„I Don't Think He Feels Inclined to Share Any of It with Me”. George Lucas Refused to Let Steven Spielberg Direct a Star Wars Movie
Steven Spielberg, before George Lucas reportedly offered him to direct The Phantom Menace, wanted to make another Star Wars film, but the series creator wouldn't let him.
As is well known, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are friends and worked together on the famous Indiana Jones series. Despite the fact that their cooperation on this project was going great, Lucas did not agree to Spielberg taking on his other series – Star Wars. A friend expressed a desire to direct a film in this cosmic universe, but the space opera creator was against it.
Spielberg told the story in 2002 during an interview with Empire Magazine, when he was asked why he had not fulfilled his dream of making a Star Wars movie.
I've asked him! He won't let me do one. I wanted to do one 15 years ago and he didn't want me to do it. I understand why – Star Wars is George's baby. George is my best friend and I believe I am his, but we are all competitive. I believe that this is George's franchise. It's his cottage industry and it's his fingerprints. He knows I've got Jurassic Park and [Indiana Jones]. But George has Star Wars and I don't think he feels inclined to share any of it with me!
Lucas years later reportedly changed his mind and offered Spielberg the position of director of The Phantom Menace, however the Jurassic Park director declined, suggesting to a friend that he should do it himself. Nevertheless, although he never fulfilled his dream of making his own film in the series, Spielberg had a hand in its creation. He helped Lucas during his work on Revenge of the Sith. He was involved in the creation of the scenes from Order 66.
Thus, Spielberg helped create some of the universe's most unforgettable scenes, making it impossible to deny that he made a significant contribution to Star Wars.
