George Lucas, the creator of the iconic “Star Wars” franchise, addressed criticism of the lack of racial diversity in the casting of his films. He defended the predominantly white cast by pointing out that many characters are actually aliens and the idea is to accept people for who they are, regardless of their appearance. Lucas produced the film “Red Tails” which focused on Black airmen, but the criticism of the lack of diversity in “Star Wars” has persisted since the release of the original movie in 1977.
Critics have pointed out the lack of racial diversity in both trilogies of the “Star Wars” franchise, with astronomer Carl Sagan even commenting on the predominantly white human characters in the series. However, there have been Black characters such as Lando Calrissian, Mace Windu, and Ahmed Best who played the CGI alien Jar-Jar Binks. Lucas defended the presence of diversity in his films by highlighting the roles played by actors such as Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson in the franchise.
Despite criticism, Lucas argued that there were Tunisian actors with darker skin in the original film, Williams played a major role in the sequel, and Jackson’s character was a prominent Jedi. He also noted that anti-droid prejudice is depicted in “Star Wars,” which reflects discrimination in society. Lucas is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and took the opportunity to address the issue of diversity in his films, emphasizing the importance of acceptance and equality.
In 2012, Lucas sold his Lucasfilm production company to Disney for $4.05 billion. He expressed criticism of Disney’s sequels to the franchise, suggesting that the original ideas of “Star Wars” were lost in the subsequent films. Despite his concerns, Lucas acknowledged that he had given up control of the franchise when he sold his company and must accept the direction that Disney chose to take with the films. Lucas remains a central figure in the “Star Wars” saga and continues to influence the legacy of the beloved franchise.
