Didn’t like the Star Wars prequels? George Lucas knows why

Many years after revolutionizing cinema with the original three installments of the legendary Star Wars saga, George Lucas returned to cinema in 1999. With The Phantom Menace, the first episode of his prelude, he aimed to offer his fans three new feature films. The origin of his characters.

Today largely rehabilitated in the general public and within the Star Wars legend, these new films faced a lot of criticism upon release, especially from early fans, many of whom said they could no longer find their score.

• This incredible t-shirt worn by George Lucas on the set of The Phantom Menace is the perfect answer for those who don’t like Star Wars.

When he was recently in Cannes to accept the honorary Palme d’Or, the father of the famous saga spoke in particular about this rather intense reception, initially explaining that in his eyes Star Wars was aimed first and foremost at children, and especially in the late 70s, who were going through a particularly difficult period:

“Star Wars was made for 12-year-olds.”

“Star Wars was made for 12-year-olds (…)And especially during the Vietnam War when we were all drafted and our friends came back in coffins. (…) There were a lot of very dark things.”she said.

“American Graffiti had such a huge impact on young people that I wanted to make another film for people who were 12 years old, going through puberty and wondering what they were doing and why they were there, who were asking me all kinds of questions. Questions about what was important. (…) In the Star Wars movies, these things are hidden, but you can see them, especially when you’re young. And all the people who really loved the movie were between the ages of 10 and 15.

From 1977 to 1999

After recalling this essential element of the creation of the first Star Wars, George Lucas explained that the children of 1977 had become adults in 1999 and that at that time they were no longer really the target audience for his new films:

“Critics and fans who were 10 years old when they saw the first film said, ‘This is a children’s film! We don’t want to watch a children’s movie! This is horrible! Jar Jar is scary!” But everyone said the same thing about C-3PO (…)while i did When they saw the Ewoks, they said, “They are stuffed animals for children, we don’t want to see a movie for children, we want to see a movie for adults!” I said, “It’s a kid’s movie, it’s always been a kid’s movie.”

According to the creator of the famous saga, fans who did not like its prologue simply lost sight of the original appeal of Star Wars: to appeal first to young viewers who are taking their first steps in life.

(Re)discover all the hidden details in ‘The Phantom Menace’…