Filmmaker George Lucas captured the imagination of cinemagoers in an unprecedented manner when he launched the Star Wars franchise in 1977. The first installment had groundbreaking visual effects as Lucas transported viewers to a galaxy far, far away. Moreover, the inventive editing and sci-fi elements contributed to the first film becoming a major hit.
However, despite the appeal of the visuals, Lucas knew they weren’t the primary reason behind the film’s success. During an interview, Lucas revealed what prompted him to make a space opera movie and explained how the film’s target audience was responsible for its success. In hindsight, Lucas might have gambled with the film’s genre but ultimately it proved to be the right choice.
George Lucas Revealed the Biggest Reason Behind the Success of Star Wars
George Lucas directed 1977’s Star Wars, which changed the course of modern blockbuster filmmaking. While the film was lauded for its revolutionary visual effects, its heartwarming story and the camaraderie between its main characters resonated with the audiences.
During an interview with Time, Lucas was asked about making a movie primarily aimed at children. The filmmaker admitted that he had been curious about society and culture, primarily how it develops an equilibrium. Lucas explained how there was a notable lack of mythology in modern society.
We had reached a period in terms of our society of not having a mythology, a code that you pass down to the next generation. Friendship is valuable, honor is valuable. There wasn’t a movie genre like that aimed at younger people, the 12-year-olds coming of age.
Lucas made the above statement, explaining that he aimed the film at a younger audience mainly because a genre like that did not exist at the time. The filmmaker’s words confirm that Star Wars became an unprecedented success because Lucas dabbled into an untapped genre, ripe with fresh storytelling opportunities.
However, by focusing on a brand new genre, Lucas arguably took the biggest gamble of his life, as there wasn’t a proven audience for his sci-fi epic aimed at 12-year-olds. Despite this, Lucas’ heartfelt thematic messaging in the movie appealed to a wider audience, resulting in the movie’s success and the birth of one of cinema’s most popular franchises.
George Lucas Explained Why He Started the Star Wars Saga in the Middle
In the same interview, Lucas was also asked about returning to the space opera saga decades later to helm the prequel trilogy. The filmmaker was questioned about why he decided to start the story in the middle, with Episodes 4, 5, and 6 coming out before the prequels, which were the chronological start of the story.
Lucas revealed that the franchise was inspired by the Saturday morning television serials. The first installment was meant to drop viewers in the middle of an episode. However, for him to develop the story across three parts, he also had to write a considerable amount of backstory for the galaxy far, far away.
In order to do that, I had to write a back story, so I said maybe I’ll do the prequels.
Lucas made the above statement, explaining his decision to tell the story in a non-chronological order.
Given that Lucas wanted to aim the original trilogy at children, starting the story in the middle was the right choice. Moreover, the backstory of Darth Vader only works as prequels, giving viewers the benefit of hindsight during rewatches and adding a poetic effect to the underlying tragedy of the saga.
The Star Wars movies and shows are streaming on Disney+.
