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For George Lucas,Star Warswas the culmination of his creative journey – one that sought to redefine cinematic excellence by introducing a universe so divergent that it would make the audience balk at the scale of his extraordinary epic.
![Star Wars: A New Hope feat. C-3PO and R2D2 [Credit: LucasFilm]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02161214/Star-Wars-A-New-Hope-%E2%80%93-C-3PO-and-R2D2-.jpg)
However,Star Warsbecame much more than that. It established a cult of tropes that became fixtures in the film industry, thus helping to reshape how stories were told and tragedies were framed. No other IP ever came close to replicating George Lucas’ astounding masterpiece and yet, there existed huge roadblocks at the beginning of his journey – as with all journeys that end up creating history.
Star Wars, George Lucas, and the Impact of Biology
Almost all of the concepts that make up the building blocks ofStar Warsare rooted in tangible science, including the Force. Described as an essential element present in all living beings that allows them to perceive and influence their surrounding energy fields, Force-sensitive individuals soon began to be placed at the heart of everyStar Warsstory – be it Luke, Yoda, Darth Vader, the Jedi, or even the Clone Wars.
Soon enough, there needed to be an explanation that could substantiate the existence of such a powerfully necessary element of the story. According toGeorge Lucas, that explanation could be found in the pages of biology textbooks, that claimed mitochondria were the powerhouse of the cell.
![Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) [Credit: LucasFilm]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02161538/Star-Wars-Episode-III-%E2%80%93-Revenge-of-the-Sith-2005-Credit-Lucasfilm.jpeg)
At one time, the mitochondria were believed to have been an independent organic species that later merged with hosts, forming a symbiotic relationship, which explains why they exist within cells and yet possess a completely unique set of DNA separate from their hosts.
“If he’s so powerful, why doesn’t he run the universe?”: George Lucas on How Darth Vader’s True Power Was Castrated by the Empire’s Corporate Politics
Lucas shaped the concept ofmidi-chlorianaround the existing mitochondria, establishing them as a microscopic species that binds the Living Force and the Cosmic Force, and were the foundation of all life itself. But such a heavy concept was beyond the understanding of the studio heads. Lucas revealed in a 2005 interview withRolling Stone:
Everybody said to drop the stuff about the midichlorians, it makes it too confusing. But it’s a metaphor for a symbiotic relationship that allows life to exist. Everybody said it was going to be a giant turkey: “This isn’t going to help LucasFilm at all.” I said, “This is about the movie and the company is just going to have to deal with whatever happens.”
In the end, Yoda did end up making the trip to the center of the galaxy and having a tête-à-tête with the Force Priestesses as seen inStar Wars: The Clone Wars. In other words, Lucas did prevail as did his well-formulated and fleshed-out concept of the midi-chlorians.
George Lucas Was a Genius Born Ahead of His Time
Before Sir Isaac Newton, the concept of gravity had existed only subconsciously since no one was equipped or qualified enough to discover, study, analyze, and explain the phenomenon. Before George Lucas, tropes of science-fiction, space opera, good vs. evil, religion, and biology had all existed but it took the genius mind of theStar Warscreator to combine all of the factors and conceive the galaxy far, far away.
However, initial resistance amounted to huge roadblocks whenever the visionary mind of Lucas conjured up a concept that was too complicated for the likes of studio executives and producers. Luckily, the New Hollywood era of the 1960s and 1970s disavowed institutions and followed the whims of maverick directors by letting them have complete creative free rein.
![The original trilogy protagonists of Star Wars [Credit: LucasFilm]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02161733/Star-Wars-trio-Credit-Lucasfilm_20th-Century-Studios-1024x437.jpg)
This, in turn, helped in establishing some of the most creatively overwhelming, bold, and unbridled stories – includingStar Wars– before corporations, suits, and studio systems reined in directors and their creative visions.
George Lucas: One Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Decision Made Everyone Say “You’re going to destroy the whole franchise”
By the time George Lucas was enslaved to the wills and dictions of CEOs and box office profit charts,Star Warshad already started reforming the popular culture of the era, breathing life into the sci-fi franchise that nobody would have invested in if not for the visionary ambition of the director and his team of loyal followers.
AllStar Warsfranchise projects are available for streaming on Disney+
Diya Majumdar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2408
Diya Majumdar is a Senior Content Writer at FandomWire with over 2000 published articles on the website. Since 2022, she has been working as an entertainment journalist with a special focus on films and pop culture.Among the countless genres and themes of Hollywood, the ones that particularly favor Diya’s tastes include Game of Thrones, DC, and well-aged thrillers and classics.
