The filming of Star Wars was particularly grueling, both physically and morally, leaving its mark on George Lucas. Disputes with his technical crew, a significantly over-budget production, delays in the shooting schedule, and an interminable post-production process all took their toll.

This experience ultimately convinced the filmmaker to hand over the reins for the next installment of his burgeoning trilogy, especially since, by his own admission, directing didn't particularly excite him. He preferred to remain in the producer's chair, which also logically allowed him an overall view of the next film's development.

He wisely passed the directorial torch to Irvin Kershner for L'Empire contre-attaque (The Empire Strikes Back), released in 1980, which many consider the best film of the original trilogy. For the third and final installment, Le Retour du Jedi (Return of the Jedi), Lucas again sought a director he could rely on to execute his vision for the universe he had created. Ultimately, the compliant and diligent Richard Marquand took the helm. However, Lucas had considered entrusting the reins to his friend Steven Spielberg.

"The Vision He Has in His Head Is Crystal Clear"

Why not his old accomplice Steven Spielberg, indeed, who had just finished directing Les Aventuriers de l'Arche perdue (Raiders of the Lost Ark), a story co-written by George Lucas himself?

The hope of entrusting the film's direction to his friend was short-lived. In 1980, Lucas was hit with a rather hefty $250,000 fine by the powerful Directors Guild of America for not crediting director Irvin Kershner's name at the beginning of L'Empire contre-attaque. The guild argued that the "Lucasfilm" mention (his company, founded in 1971, bearing his name) implied that the producer, not the director, had directed the film.

According to an Aljean Harmetz portrait of Lucas published in the New York Times in 1981, Irvin Kershner "did not object" to Lucas using the same credit order he had previously employed, but this was not enough to appease the DGA. Consequently, Lucas decided to resign from the Guild and maintained the credit order for L'Empire contre-attaque as he had always intended.

Ultimately, this resignation quite clearly illustrates the contempt the filmmaker always held for Hollywood politics, as explained in the same portrait. Lucas "can be arrogant about his values and priorities." An anonymous source even stated in the article, "The vision he has in his head is crystal clear. The fact that he cannot deviate from it or be corrupted by outside influences is the key to his success."

Nevertheless, while membership in the organization is not mandatory, it is forbidden for a DGA member to direct a film outside the conventions established with the Majors. As a result, as a DGA member, Spielberg could not accept his friend's offer, especially since Lucas had just dramatically slammed the door on the union.

"I Wanted to Make a Star Wars Film, and He Didn't Want Me To"

In a 2012 interview with Access Hollywood (via The Guardian), Steven Spielberg recounted that, years after the original Star Wars trilogy, he was still keen to direct an installment of his old friend's Space Opera saga.

"It's something that would have interested me. I asked George, he won't let me direct one. I wanted to make a Star Wars film about fifteen years ago, and he didn't want me to. I understand why. Star Wars is George's baby. It's his domain, his imprint. He knows I have Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. But George has Star Wars, and I don't think he feels inclined to share any of it with me."

This isn't entirely accurate, especially when recalling the audacious bet the two made at the time of the first film. It's always easy to re-evaluate things years later, but one can only wonder what a Star Wars prequel film directed by Spielberg might have looked like. Instead, Lucas chose to direct all three films himself. In any case, Lucas eventually handed over the reins with the sale of his empire to Disney. And it's well known that he wasn't particularly fond of the new Star Wars installments...