see you auntie said:

Now I know if someone proposed the question that is asked in the title my response would be a cynical "Oh to reap the mountains of money from further home cinema releases, merchandising, EU titles blah blah blah to feed George's insatiable hunger for blah blah blah...."

... ...

So you don't care for Lucas's output. A lot of us dont, but as zombie pointed out LFL is a very busy production house.

With all their available resources they should be that film making utopia were some upstart could come get their little film financed and produced away from the Hollywood bogey-man. Well in actual fact those film makers are doing a better job financing their films in Hollywood. The chance may be slim to none but it's better than zero.

Why would Lucas do this? Sure it would be nice, but it would be nice if Bill Gates gave me a grant too.

If George wanted to direct Red Tails fucking take the job and direct it.

As for his role in the production of "Red Tails" I'm sure Lucas is doing precisley the job that he wants. As the hands-on producer, he's seeing that he gets exactly the film he wants/pays for. I doubt he sees day-to-day on the set directing as necessary for that goal.