George Lucas is the creative mastermind behind the lavish sci-fi phenomenon that is Star Wars and the filmmaker has recently spoken out on matters regarding the creative process for the franchise’s next film. According to Lucas, Disney, who now owns Lucasfilm, canned the original story the Star Wars creator pitched to them for Episode VII and they have written one of their own.

In 2012, it was announced that Lucas had sold his company, Lucasfilm to Disney for an extremely hefty amount of money and that he would remain a “creative consultant” for the next Star Wars film that was to be made. It seems as if the director has had less creative control than originally thought as Disney has seemed to have completely taken over his works and will be fabricating an entirely new tale with Episode VII. Star Trek reboot director J.J. Abrams will helm the seventh film, which is titled The Force Awakens.

The first teaser trailer for the film was released last month, a full year before the film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on Dec. 18 this year. The new plot still remains unknown, the only known fact is that a few new characters that were introduced within the launch trailer will be involved as well as a selection of the original cast members from the first trilogy of films. Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill who played Princess Leia, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, respectively in the original Star Wars films are guaranteed to be reprising their roles, although they are not seen in the first trailer.

Lucas stepping away from the galaxy far, far away can result beneficially or poorly, depending on how tender Abrams and Disney are with the project. With Star Wars having one of the largest fan bases in the world, the new creative team has quite a weight on their shoulders for hopes of executing the project successfully. Disney is known for lightening and sometimes kid-proofing many of their projects, overlooking certain areas where more gravitas could have been brought out, so one can only hope that is not done with The Force Awakens.

Lucas seems to not even be holding his breath for the project as the filmmaker has not even seen the release trailer yet and does not plan to. One must wonder if the director will even make his way into the theater to see the final cut of the film. He has remained rather passive in statements regarding the Disney takeover, but it seems as if he is not completely satisfied with their executions thus far. The world may never truly know where Lucas now stands on the world of Star Wars.

In the meantime, Lucas is doing press for his new animated movie musical Strange Magic. He states that the tale was inspired by his love for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and that he hopes the film will reach out to young girls as Star Wars reached out to young boys.

Even though Disney has canned George Lucas’s original story for Star Wars: Episode VII audiences can only remain positive that the legacy is still in good hands. The world will find out for certain when the film releases worldwide on Dec. 18.

By Cody Collier

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GLV – Cody Collier

Sources:

ABC News

Wired

Ars Technica

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