George Lucas, the creator of the iconic “Star Wars” franchise, does not believe that the lack of racial diversity in his films is a problem. Despite criticism over the predominantly white casting in both his original trilogy and the prequel entries, Lucas believes that the focus should be on accepting people for who they are, whether they are aliens or humans. He argued that the idea of equality should extend beyond physical appearances.
While Lucas produced the Black-focused World War II drama “Red Tails” in 2012, his “Star Wars” films have been criticized for their lack of diversity, as noted by astronomer Carl Sagan back in 1978. However, there have been Black characters in the franchise, such as Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu, as well as the voice of Darth Vader being provided by James Earl Jones. Lucas pointed out that there were also Tunisians with darker skin in the original film, as well as prominent roles for Black actors in the sequels.
Lucas is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In his defense of the lack of racial diversity in “Star Wars,” he mentioned that anti-droid prejudice exists within the fictional universe of the films. He also drew parallels to real-life discrimination against AI, suggesting that discrimination against something different will always occur.
In 2012, Lucas sold his Lucasfilm production company to Disney for $4.05 billion. He has since criticized Disney’s follow-up films in the franchise, claiming that they have strayed from his original vision for “Star Wars.” Despite this, he accepted that once he sold the company, he no longer had control over the direction of the franchise. Lucas believes that he was the only one who truly understood what “Star Wars” was meant to be.
Overall, George Lucas remains steadfast in his belief that the lack of racial diversity in his “Star Wars” films is not a problem. While critics have pointed out the lack of representation in the franchise, Lucas maintains that the focus should be on accepting people for who they are, regardless of their appearance. As he prepares to receive an honorary award at Cannes, he continues to defend his creative choices and vision for the beloved sci-fi saga.
