George Lucas’s Celebration III appearance was the marquee event of the weekend and one of the defining moments in Star Wars Celebration history. It marked his first Star Wars fan convention appearance since 1987 and drew some of the most intense demand of the convention, with fans lining up overnight for a chance to attend.

Lucas appeared in three separate 30-minute Q&A sessions on Saturday morning in the Sagamore Ballroom. The sessions gave fans a rare opportunity to hear directly from Lucas as Revenge of the Sith neared release, with discussion touching on the completion of the six-film saga, the future of Star Wars television, possible 3-D rereleases, Star Tours, and why there were no plans for Episodes VII, VIII, or IX at the time.

Session 1

• Introduction: Host Jay Laga’aia and Producer Rick McCallum introduced George Lucas to the stage. Lucas began by stating his primary reason for attending the convention was to thank the fans, noting that the franchise only became a phenomenon because of their passion.
• Young Indiana Jones DVD: A fan asked about a DVD release for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Lucas confirmed a massive compilation was in the works, pairing the episodes with roughly 100 historical documentaries, though he noted the project was facing some resistance from the studios.
• Completing the Saga: When asked about his takeaway from finishing Episode III, Lucas stated his overwhelming emotion was relief. He described the 30-year journey as highly stressful and expressed gratitude that the production stayed on track to the very end.
• Writing Origins: A fan asked if Luke or Anakin was created first. Lucas explained his original script was too massive to film, so he decided to start in the middle of the story. His primary motivation was not a specific character, but a desire to recreate the feel of 1930s Saturday matinee serials so he could film a giant space dogfight.
• Theme Parks and Television: When asked about the franchise’s future in Disney parks and TV, Lucas announced a revamp of the Star Tours ride. He also revealed two television projects: a 3D animated half-hour series about the Clone Wars and a live-action show focusing on minor characters.
• Anticipating Success: Asked if he expected the franchise to be this big, Lucas admitted he had absolutely no idea and was incredibly surprised by its global success.
• Creative Partnership: Lucas and McCallum were asked about their 16-year working relationship. They described it as being like a marriage where they rarely need to speak to understand each other, noting they planned to work on non-Star Wars films together next.
• Final Thoughts on Episode III: Lucas was asked if the final prequel met his expectations. He confirmed it did, expressing his ultimate satisfaction that all six films could finally be viewed as a single, cohesive story.

Session 2

• Episode III Cameo: The session opened with Lucas confirming he filmed a cameo for Revenge of the Sith. He and his daughter appeared as blue-skinned extras in a crowd scene, acting opposite a blue string used for visual effects reference.
• The Purpose of Star Wars: A fan asked why he created the franchise. Lucas explained he wanted to make a fun, exciting story for young people that dealt with values and real-world issues.
• The Sequel Trilogy: Asked if he ever planned to adapt Timothy Zahn’s novels into Episodes VII, VIII, and IX, Lucas stated he never thought beyond Episode VI. He firmly defined the saga as the complete, finite story of Darth Vader’s life.
• Independent Financing: Lucas discussed his financial model, explaining that the success of American Graffiti and the original Star Wars gave him the capital to start his own companies and self-finance future films, allowing for total creative control.
• International Merchandising: A fan from Turkey pointed out the lack of merchandise in their country. Lucas acknowledged the issue, pointed out the licensing staff in the front row, and stated they try hard to reach the global market.
• Missing the Production: Asked what he will miss most, Lucas highlighted the camaraderie of his crew and the energy of the fan base, joking that he would now go make movies nobody wants to see.
• Willow Sequel: Lucas revealed he had just spoken with actor Warwick Davis backstage about the possibility of developing a Willow television series.
• Fan Reception: When asked if fans will love Episode III, Lucas noted that fans are highly independent, but he hopes they love it. He reiterated it is the final puzzle piece that makes the saga one long movie.
• TV Series Timeline: Lucas elaborated on the upcoming TV shows, noting the live-action series would take about a year to write and would focus on minor characters. He later clarified it takes place between Episode III and Episode IV.
• Release Order: A fan asked why the films were released out of order. Lucas explained the original script was too big, so he shot the middle act. He did not plan to make the prequels until the theatrical re-release of the Special Editions proved there was still a massive audience demand.
• The True Hero: A fan pointed out that R2-D2 constantly saves the day. Lucas agreed, officially calling R2-D2 the real hero of the story and noting he is the only character to survive every film.
• Fan Obsession: Lucas expressed deep gratitude for the fans but offered a word of advice, telling them to enjoy the movies but to get on with their lives and not let the franchise entirely take over.
• Indiana Jones 4: Lucas revealed he had just received a new script for the next Indiana Jones film and planned to discuss it with Steven Spielberg the following Monday.
• Directing Style: Asked about his creative team, Lucas explained that a director holds the big picture but must keep an open mind and listen to the input of others.
• Lightsaber Color: Asked what color his personal lightsaber would be, Lucas joked he has a red one and a blue one, choosing which to use based on his mood.
• Buzz Droids: A fan asked a highly specific lore question about buzz droids in Episode III. Lucas playfully deflected to avoid spoiling unreleased material.
• The Old Republic: Asked about movies set in the Old Republic, Lucas said there were no immediate plans, but successful TV shows could eventually open the door to other eras.
• Final Questions: The host asked who they would play in the universe. Lucas chose R2-D2 for his sense of humor, and McCallum chose Jabba the Hutt. Lucas closed by mentioning his next project was producing a film about African American fighter pilots in World War II.

