Career Timeline of George Lucas: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of George Lucas, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
George Lucas is a highly influential American filmmaker, best known for creating the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. He founded Lucasfilm and its associated companies like Industrial Light & Magic, revolutionizing special effects and sound technology. A key figure in the New Hollywood movement, he pioneered the modern blockbuster film. Despite his mainstream success, Lucas maintained independence from Hollywood for much of his career. He sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 and is also a philanthropist.
1971: Lucas founded Lucasfilm
In 1971, George Lucas founded the film production company Lucasfilm.
1975: Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic
In 1975, George Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to create visual effects for Star Wars after discovering that the in-house effects department at 20th Century Fox was no longer operational.
September 12, 1977: Lucasfilm Ltd. incorporated
On September 12, 1977, Lucasfilm was officially incorporated as Lucasfilm Ltd.
1977: ILM provides special visual effects for Star Wars
In 1977, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) served as the special visual effects department on Star Wars.
1978: Lucas produces Star Wars Holiday Special
In 1978, Lucas's Star Wars Corporation, Inc. produced the Star Wars Holiday Special for 20th Century Fox Television.
1980: Weber fired from LucasFilm
In 1980, Lucas fired real-estate specialist Charles Weber from Lucasfilm and had to let half of the Los Angeles staff go. By the same year, the corporate subsidiary had been discontinued and its business was absorbed into the various divisions of Lucasfilm.
1991: Irving G. Thalberg Award
In 1991, George Lucas received the Academy's Irving G. Thalberg Award.
1991: The George Lucas Educational Foundation was founded
In 1991, The George Lucas Educational Foundation was founded as a nonprofit operating foundation to celebrate and encourage innovation in schools.
1996: Telecommunications Act of 1996 enacted
In 1996, The Telecommunications Act was enacted, with The George Lucas Educational Foundation being one of the leading proponents of the E-Rate program in the universal service fund.
2001: 2001: A Space Odyssey Mentioned as Inspiration
In 2001, Douglas Trumbull, best known for the effects on 2001: A Space Odyssey, was approached to work on visual effects for Star Wars. Trumbull declined.
2001: 2001: A Space Odyssey served as inspiration for Star Wars
In 2001, George Lucas originally wanted to use tracks and film music from 2001: A Space Odyssey in a similar manner to Star Wars. Williams advised against this and instead proposed a system of recurring themes (or leitmotifs) to enhance the story in the style of classical composers.
2002: Release of Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones
In 2002, Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones was released. Lucas hired Jonathan Hales to polish the script shortly before principal photography began.
2004: Lucas reflects on transition to corporate filmmaker
In 2004, George Lucas reflected on his transition from being an independent filmmaker to a corporate filmmaker, drawing parallels to the story of Darth Vader in Star Wars. Lucas concluded that he was glad to be able to make his films the way he wanted to.
June 9, 2005: AFI Life Achievement Award
On June 9, 2005, George Lucas received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, shortly after the release of "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith".
2005: $1 million donation to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
In 2005, George Lucas donated $1 million to help build the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.
September 19, 2006: Donation to USC Film School
On September 19, 2006, George Lucas donated between $175 and $180 million to the University of Southern California's film school, his alma mater. It was the largest single donation to USC and the largest gift to a film school.
2006: Induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In 2006, George Lucas was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
June 24, 2008: Lucas testifies for free wireless broadband educational network
On June 24, 2008, George Lucas testified before the United States House of Representatives subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet as the head of his Foundation to advocate for a free wireless broadband educational network.
September 2008: Named one of the "Greatest Americans"
In September 2008, The Discovery Channel named George Lucas one of the 100 "Greatest Americans".
2008: Release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Premiere of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
In 2008, Lucas collaborated with Jeff Nathanson on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Also in 2008, Lucas served as creator and executive producer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which premiered with a feature film.
2009: California Hall of Fame Inductee
In 2009, George Lucas was one of 13 California Hall of Fame inductees in The California Museum's yearlong exhibit.
January 2012: Lucas announces retirement from blockbuster films
In January 2012, George Lucas announced his retirement from producing large blockbuster films, shifting his focus to smaller, independently budgeted features.
