George Lucas apologises for ‘white slavers’ remark about Disney: analogy was ‘inappropriate’

“Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise”.

I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize. “Every movie, I worked very hard to make them different”.

“I sold them to the white slavers that takes these things, and…”, he said in the interview, before deciding not to finish the sentence. By using lines like this to describe such a dispute, Lucas was essentially equating movie executives to the harsh practice of buying and selling people, then stripping them of dignity and humanity.

Lucas added that he was “blown away with the record-breaking blockbuster success of the new movie”, heaping praise on director J.J. Abrams and current Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

In the Charlie Rose interview, reported on here by Deadline, George Lucas sounded much more bitter about it all, commenting that Disney “wanted to do a retro movie”.

Globally, “The Force Awakens” ― the first “Star Wars” film in a decade ― has so far earned US$1.29 billion, sending it past Disney’s animated blockbuster “Frozen” for the number eight spot on the all-time box office list. “I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings yet I feel it is noteworthy to make it clear in that I am thrilled in that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such thrilling directions in film, television and the parks”.

Mobile games and subscriptions for the Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG also contributed to the total sales.

Most of Lucas’s interview with Rose had been about his own uneven steps in developing a new relationship with his “Star Wars” legacy, since putting it in another company’s hands. “Do that.’ And be there to help guide it”.

In the interview, he talked about the Star Wars films as his “kids”, and said: “I sold them to the white slavers that take these things, and -” before cutting off his comment with a laugh. Well, despite what most diehard fans of the original trilogy will tell you, the answer is no. Some of the changes are downright offensive for sure, but there are a few that are completely justifiable. “I don’t like that”, Lucas said.