In Disney CEO Bob Iger's memoir,
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, he revealed that
Star Wars creator George Lucas was upset when he learned that the new trilogy wouldn't be following the treatment Disney purchased from him for a new series of films.
During Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, it seems George was under the impression that the deal would see
Episode VII,
VIII and
IX follow his outline, but Iger noted in his memoir that it was never a contractual obligation. Then, when Lucas saw
The Force Awakens for the first time, he "
didn't hide his disappointment" and reportedly stated, "
There's nothing new."
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy addressed those revelations from Iger's book.
"
Personally, I’ve had a relationship with George going back to all of us meeting before making Raiders of the Lost Ark. So this is a long, 35-plus years that I’ve known George, and I continue to be very, very good friends with George. And I think there’s plenty of examples where people create something that is fundamental to who they are, where it’s difficult letting go and watching that become something different.
So I think initially, that was difficult for George — I don’t think he anticipated how hard that would be. And J.J. came into it with such enthusiasm and, frankly, reverence for Star Wars and for George, and had to find what was personal for him. He had to make it his own. Every director who comes into a movie has to make something their own; they have to find themselves in the storytelling. And then that’s going to become a different point of view. And I think that’s all George was reacting to."
Kennedy went on to double down on the assertion that Lucas is simply regretting the fact that he's no longer involved, citing a recent visit to
The Mandalorian set where she watched his interactions with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau.
However, in the same breath, Kennedy said she doesn't think Lucas would return to do another film. "
I doubt it. But listen, I think that would be fantastic, if he would be interested in doing that again. But I doubt it."
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