George Lucas made a groundbreaking debut at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) this past weekend. He was accompanied by the renowned Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang, a celebrated visual effects artist and production designer who earned an Academy Award for his work on the 1992 film Death Becomes Her. Chiang has also contributed to iconic films such as T2, Forrest Gump, Jumanji, War of the Worlds, and various Star Wars projects. While the atmosphere in Hall H was electric with excitement, Lucas’s primary purpose for attending was to promote the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open in Los Angeles next year, which aims to celebrate the importance of storytelling and visual arts.
Upon his arrival, Lucas was met with a thunderous ovation from the passionate SDCC attendees. He then joined his fellow panelists as a captivating video narrated by Samuel L. Jackson showcased the museum’s features, including sketches of the building that our own Chris Bumbray noted resembled the futuristic cityscape of Coruscant. The museum is set to include a variety of Star Wars memorabilia, such as props and costumes, but it will also celebrate a diverse array of artistic expressions, featuring works from legendary artists like Norman Rockwell and Frida Kahlo. As Lucas eloquently expressed, “It’s a dedication to cultural fantasy and the popular arts.”
@joblomovies Fans go wild as George Lucas makes his first appearance at San Diego Comic Con! #georgelucas #starwars #sdcc #comiccon #fyp ♬ original sound – JoBlo Movie Network
When it was his turn to speak, Guillermo del Toro emphasized the monumental scale of the 300,000 square-foot museum, illustrating its significance as a tribute to narrative art. He remarked that this museum is unprecedented, as it aims to honor vital works that shape our cultural landscape. The museum team is dedicated to elevating artists, including illustrators and inkers, to their rightful status in the art world. Del Toro, who has been a vocal critic of artificial intelligence in the creative process, expressed that he finds artwork generated by an app to be “oppressive,” highlighting the stark difference between art that is merely visually appealing and art that communicates deep passion. He asserted that true artistic passion cannot be derived from “a f*cking app.”
Prior to the event, David Glanzer, the chief communications and strategy officer for SDCC, shared his excitement about welcoming George Lucas to Comic-Con for the first time ever. Glanzer remarked, “We are beyond thrilled to welcome George Lucas to Comic-Con for the very first time. Nearly five decades ago, Star Wars made one of its earliest public appearances at our convention, along with a booth featuring Howard Chaykin’s now legendary Star Wars poster as a promotional item…Now, to have Mr. Lucas return, this time to debut the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, is a true full-circle moment. His lifelong dedication to visual storytelling and world-building resonates deeply with us and our community, and the museum’s mission to celebrate narrative art in all its forms perfectly reflects what Comic-Con has championed from the very beginning.”
It’s worth noting that the first-ever representation of Star Wars at SDCC occurred back in 1976, shortly after George Lucas completed principal photography on the film. At that time, marketing director Charles Lippincott navigated the then-nascent convention, which had approximately 3,000 attendees, to promote a movie that was still relatively unknown but would soon revolutionize the film industry. Of course, Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise would return to Comic-Con in subsequent years, but this marks a unique moment in SDCC history with Lucas’s direct engagement outside of his brands.
