made this company what it is today. As the company grows and expands I wanted to be sure the employees of Lucasfilm have a strong captain for the ship. I also care deeply about our fans and it was important to have someone who would carry on the passion and care that I’ve given the films over the years. So for me Kathy was the obvious choice, she is a trusted friend and one of the most respected producers and executives in the industry.”
Director Steven Spielberg said, “George's prescience is once again proven by his choice of my long time producing partner, Kathy Kennedy to co-chair Lucasfilm. Kathy has been a member of both of our families going into a fourth decade so it does not feel like she is going to another galaxy far far away. She will get just as much support from me with Lucasfilm as George has given both of us all these years.”
“George is a true visionary,” said Kathleen Kennedy. “I’ve seen him build Lucasfilm from a small rebel unit in Northern California to an international fully integrated entertainment company. I’m excited to have the chance to work with such an extraordinary group of talented people. George and I have talked about the enormous opportunities that lie ahead for the company, and as George moves towards retirement I am honored that he trusts me with taking care of the beloved film franchises. I feel fortunate to have George working with me for the next year or two as I take on this role—it is nice to have Yoda by your side.”
Seven-time Academy Award nominated Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most successful and esteemed producers and executives in the film industry. As a producer she has an impeccable record with a robust filmography working with such filmmakers as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, Clint Eastwood, David Fincher and Gary Ross. As a testament to her standing in the film community, she previously held the position of governor and officer of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees. She is also a former President of the Producers Guild of America.
Kathleen will step down from her role at The Kennedy/Marshall Company, shifting her responsibilities to partner Frank Marshall. The Kennedy/Marshall Company is currently in post production on LINCOLN, directed by long time collaborator Steven Spielberg whom Kennedy also produced for on the INDIANA JONES and JURASSIC PARK franchises, and THE BOURNE LEGACY, written and directed by Tony Gilroy and produced by Marshall. Under the Kennedy/Marshall banner, the pair has produced such Academy Award nominated Best Picture films as WAR HORSE (six nominations), THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (thirteen nominations) THE SIXTH SENSE, (six nominations) and SEABISCUIT (seven nominations), as well as blockbusters including the BOURNE series and THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN. Marshall will oversee the company’s current slate of projects and continue to expand it via their development deals with DreamWorks and CBS TV Studios.
Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
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Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Maybe now history with solidify and acting in any live action shows will actually be good.
Ugh... do not thump the Book of G'Quan...
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Maybe the original OT can get cleaned up and given the release it deserves.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Maybe Han will shoot first again, and Greedo won't look like a Stormtrooper reject for missing a target sitting less than two feet in front of him...
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I wonder just how much freedom she has to go in new directions. For instance, what if she decided she wanted to make Episodes VII, VII and IX?
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I'm more interested in what she'll do with the canon tree. GL has spent the last two years really cutting into it and I wonder if KK is going to continue with the purge.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
There are... things I'd love to see go, but still probably too late to get me really interested again.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Star Wars has always been a rolling creature. Sometimes its best to give it time off just to come back later once they've rebuilt to experience a new Universe, or at least a refreshed one.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Hmm, yeah. An excellent way to look at it, Deep. Rather... deep of you.Deepcrush wrote:Star Wars has always been a rolling creature. Sometimes its best to give it time off just to come back later once they've rebuilt to experience a new Universe, or at least a refreshed one.
Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I say that we make the books and EU canon and the movies non-canon
Ugh... do not thump the Book of G'Quan...
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I have my moments where I'm not entirely hateful of the human race.RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Hmm, yeah. An excellent way to look at it, Deep. Rather... deep of you.
That would simply kill SW... though it could be useful if you want to see how much you can pissoff the Geek population of the world.Jim wrote:I say that we make the books and EU canon and the movies non-canon
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I actually thought it more the other way. Most of the changes that Lucas made don't really mess up the conon of the movies at all (save Han shooting first). The vast majority of the changes that everyone rages about are because it mess up the EU.Deepcrush wrote:That would simply kill SW... though it could be useful if you want to see how much you can pissoff the Geek population of the world.Jim wrote:I say that we make the books and EU canon and the movies non-canon
Ugh... do not thump the Book of G'Quan...
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
Because EU spends to much time cutting into the movie canon. They should just sent it so EU has no impact on film canon, it would ease things out so much. A starfighter that can destroy a fleet on its own... 200ish, thousand year old ships that manage to turn a course of a war in spite of their inability to damage the ships they are fighting... the most brilliant commander of the restored Imperial Order and she losses every single battle she comes across... bioship fleet of a displaced race of a single planet but somehow over takes the defenses of Coruscant... Not to mention the constant foul ups with ships and weapons and people and battles.
EU just needs to die.
EU just needs to die.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
I'd stick EU in an alternate universe...then set fire to the alt universe and eat the ashes. The Suncrusher was ridiculous.
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Re: Lucas Steps Down; Kathleen Kennedy in Charge
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