In a lengthy interview with the NY Times, George Lucas announced that he is finished with doing anymore big blockbuster-type movies.
I’m retiring,” Lucas told the Times. “I’m moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff.”
While the Times does state Lucas will still be involved with Indiana Jones 5, Lucas’ current flick, Red Tails, will be the last. Apparently, Lucas feels slighted that when he approached the studios about the film, an all-black movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, they didn’t bother to give it much thought, with an exec not even showing up.
“Isn’t this their job?” Lucas says, astonished. “Isn’t their job at least to see movies? It’s not like some Sundance kid coming in there and saying, ”˜I’ve got this little movie — would you see it?’ If Steven (Spielberg) or I or Jim Cameron or Bob Zemeckis comes in there, and they say, ”˜We don’t even want to bother to see it. . . .’ ”
In addition to feeling snubbed by the movie studios, Lucas seems to be fed up with the fanboys as well. Lucas has a few words for those upset by his edits to Star Wars, with Lucas making a note that it is his movie.
“On the Internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie,” Lucas says, referring to fans who, like the dreaded studios, have done their own forcible re-edits. “I’m saying: ”˜Fine. But my movie, with my name on it, that says I did it, needs to be the way I want it.’ ”
Lucas continues, mentioning how fans would like even more Star Wars movies, but seeing how they treat him — why should he bother.
“Why would I make any more,” Lucas said. “when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?”
Lucas will not be out of the movie making business completely, as he will go back to doing smaller art-housed movies similar to the films he was shooting before Star Wars.
Regarding Red Tails, Lucas bank-rolled the movie himself at the cost of $100 million.
Head on over to the NY Times via the link above for more with George Lucas.
