[[wysiwyg_imageupload:434:]]In a lengthy interview with the NY Times, George Lucas announced that he is finished with doing anymore big blockbuster-type movies.
Iรขโฌโขm retiring,รขโฌย Lucas told the Times. รขโฌลIรขโฌโขm moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff.รขโฌย
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.
รขโฌลIsnรขโฌโขt this their job?รขโฌย Lucas says, astonished. รขโฌลIsnรขโฌโขt their job at least to see movies? Itรขโฌโขs not like some Sundance kid coming in there and saying, รขโฌหIรขโฌโขve got this little movie รขโฌโ would you see it?รขโฌโข If Steven (Spielberg) or I or Jim Cameron or Bob Zemeckis comes in there, and they say, รขโฌหWe donรขโฌโขt even want to bother to see it. . . .รขโฌโข รขโฌย
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.
รขโฌลOn the Internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie,รขโฌย Lucas says, referring to fans who, like the dreaded studios, have done their own forcible re-edits. รขโฌลIรขโฌโขm saying: รขโฌหFine. But my movie, with my name on it, that says I did it, needs to be the way I want it.รขโฌโข รขโฌย
Lucas continues, mentioning how fans would like even more Star Wars movies, but seeing how they treat him — why should he bother.
รขโฌลWhy would I make any more,รขโฌย Lucas said. รขโฌลwhen everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?รขโฌย
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.