The Fascinating Reason Behind George Lucas' Love for Rogue One

According to writer Tony Gilroy, George Lucas' reaction to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has finally surfaced after director Gareth Edwards previously expressed his excitement over it. While Lucas has refrained from sharing his thoughts on the Disney Star Wars films, he has expressed his disappointment over some of their creative decisions, including the rejection of his ideas for the sequel trilogy. Gilroy revealed the details of his conversation with Lucas after he had watched Rogue One during an interview with Pete Hammond on the Deadline video series Behind the Lens.

After the release of Rogue One, George Lucas personally reached out to me and we had a 45-minute conversation. This was the only time I ever spoke to him, but it was incredibly memorable. He absolutely loved the film and had plenty of positive feedback to share. It was a surreal experience, akin to receiving a call from the President. As a Star Wars writer, there's no greater honor than receiving praise from the creator himself.

Why Did George Lucas Love Rogue One?

There is much speculation as to why Lucas loved Rogue One, but one thing is clear - the film's unique tone and style set it apart from the rest of the Star Wars franchise. Lucas has always been a proponent of creativity and inventiveness, and Rogue One certainly delivered on both fronts. In contrast, Lucas was critical of The Force Awakens for feeling like a retro movie and lacking originality. Rogue One, on the other hand, struck a balance between familiar Star Wars elements and new ideas, which may have appealed to Lucas. Additionally, the film's exploration of the timeline between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope could have been seen as a nod to Lucas' own Star Wars movies. Regardless of the reasons, it's clear that Lucas had a positive reaction to Rogue One, and fans can only hope that future interviews will provide further insight into his thoughts on the film.