Session 3

• Naming Characters: Host Jay Lag’aia asked how characters get their names. Lucas explained they come from history, mythology, and phonetics. He noted his kids name some characters, while background extras are usually named by the licensing department.
• Digital Projection: A fan asked about theaters adopting DLP technology. Lucas urged fans to write to theater owners, lamenting that adoption was slower than expected and only about 80 theaters would show Episode IIIdigitally.
• Fan Impact: A mother thanked Lucas for creating the universe, sharing that the films and toys brought joy to her son who suffers from CHARGE syndrome.
• Stormtrooper Morality: A young fan asked if Stormtroopers are the good guys. Lucas confirmed they are the good guys, but they simply take orders from a very bad man.
• Viewing Order: Asked about watching the saga chronologically versus release order, Lucas noted both are valid. He explained that watching Episodes I through VI chronologically changes the narrative dynamic, turning the reveal of Darth Vader’s identity into a moment of dramatic irony rather than a surprise.
• Pirates: A fan dressed as a pirate asked why there are no pirates in Star Wars. Lucas humorously directed him to visual effects supervisor John Knoll, who was working on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
• Desert Island Music: Asked to name three CDs to take to a desert island, Lucas listed Antonín Dvořák, The Beatles, Marilyn Manson, and The Carpenters.
• Willow Sequel: Another fan asked about Willow, and Lucas repeated his earlier comment about discussing a TV series with Warwick Davis.
• Episode III Rating: Lucas confirmed the film is rated PG-13. He explained it was rougher due to Anakin’s physical transformation, but the overall style of action was consistent with the other films.
• Sith Eyes: A fan asked about the yellow eyes of the Sith. Lucas explained a character’s eyes turn yellow when they are completely consumed by a moment of pure anger and true evil.
• Filmmaking Advice: A fan asked for career advice. Lucas emphasized persistence, hard work, and focusing on a love for the craft rather than a desire for success.
• Jedi Afterlife: A fan named CC Banana asked what happens when a Jedi dies. Lucas joked he would probably just lie there dead. He explained that fading away like Obi-Wan requires immense study and knowing the right people on the other side.
• Steven Spielberg: Lucas confirmed Steven Spielberg helped storyboard and pre-visualize a few action sequences for Episode III while waiting to film War of the Worlds. Lucas contrasted their styles, calling himself a documentary-style editor while describing Spielberg as highly precise.
• Discovering Film: Asked what drives him, Lucas shared that he stumbled into the USC film program by accident and fell in love with it. He originally wanted to make abstract experimental films and thought Star Wars would be a one-off project.
• Skywalker Ranch: A fan asked about visiting Skywalker Ranch. Lucas clarified it is strictly a working office and post-production facility, not a bed and breakfast or tourist destination.
• Religious Beliefs: Asked about religion, Lucas shared he grew up Methodist, lives in a Buddhist-influenced area, and studied anthropology. He incorporates a broad spiritual perspective into his life without attaching to one specific organization.
• Favorite Sith: Lucas named the Emperor as his favorite Sith Lord, noting he is the most purely evil character and does not need gadgets or capes to be terrifying.
• Trilogy Pacing: Lucas explained that the prequels are character-driven backstory, meaning the first two films used very little actual plot. As a result, 60 percent of the prequel era’s story had to be condensed into Episode III.
• The 501st Legion: Asked about the 501st Legion costuming group, Lucas praised their dedication, joked they needed a marching band, and suggested that highly dedicated fan groups should receive a special form of honorary knighthood.
• The Title: A fan asked about the origin of the name “Star Wars.” Lucas said it was a literal description of a war in the stars. The studio initially hated it, fearing people would think it was a gossip movie about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
• UK Premiere: A fan from England asked for a ticket to the upcoming premiere, and the host playfully promised to sort it out to close the panel.

Announcements

Indiana Jones 4 Progress: He announced to the crowd that he had just received the newest script for a fourth Indiana Jones film and was scheduled to meet with Steven Spielberg the following Monday to determine their next steps.

Live-Action Star Wars Television Series: Lucas officially announced the development of a live-action spin-off series. He detailed that the show will move away from the main Skywalker family to focus on minor characters and will be set in the timeline between Episode III and Episode IV.

3D Animated Clone Wars Series: He revealed plans to expand the existing Clone Wars material into a new, half-hour 3D animated television show.

Star Tours Revamp: Lucas confirmed that Lucasfilm and Disney were actively collaborating to update and revamp the classic Star Tours theme park attraction.

Tuskegee Airmen Film: He announced that his immediate next focus as a producer, following the release of Episode III, would be a feature film about African American fighter pilots during World War II. This project later became the film Red Tails (2012).

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles DVD Collection: Lucas announced a massive, educational home video release for the series, confirming the episodes were being packaged alongside approximately 100 newly produced historical documentaries.

Sources

• Session 1 Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDuDzXZXp0
• Session 2 Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8p0qp7nmW4
• Session 3 Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oufOTZq_Z8