Yeah, a few of us old enough to remember thought we’d be getting a more few films - and it certainly felt like they’d be ‘making these movies til the end of time’ in our younger days - though not necessarily be directed by George…
George Lucas is also quoted here as saying “There should be at least three or four [further films], but I won’t direct them. I made the prototype. I’ll not do that again. Let others interpret it their own way…” below…
^ a screenshot image taken from the ‘Lucas: Galactic General of Star Wars’ article in the LA Times - back in June, 1977.
From George Lucas himself back in 1979 - from Issue 15 of ‘Star Wars Official Poster Monthly’ - when asked if it bothered him allowing other directors to make other Star Wars films:-
Indeed, the original plan for the Star Wars films was seemingly to have different directors for each movie - to benefit from having the respective input, styles and focus brought by each director…
^ from an interview with Gary Kurtz, on Page 22 of the 'Once Upon A Galaxy: A Journal of The Making of The Empire Strikes Back’ book, published in 1980.
Even after Return of The Jedi we had the two theatrical Ewok films; John Korty’s ‘Caravan Of Courage’ in 1984 (May 1985 in the UK cinemas), followed by Ken and Jim Wheat’s ‘Battle For Endor’ in 1985 (April 1986 in the UK cinemas).
Yeah, they were ‘spinoffs’ - but were still ‘Star Wars’ to our young eyes… and we didn’t have to wait 3 year between films like we did for the Original Trilogy… though we didn’t quite know they were seemingly aimed at younger kids (my younger siblings loved them at the time - though they deny that now! 😉)
In 1987, at the 10th Anniversary, George was still talking about what the next Star Wars films would be…
10th Anniversary Edition in 1987? Was anything released or done? - and scroll down to the ‘George on stage’ videos.
Channel72 said:
But a strong piece of evidence for this as a widespread perception in the early 80s appears in the lyrics of the Weird Al Yankovic song “Yoda”, a parody of “Lola”, and released in the mid-80s. It has lyrics like this (paraphrasing):
I know Darth Vader’s really got you annoyed,
But remember if you kill him then you’ll be unemployed,
Oh my Yoda… (chorus)
The long term contract I had to sign,
Says I’ll be making these movies to the end of time!
Oh my Yoda… (chorus)
Love that, mate. 👍
