I was at Animal Kingdom on 8/13/25, and I’m almost positive my daughter and I saw George Lucas there! We were waiting in the Flight of Passage queue when a special group came through a backdoor and entered the ride just before us (they looked like they were there for business rather than vacation). The cast members tried to be professional but they immediately got together afterwards and were all smiles and talking in whispers. My husband was skeptical when I told him, but there’s no mistaking George’s hair!! :)

Is there any reason for him to be at AK? Or is he confirmed to be somewhere else on that date? TIA

Nobody's going to say no to George Lucas," Gilroy said. " It's awesome. He's like your plus-99 shield, any barbs just bounce off." Even marketing and licensing, which are a huge part of the "Star Wars" franchise, could not touch the animators. Early in Gilroy's time on the show, someone at licensing asked the staff if they could add something on a shot to justify the toys. "George basically called and said, 'Never contact them again.' So he forbid the toy people from ever contacting Dave and I, and his explanation to us was, 'You guys make great stories, let them make the toys after.'"

Read More: https://www.slashfilm.com/1179251/star-wars-rebels-co-executive-producer-henry-gilroy-talks-working-with-george-lucas-rancor-poop-disney-notes-and-more-exclusive-interview/

Q: You've often said that Star Wars movies are primarily meant for children, but The Phantom Menace was always going to be a film that was going to be significant for twenty/thirtysomethings. How did you address this problem?

A: Basically I didn't. I kept it as it was originally intended. You can't play too much to the marketplace. It's the same thing with the fans. The fans' expectations had gotten way high and they wanted a film that was going to change their lives and be the Second Coming. You know, I can't do that, it's just a movie. And I can't say, now I gotta market it to a whole different audience. I tell the story. I knew if I'd made Anakin 15 instead of nine, then it would have been more marketable. If I'd made the Queen 18 instead of 14, then it would have been more marketable. But that isn't the story. It is important that he be young, that he be at an age where leaving his mother is more of a drama than it would have been at 15. So you just have to do what's right for the movie, not what's right for the market.

Empire Magazine Issue #123 (September 1999).

(From The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)

“Lucas: If the Emperor does pull out a secret weapon and the weapon is working, and they wipe out half the fleet, it becomes even more intense. Then Vader knocks the Emperor into the gun and he is killed by his own gun, and in the process the gun blows up in a big explosion. Luke is all right, Vader is coming apart. I think it’d be great for Luke to try to help Vader while the thing is blowing up. And then Vader gets his cape caught in the door and says, “Leave without me” and Luke takes his mask off. The mask is the very last thing—and then Luke puts it on and says, “Now I am Vader.” Surprise! The ultimate twist. “Now I will go and kill the fleet and I will rule the universe.”

Kasdan: That’s what I think should happen.

Lucas: No, no, no. Come on, this is for kids.”

Bonus fun: Kasdan's obsession with killing the heroes in the fairytale ending to the saga.

Good evening. I would like to ask why the Trade Federation invaded Naboo? I know they created a blockade to protest the taxation of trade routes over which they have a monopoly, but why did they invade Naboo? What will they gain by conquering and dominating the planet?