June 2012: Kathleen Kennedy Appointed Co-Chair of Lucasfilm Ltd.
In June 2012, Kathleen Kennedy was appointed as co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd., and would eventually succeed George Lucas as the company's sole leader. Following the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney, Lucas became Disney's second-largest single shareholder.
2012: Lucas produces Red Tails
In 2012, George Lucas self-funded and served as executive producer for the film Red Tails. He also took over directing reshoots while director Anthony Hemingway worked on other projects.
2012: Sale of Lucasfilm to Disney
In 2012, George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion, with plans to donate the majority of the proceeds to philanthropic endeavors.
June 2013: Lucas considers establishing Lucas Cultural Arts Museum in San Francisco
In June 2013, George Lucas considered establishing the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum in San Francisco to display his collection of illustrations and pop art.
July 2013: National Medal of Arts
In July 2013, George Lucas was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama for his contributions to American cinema.
2013: $25 Million Donation to After School Matters
In 2013, George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, donated $25 million to After School Matters, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization where Hobson is the chair.
May 2014: Chicago proposed as potential museum site
In May 2014, a potential lakefront site on Museum Campus in Chicago was proposed for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
June 2014: Chicago selected as location for Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
By June 2014, Chicago had been selected as the location for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, pending approval from the Chicago Plan Commission.
October 2014: Honorary Membership of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
In October 2014, George Lucas received Honorary Membership of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
January 2015: Lucas reveals Disney discarded his Star Wars story ideas
In January 2015, George Lucas stated that Disney had discarded his story ideas for Episodes VII-IX of Star Wars. This was after he had turned over story treatments to the production team during his involvement as a creative consultant for The Force Awakens.
August 2015: Disney Legend Induction
In August 2015, George Lucas was inducted as a Disney Legend.
December 6, 2015: Honoree at the Kennedy Center Honors
On December 6, 2015, George Lucas was an honoree at the Kennedy Center Honors.
December 18, 2015: Release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
On December 18, 2015, The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, was released. It was the first film in the new sequel trilogy, jointly produced by Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.
December 24, 2015: Lucas discusses creative differences with The Force Awakens producers
On December 24, 2015, George Lucas discussed the creative differences between him and the producers of The Force Awakens. Lucas stated that he viewed the original six Star Wars films as his "children" and criticized The Force Awakens for having a "retro feel."
2015: Lucas writes Strange Magic
In 2015, George Lucas wrote the CGI film Strange Magic, which was his first musical. The film was produced at Skywalker Ranch and directed by Gary Rydstrom.
April 15, 2016: Donation to the Obama Foundation
On April 15, 2016, George Lucas, through the Lucas Family Foundation, donated between $501,000 and $1 million to the Obama Foundation for the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
October 2016: Lucas decides not to be involved in Indiana Jones 5 story
In October 2016, George Lucas announced his decision to not be involved in the story of the fifth Indiana Jones film, although he would be credited as an executive producer.
January 17, 2017: Lucas announces museum will be built in Los Angeles
On January 17, 2017, George Lucas announced that the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would be built in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, with an estimated completion date in 2026.
2017: Lucas describes The Last Jedi as "beautifully made"
In 2017, following the release of The Last Jedi, George Lucas described the film as "beautifully made". The film is the second in the sequel trilogy.
2018: Lucas's Cursory Involvement with Star Wars and Game of Thrones
In 2018, George Lucas had minor involvement with Solo: A Star Wars Story, the Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian, and the premiere of the eighth season of Game of Thrones.
2019: Lucas met with J.J. Abrams before writing Rise of Skywalker
In 2019, George Lucas met with J. J. Abrams before the latter began writing the script to the sequel trilogy's final film, The Rise of Skywalker, which was released in 2019.
2021: Donation to NYU for the Martin Scorsese Institute
In 2021, George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, through the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, donated to NYU to establish the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts.
May 2024: Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival
In May 2024, George Lucas received the Honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
2026: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Due to Be Completed
In 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, is due to be completed.
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