The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Disney Star Wars George Lucas

George Lucas says sorry for branding Disney ‘white slavers’

Author

By Seb Joseph, News editor

January 2, 2016 | 2 min read

Star Wars creator George Lucas has apologised for describing Disney as ‘white slavers’ when discussing the sale of his media empire to the conglomerate.

It was a “very inappropriate analogy”, admitted the director, who in a candid interview on US television earlier this week opened up on what he really thought about the sale of Lucasfilm that earned him $4bn. He said he had sold his “kids….to the white slavers that take these things,” before going on to criticise the “retro” tone of the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise he created – The Force Awakens.

“I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy, and for that I apologise,” Lucas said in a statement, in which he went on to voice his approval for Disney as the “custodians” of Star Wars because of the respect he has for the company.

"I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks,” assured Lucas.

The statement is a noticeable shift in stance from Lucas’ earlier comments and while he may have expressed concern at the latest Star Wars' episode’s deference to what has come before, it would appear that fans love it. It has become the fastest film to hit $1bn at the international box office and after less than two weeks has already secured a top spot in the all-time UK top ten. The film, which had a budget of $300m has its sights site on taking the global title from Avatar, which made £2.7bn in 2009.

Disney Star Wars George Lucas

More from Disney

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +