The Incredible Directors Who Passed Up on George Lucas' Offer to Helm the Star Wars Prequels: Unveiling the Untold Stories
Why did renowned directors refuse George Lucas' offer to direct the Star Wars prequels? Discover the reasons behind their decisions and whether they were justified in turning down this iconic opportunity
Summary
George Lucas offered the chance to direct the Star Wars prequels to three well-known directors, namely Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, all of whom turned down the opportunity. They believed that Lucas should take on the task of directing the films himself.The prequels drew criticism for their stiff performances, memorable yet cringe-inducing lines, and questionable visual effects. This has led to speculation that having different directors could have potentially enhanced the overall quality of the films.
Despite the directors' initial hesitations about continuing the Star Wars saga, as demonstrated by their reluctance to pursue the prequel trilogy, Ron Howard's successful direction of Solo: A Star Wars Story suggests that their concerns may have been unfounded. George Lucas offered the opportunity to three directors to helm the prequels but was rejected by all of them due to their apprehension. After a difficult experience directing A New Hope, Lucas chose to hand over the directorial duties to Irvin Kershner for The Empire Strikes Back and Richard Marquand for Return of the Jedi. His original plan for the prequels was to serve as an Executive Producer, overseeing the story and production while others took on the role of director.
During a 2015 interview on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast via CinemaBlend, director Ron Howard disclosed that George Lucas had approached him, Robert Zemeckis, and Steven Spielberg to direct the Star Wars prequels. Howard mentioned that Lucas had expressed his hesitation to take on the directing role and had sought the opinions of Zemeckis, Spielberg, and himself. Interestingly, all three directors advised Lucas to helm the project himself, as they believed no one would want to attempt to follow up on such a monumental success. Although Howard felt honored by the offer, he admitted that the task would have been too overwhelming.
The directors ultimately declined Lucas', instead urging him to take on the helm of the films himself. At a time when the original Star Wars trilogy was the only content the franchise had presented, merging Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace with the other films became an immense challenge. Lucas received harsh criticism for his writing and directing skills upon the release of the prequels, leaving many to speculate how the trilogy would have turned out under different guidance.
Were The Directors Right To Turn Lucas Down?
In hindsight, a diverse group of directors may have been the optimal choice for the Star Wars prequels. While the story itself is remarkable, the trilogy suffers from rigid performances, iconic lines that have turned into perpetual memes, and special effects that could warrant a Star Wars prequels special edition. By collaborating with more filmmakers, Lucas could have showcased his finest work, just as he did with the original trilogy, where he crafted the story and served as a producer. The directors were not incorrect in declining Lucas' offer and encouraging him to pursue his passion, but they also erred in rejecting it out of fear.
Howard has proven his ability to handle the franchise with Solo: A Star Wars Story. Spielberg has been associated with Star Wars since its inception. He was the only friend of Lucas who believed in the original film and was initially chosen to direct Return of the Jedi. However, director's guild issues caused complications, and he ultimately supervised a portion of the Mustafar duel in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. While the Star Wars prequels are not flawless, Lucas told the story on his own terms, as he had envisioned it.
