George Lucas Directing Something Not Called “Star Wars” – And it Sounds GREAT!

I’m actually VERY excited about this news, and more than a little curious. Some of you will remember that a few weeks ago I wrote a post called “The Cause of George Lucas’ Fall, and How He Can Rise Again“. The basic idea was that Lucas was once thought of as a visionary, creative and dynamic filmmaker… but that creative visionaries need NEW ground to explore and play in to stay fresh and sharp. For 30 years George has basically just played in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sand boxes and let his creativity grow stale. I suggested that we need to see Lucas get out of his rut and try something different… something new… something totally removed from Sci-Fi and Fantasy. And it looks like it’s coming.

George Lucas will be directing a movie based on the true story of The Tuskegee Airmen (the film will be called “Red Tails”, a reference to the color of the tails on their planes bomber pilots would know who was flying with them), a group of black pilots who fought in the American military during World War 2 as heroes… and yet were discriminated against at home because of the color of their skin. Yahoo News gives us this:

The black airmen whose lives will be the basis of a George Lucas movie know the picture will highlight their record of successfully escorting thousands of U.S. bombers in World War II. They also feel it should tell of the trials they encountered stateside, like seeing German prisoners of war being treated better and afforded rights that were withheld from black American citizens.

I remember hearing about this project a LONG time ago… but it looked like Lucas has let it just die. Apparently not! This sounds like an amazing project. There are so many themes and stories in here. Not only do you have all the deeper issues of race, fighting for a country that spits on you (sort of sounds like X-Men a little), but you also have high adventure and the potential for great arial action sequences too.

I have no doubt Lucas will once again leverage ILM to do a lot of the air battles… and I’m sure they’ll look fantastic… but I’m MUCH more interested in seeing how Lucas, once considered to be the prodigy of Hollywood and referred to as “The best director I’ve ever seen” by Steven Spielberg, handles the actual STORY TELLING and character development of this potential epic. This is a story that deserves a LOT of respect and attention… can Lucas give it that? Does he have it in him anymore? Can he get away from thinking of kids and light adventure fun? Honestly, I don’t know, but I am VERY interested in seeing how he does. Here’s hoping for the best!

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21 thoughts on “George Lucas Directing Something Not Called “Star Wars” – And it Sounds GREAT!

  1. The movie Red Tails is based on a book by John B. Holway called Red Tails/Black Wings. I personally know John B, Holway of Springfield, VA. I have the original manuscript.

  2. bishop? um what, the only thing i would hope he writes it, but doesnt direct.
    anyone knows lucas is one of the biggest visionarys of our time, story wise. he just cant direct. thats why the star wars he actually direct were the worst ones. (except a new hope).

  3. I am excited about this news hopefully. It will get his creative juices flowing again and get him out of the rut he’s currently in I hope him all the luck in his new endeavor.

  4. As long as it’s not PG and some silly CGI birds drop poodoos on Nazi planes and make crazy, cartoonish squaking, then I’m ok with Lucas’ endeavors to make this movie. Oh, and if anyone says “I have a bad feeling about this,” I will punch myself in the balls.

    On the other hand, if there is a vagina-faced co-pilot that speaks in chuckles and grunts and helms a ship alongside an airman that looks like Lando, I’ll be even more happy.

  5. Yeah John he has been talking about this project since Episode III. I love the idea of the film is something that we need to talk about. My self as a white man I am sick of watching films about World War II only about the white people and the holocaust but how may times can you tell the same story over and over and over and over a bit like his lover Steven.

    I know that the action is going to be great. He knows how make a air fight look great just take a look at the X-wings in the SW films.

    But I just hope he can make the actors look like actors not some CGI actors. Lucas is great at telling story but been as film director .Yeah well just look at Episode I.

  6. I’ve seen the HBO movie also and it was really good but I just want to see some bad ass air combat scenes. Everybody hates Pearl Harbor but the air combat scenes kick ass. So if lucas just delivers some awesome scenes with a swarm of mustangs, 109’s and tracers i’ll be happy.

  7. Well what I see here is a director who want’s the gold statue that his friends already have.

    Remember when Scorsese got his for directing “The Departed”? You had Spielberg and Coppola kind of picking on Lucas for not having won one yet. As funny as it was, I’m sure that pissed Lucas off a bit, and now he wants one.

  8. I’m excited to see this happen. I LOVE American Graffiti. When Mr. Lucas has an original idea and a passion for telling a certain story he usually nails it. Of course, he could take a crap on a piece of celluloid, call it “Star Wars” and I’d watch it.

  9. The BIG question is whether he will be writing it or not isn’t it? I would hope that he will be able to stay away from the writing aspect of the film, which sounds intriguing to say the least. I don’t think writing dialogue is his strong suit.

    AS much of a FREAK for Star Wars that I am, I am excited to hear him involved in an original concept for a film and not a remake, sequel, yada yada yada.

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