These days, George Lucas is best known as the mind behind the originalStar Warsfilms, a franchise that has gone on to be one of the most popular IPs in human history. Lucas is also famous, or perhaps infamous, for his constant tweaking and alterations of the original films, going back years after the fact to add new special effects, small editing changes, and even entire CGI characters to the original films.
While many have bemoanedLucas' habit of changing hisStar Warsfilmsand locking away the original versions, the director has always had a very strong belief in realizing his original vision without compromise. In fact, Lucas once believed so strongly in preserving his authorial intent, he went so far as to steal a workprint from Warner Bros. in order to prevent studio meddling.
RELATED:Disney CEO Says Gina Carano’s Firing Wasn’t About Politics
The film is one of his more obscure works now, but back in 1971, Lucas was working onTHX 1138,a science fiction film that would be his directorial debut. Unfortunately for the up-and-coming Lucas, Warner Bros. wasn’t happy with how the project was shaping up and asked for a series of changes that Lucas immediately rejected. The creative differences between the two parties become so heated, that Lucas was afraid thatWarner Bros. might try to take the filmfrom him and give it to an editor without his blessing. So, the director formulated a plan with his friend Matthew Robbins in order to keep the film safe. The team waited for another Executive screening of the film, which they expected to go poorly and put their plan into action.
Sending someone up to impersonate an editor, they waited until the screening was done and then smuggled the workprint ofTHX 1138out of the projection booth and into a nearby car, driving away with Lucas' original cut of the film.THX 1138was later released to impressive reviews but anunderwhelming box office performance. Lucas himself never fully got over the experience, telling friends he felt “cruelly used” by the studio.
Still,THX 1138went on to help boost his reputation as a solid director with real vision, and much of the work that went intoTHX 1138later went on to influencethe creation ofStar Wars. The incident also reportedly gave Lucas his strong inclinations toward perfecting his editing free of outside interference, which has doubtlessly been one of his defining attributes as a creator ever since.
TheStar Warssaga is now available on Disney Plus.
MORE:Star Wars: Duel of the Fates Would Have Been Better Than Rise of Skywalker
