George Lucas’ original Star Wars films were a benchmark in the sci-fi genre introducing audiences to a fascinating new world full of exciting characters and world-building. The classic arc of good vs evil, with the former eventually triumphing over evil, worked big time with fans, making the original trilogy an iconic one.
When Lucas continued to expand the world with the prequel trilogy, the fans did not respond to it as well as they did with the original trilogy. Lucas has now opened up about the criticism of the trilogy and pointed out how audiences have misunderstood the intentions of the film and confusion regarding its target audience.
George Lucas Defends The Prequel Trilogy And How It Was Intended For Younger Audiences
25 years since then, audiences have started to look fondly at the films and the surprising turn of audiences during the recent re-release of Phantom Menace proves it. Franchise creator George Lucas believes audiences have finally begun to realize his intentions with the trilogy and how they have misunderstood what the prequel trilogy was aiming for at the time of their release.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lucas claims that his Star Wars films (especially the prequels) have always been for kids who were starting to see the world differently and discovering what they should be striving for in life. All the good and bad lessons of life were embedded in the franchise and the creator/director also defended the criticism against Jar Jar Binks and C-3PO, claiming they were designed for the amusement of kids. He said,
It was supposed to be a kid’s movie for 12-year-olds who were going through puberty, who don’t know what they’re doing, and are asking all the big questions: What should I be worried about? What’s important in life? And Star Wars has all those things in there. They’re buried in there but you definitely get it, especially if you’re young.
Everybody said the same thing about 3P0, that he was irritating and we should get rid of him. When I did the third one it was the Ewoks: ‘Those are little teddy bears. This is a kid’s movie, we don’t want to see a kids’ movie.’ I said: ‘It is a kids’ movie. It’s always been a kids’ movie.’
The prequels have seen a resurgence recently as people who were young kids at the time of the release are now fondly reliving the experiences of watching them with their own kids. This was further proved when The Phantom Menace became the most streamed Star Wars film on Disney+, which adds to Lucas’ arguments about how most audiences were torn between their expectations and the intentions of the prequel trilogy.
Daisy Ridley Wants to Reunite With John Boyega on Her New Star Wars Film
Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s Finn were two of the leading characters in the modern Star Wars trilogy. After 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, Ridley is set to reprise her role in a new solo Star Wars film set 15 years after the events of the 2019 film.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress expressed that she would like Boyega’s Finn to join Rey in her new journey. Ridley stated that it feels natural that the characters should reunite and go on a new adventure together. She said,
Absolutely, of course, It feels like we should, yeah.
The project directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is among many live-action theatrical Star Wars films that are in development. Ridley is currently starring in the new biographical drama film Young Woman and the Sea, where she plays the real-life American swimmer Gertrude Ederle. The film is set to have a limited theatrical release on May 31, 2024.
Fans can watch the Star Wars prequel trilogy on Disney+.
