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HomeInterviewsIn Conversation with George Lucas: It works because I care about movies"

In Conversation with George Lucas: It works because I care about movies”

May 6, 2025

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Step back 20 years. Revenge of the Sith had been released, the circle was complete and the six movie saga was done, which meant George Lucas was free to move onto cinematic pastures new. Of course, we now know that was far from the case; studios were booked for Underworld, while work on The Clone Wars had already begun, and with a fourth Indiana Jones just a couple of years away it was one of the busiest periods for Lucasfilm, and here speaking with the AFI he explained his love of movies, a love that would continue for another seven years until he sold Lucasfilm to Disney. Here, he discusses his journey, through American Graffiti and beyond.

Here is AFI’s exclusive interview with AFI Alum Jon Avnet from the AFI Archive featuring visionary writer, director and producer George Lucas from when he visited the AFI Campus in 2005. The AFI Life Achievement Award recipient discusses his filmmaking journey from his early days to AMERICAN GRAFFITI to STAR WARS and beyond.

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George Lucas

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Mark Newbold

Exploring the galaxy since 1978, Mark wrote his first fan fiction in '81 and been a presence online since webpage Fanta War in 1996. He currently contributes to ILM.com, SkywalkerSound.com and Starburst Magazine, having previously written for magazines and sites including Star Wars Insider, StarWars.com, Star Wars Encyclopedia, Lightsabre.co.uk, Jedi News, Jedi.net, Build The Millennium Falcon, Geeky Monkey, TV Film Memorabilia, Model and Collectors Mart, Star Trek The Official Magazine, Star Trek: TNZ and StarTrek.com. He is the only podcaster to have appeared on every Celebration podcast stage since it began in 2015, hosting it four times, the EiC and Daily Content Manager of Fantha Tracks and the co-host of Making Tracks, Canon Fodder and Start Your Engines on Fantha Tracks Radio.

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Counting Down To:

September 2026

tue22sep12:01 AM11:59 PMLucas Museum of Narrative Art opening ceremonyEvent ends in

Event Details

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art celebrates the power of visual storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum explores how images move us and shape our collective memory. From Frida Kahlo’s self-portrait to Norman Rockwell’s scenes of everyday life to Charles White’s portraits of dignity. Each invites reflection. Each tells a story.

Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD, the Lucas Museum is located in Exposition Park in the South Los Angeles region. The museum’s campus includes new green space designed by Mia Lehrer and her team at Studio-MLA. Inside the building, our galleries explore timeless themes—family, love, work, play, fantasy, and more. Additional spaces include two state-of-the-art cinematic theaters and dedicated areas for learning, dining, retail, and events.

George Lucas and Mellody Hobson share a conviction that illustrated stories connect people across cultures and generations. Their decades of collecting span iconic American painting and popular illustration, comics, and cinematic art.

Lucas, creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, and founder of the George Lucas Educational Foundation began collecting in college, when the only art he could afford was original comic art for $30. Over 50 years, that collection has grown to more than 40,000 works. “I could never sell my art,” Lucas says. “It just is not what I think art is. I think it’s more about an emotional connection with the work, not how much it cost.”

Hobson, in addition to managing Ariel Investments, is the former chair of Starbucks Corporation and serves as a director of JPMorganChase.

In 2010, Hobson and Lucas signed the Giving Pledge, a campaign and public promise by some of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists to give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. The pair is committed to improving education, particularly through the arts. “We’ve always said we’re holding society’s money, which we fully intend to give back,” Hobson says. “This is how we’re doing it.”

Time

September 22, 2026 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM(GMT-07:00)

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October 2026

sat17oct11:00 AM4:00 PMThank The Maker: Rogue One - Saturday 17th October 2026The Journey Behind The Star Wars StoriesEvent ends in

February 2027

fri19feb12:01 AM11:59 PMStar Wars 50th Anniversary releaseEvent starts in

Interviews News

In Conversation with George Lucas: It works because I care about movies”

By Mark Newbold

May 6, 2025

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Here is AFI’s exclusive interview with AFI Alum Jon Avnet from the AFI Archive featuring visionary writer, director and producer George Lucas from when he visited the AFI Campus in 2005. The AFI Life Achievement Award recipient discusses his filmmaking journey from his early days to AMERICAN GRAFFITI to STAR WARS and beyond.