Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are the Hollywood duo who have had a significant cultural impact with their creative partnership on franchises like Indiana Jones. After the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucas reportedly wanted to continue their collaborative journey with the third installment in the epic space opera, Return of the Jedi.
Lucas had stepped away from the director’s chair after Episode I – A New Hope. After Irvin Kershner helmed the sequel, he sought Spielberg with the offer to direct the third installment of his epic space opera. However, his plans did not come to fruition due to Lucas’ feud and Spielberg’s association with the Directors Guild of America.
Steven Spielberg Could Not Direct Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Following their successful collaboration on Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode VI seemed like an ideal project for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to continue their highly lucrative partnership.
However, the Oscar-winning filmmaker never got the opportunity to helm a Star Wars project. While the certain reasons why the duo couldn’t work on Return on the Jedi remain unclear, there have been numerous specualtions and rumors surrounding the potential collaboration that fell apart.
Reports suggest that Spielberg was among some of the top names Lucas considered to direct Episode VI. However, their involvement with the Directors Guild of America obstructed what could have been a Spielberg-directed Star Wars film.
Rumors suggest that the DGA wanted Lucas to abide by the traditional opening credits for the 1977 film A New Hope. However, the filmmaker had a different vision for his movies and decided to pay the required fine and resign from the association.
This reportedly raised issues with Lucas finding directors for the subsequent sequels for Episode I. It also became a point of contention when Lucas expressed his desire for his friend and the Jaws director to direct Return of the Jedi, as Spielberg was still a member of DGI.
And the Directors Guild of America did not allow its members to work on the franchise. Richard Marquand, who reportedly was not associated with the Directors Guild of America, was eventually hired as the director of Return of the Jedi.
Steven Spielberg Had Expressed A Desire to Direct a Star Wars Film
While their potential collaboration failed to materialize for Return of the Jedi, Steven Spielberg has shared that he did want to direct a Star Wars movie. But by that time, George Lucas had changed his mind and had decided to helm the epic space opera himself.
In a 2002 interview, the Indiana Jones director reportedly shared that despite pursuing Lucas with the idea, he denied him from directing a film in the galactic saga. “I’ve asked [Lucas]. He won’t let me do one,” he said, as per The Guardian.
I wanted to do one 15 years ago, and he didn’t want me to do it. I understand why – Star Wars is George’s baby. It’s his cottage industry and it’s his fingerprints. He knows I’ve got Jurassic Park and Raiders. But George has Star Wars and I don’t think he feels inclined to share any of it with me.
After Lucas stepped down from the franchise and Disney took over to continue the Skywalker Saga with The Force Awakens, Spielberg once again found himself in discussions of directing Episode VII. However, he denied any such possibility, saying, “No! No! It’s not my genre. It’s my best friend George’s genre,” ruling himself out as the director for any future project in the franchise.
Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is available to stream on Disney+.
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