George Lucas Refers To Disney As “White Slavers”

Back in 2012 George Lucas sold LucasFilms (and subsequently the rights to Star Wars) to Disney for $4 billion. Everything seemed pretty cool, especially with the huge bank Disney has been making off the latest Star Wars film, “The Force Awakens.” However, Lucas may have had a change of heart regarding selling his company to Disney.  He even referred to them as “White Slavers” while blasting the way Disney changed his vision of the Star Wars franchise. 

“I sold them to the white slavers that takes these things, and…,” he said in an interview with The Charlie Rose Show, before opting not to finish the sentence.

“They looked at the stories, and they said, ‘We want to make something for the fans,’” Lucas continued. “They decided they didn’t want to use those stories, they decided they were going to do their own thing. … They weren’t that keen to have me involved anyway — but if I get in there, I’m just going to cause trouble, because they’re not going to do what I want them to do. And I don’t have the control to do that anymore, and all I would do is muck everything up. And so I said, ‘OK, I will go my way, and I’ll let them go their way.’”

George Lucas has since apologized for referring to Disney as slavers. In a recent statement, he further explained himself. 

“I want to clarify my interview on the Charlie Rose Show. It was for the Kennedy Center Honors and conducted prior to the premiere of the film. I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize. I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks. Most of all I’m blown away with the record breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of (J.J. Abrams) and (Kathleen Kennedy).”

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