Lucas apologises for ‘white slavers’ remark about Disney

With more than $1 billion in ticket sales and a 94 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems like just about everybody is happy with the seventh installment of “Star Wars” – except for George Lucas. He admitted, according to the Washington Post, that the decision to sell Lucasfilm Ltd. and its properties, which included Star Wars and the IndianaJones series of films, became sort of a “divorce”. I don’t know whether I’m going to be here when I’m 80…. “It would probably ruin a vision – J.J. has a vision, and it’s his vision”.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” continues to break worldwide box office records becoming the most successful film of 2015, bringing in the highest New Year’s Day total, while toppling “Titanic’s” domestic box office record and becoming the top grossing Disney film of all time.

He described his films as his kids and joked that he had sold them to “white slavers”.

The interview was conducted before the December 14 premiere of the film, where Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger thanked Lucas, who was there, for his “sheer genius” in creating Star Wars.

The clarification comes after comments Lucas made during an interview this month with Charlie Rose.

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.

He said: “They wanted to do a retro movie”.

In the statement, Lucas said Disney is moving the franchise in exciting directions. “I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologise”, he said.

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.

Lucas’ views on Star Wars can be heard in the Charlie Rose interview.