DIRECTOR · BORN 1944
George Lucas
- Born
- 14 May 1944
- Known for
- Star Wars (1977), Return of the Jedi (1983), American Graffiti (1973), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
55 archived facts 8 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
George Lucas (born 14 May 1944) is a director and screenwriter best known for Star Wars, Return of the Jedi and American Graffiti.
George Lucas over the years
55 Interesting Facts About George Lucas
Interesting Facts (12)
Production Story (14)
- #013
George Lucas, having worked on a number of films with Harrison Ford wanted a different actor for Indiana Jones and had picked Tom Selleck but he was already scheduled for Magnum P.I. and CBS wouldn't agree to delay filming so Tom lost out and although becoming a star with the series he never achieved big screen stardom.
- #014
- #015
Has employed many relatives of his mentor Francis Ford Coppola in his Star Wars films. Coppola's brother-in-law Bill Neil worked at ILM during the production of the original trilogy. Bill's son Christopher Neil was a dialogue coach on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola played a Naboo guard and handmaiden in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). In addition, Sofia Coppola had directed The Virgin Suicides (1999), which features Hayden Christensen before he was cast as Anakin Skywalker.
- #016
- #017
Despite a reputation as Hollywood blockbusters, all of the Star Wars films are actually independent films, with the exception of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The only way he could get the required funding to make the film was to apply for studio funding. With the success of the film and its merchandising, Lucas no longer needed to go to the studios. For Episodes V and VI, he took out bank loans, which he paid off on each films' earnings. For the Prequel Trilogy, he no longer needed bank loans, having made enough money to fund each film out of his own personal savings.
- #018
- #019
He originally wanted his friend Steven Spielberg to direct Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), but his dispute with the Director's Guild barred him from doing so. He settled for director Richard Marquand instead.
- #020
- #021
He made what was at the time an unusual deal for the film, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Paramount financed the film's entire $20 million budget. In exchange, Lucas would own over 40% of the film and collect almost half of the profits after the studio a grossed a certain amount. It turned out to be a very lucrative deal for Lucas. Paramount executive Michael Eisner said that he felt the script for the film was the best he had ever read.
- #022
- #023
- #024
- #025
- #026
After having a great working relationship with Steven Spielberg on Gremlins (1984), Spielberg produced the next two films Chris Columbus scripted, The Goonies (1985), based on an idea Spielberg had, and Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), which was Columbus' idea, which altogether was two years working on three films. Spielberg then wanted Columbus to script Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), a big step for him as a writer. He accepted and went to meet Spielberg and Lucas, two men he was very intimidated by, even though Columbus had worked with Spielberg three times, and they were two of his cinematic heroes. Columbus acted as Spielberg and Lucas's secretary on The Last Crusade for five days taking down all of their ideas. Lucas dictated the screenplay to Columbus making him fearful of changing any of it, and it went against what Columbus had learned at film school. To him, the script seemed lifeless and without energy and there was nothing of Columbus in it. He assumed Spielberg hired him for that last reason and when Columbus turned it in he was fired from the picture for all the above flaws in the script. It was a defining moment in Columbus's career, to never again ignore his base instincts on a movie, or to be intimidated by the people he worked with.
Behind the Scenes (6)
- #027
- #028
- #029
According to Mark Hamill, when working on the 'Star Wars' films, people would sometimes ask him about the proper pronunciation of the character names (e.g. If 'Leia' was pronounced 'Lee-ah' or 'Lay-ah'). Lucas really didn't care much about it and said they would be pronounced different ways in various parts of that galaxy.
- #030
- #031
- #032
Has employed many relatives of his mentor Francis Ford Coppola in his Star Wars films. Coppola's brother-in-law Bill Neil worked at ILM during the production of the original trilogy. Bill's son Christopher Neil was a dialogue coach on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola played a Naboo guard and handmaiden in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). In addition, Sofia Coppola had directed The Virgin Suicides (1999), which features Hayden Christensen before he was cast as Anakin Skywalker.
Characters & Cast (2)
Easter Eggs & References (1)
Deeper Meaning (3)
Career & Awards (8)
Life & Family (9)
- #047
- #048
- #049
Skywalker Ranch, Lucas' film production facility, covers an area of some 3,000 acres in Northern California's Marin County hills. The precise address is: 5858 Lucas Valley Road, Nicasio, California, 94946. The facility employs around 200 personnel, is home to a baseball field, a vineyard, 3 restaurants and a fire station, not to mention the array of hi-tech amenities. The fact that Skywalker Ranch is located off Lucas Valley Road is pure coincidence.
- #050
- #051
- #052
Is a major collector of the American illustrator and painter Norman Rockwell. A collection of 57 Rockwell paintings and drawings owned by Lucas and fellow Rockwell collector and film director Steven Spielberg were displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum from July 2, 2010 to January 2, 2011 in an exhibition titled Telling Stories.
- #053
- #054
- #055
According to Mark Hamill, when working on the 'Star Wars' films, people would sometimes ask him about the proper pronunciation of the character names (e.g. If 'Leia' was pronounced 'Lee-ah' or 'Lay-ah'). Lucas really didn't care much about it and said they would be pronounced different ways in various parts of that galaxy.
Related pages
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico — George Lucas comes up in the facts on that page
- Zodiac — George Lucas comes up in the facts on that page
- Minions & Monsters — George Lucas comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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