By Chris Snellgrove
| Printed
Neglect Anakin Skywalker…to many Star Wars followers, George Lucas is the actual Chosen One. As a result of Disney continues to run Star Wars into the bottom, followers have satisfied themselves that the Maker could be the one one who can save this franchise from its miserable decline. However right here’s a bitter reality larger than any house station: Lucas was already operating the franchise into the bottom, and he can be dealing with Star Wars simply as badly as Disney if he was nonetheless in cost.
Arguably, the primary actual proof that George Lucas had fallen off was the discharge of the Particular Editions. At first, Star Wars followers cherished seeing the Unique Trilogy in theaters once more, however the decline in high quality was apparent…Garish CGI changed ingenious sensible results, and a few cool moments like Han Solo killing Greedo have been eternally ruined via awkward enhancing. “Without end” is the important thing phrase right here as a result of solely the Particular Editions at the moment are offered or streamed, retaining us from probably the most iconic variations of those movies as a result of Lucas determined to pave over his artistic legacy for an opportunity to make a number of further bucks.
The Particular Editions helped construct up hype for The Phantom Menace, the primary movie of George Lucas’ highly-anticipated Prequel Trilogy. The film had highlights like the large combat with Darth Maul, nevertheless it was principally a serious disappointment that changed the previous franchise magic with farting particular results and a barely-literate house rabbit that steps in poop. The prequels have since discovered a youthful viewers, however to older Star Wars followers, these chaotic and borderline incomprehensible movies have been proof the franchise was in decline and even vibrant spots just like the Clone Wars cartoon have been constructed on Lucas’ failure to inform story within the first place.
Now, Disney purchased the franchise from George Lucas in 2012, and the failure of the Sequel Trilogy and a number of TV spinoffs have made many followers suppose Star Wars wouldn’t be in decline if it had by no means been offered. Nevertheless, we’ve established that Lucas was busy squandering the franchise that made him rich for a full 15 years (the primary Particular Version got here out in 1997) earlier than promoting it to Disney. And what most followers don’t understand is that he was doing a little loopy stuff earlier than then, together with growing a Star Wars live-action present whose episodes would have price $40 million a bit and mainly doomed the franchise.
That’s the actual story, nevertheless it’s one that the majority followers don’t wish to admit: had George Lucas by no means offered Star Wars to Disney, the franchise would nonetheless be in full decline if not lifeless altogether. New concepts just like the impossibly budgeted live-action present show that Lucas had misplaced no matter Jedi-like knowledge prompted him to create the franchise within the first place. Plus, it’s value remembering that a few of the Disney-era Sequel Trilogy concepts followers hated a lot, together with Luke Skywalker as a hermit educating a precocious younger girl, have been initially developed by Lucas himself.
For Star Wars followers who’re dissatisfied with the present state of the franchise, it’s tempting–comforting, even–to suppose that George Lucas may have executed every little thing higher. In actuality, although, he had already begun ruining the franchise, and Disney’s personal failures present how nicely they realized from the person who introduced this galaxy far, far-off to life. And at this level, we are able to simply hope that Star Wars comes again as a enjoyable Drive ghost as soon as Disney has completed killing it.
