Small correction--almost EVERYTHING else is correct, but Star Wars wasn't exactly "Ghost Written" by Huyck and Katz. They did a dialog polish, and the only lines of theirs that stayed in were a few of Han Solo's. They DID help with some structure, but since their contributions basically boiled down to polishing about 60 percent of ONE character's dialog, they weren't credited, although Lucas DID give them percentage points for their help.

The Stoppard rumor was never verified, although I DO tend to believe it. Also, since we're discussing rumors, and we're talking about Lucas' yielding creative control (he's never actually done that. All his collaborators just refine ideas he gave them, and if he didn't like them, they re-wrote. That's pretty much the definition of control) There WERE other options for directors on the prequel. Earliest rumors cited Lucas lining up Joe Johnston, Frank Darabont and David Fincher, all ex ILM/LFL alums, to helm I, II and III, respectively.