‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens': George Lucas reveals reason why he let J.J. Abrams direct sequel

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas has revealed his reason for passing on the directing torch to J.J. Abrams for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Although having taken no part in the sequel, Lucas admitted he was still interested to watch the film before he dies.

In an interview with the Daily Star at the European premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in London’s Leicester Square on Wednesday, Lucas admitted that he felt he had to have the sequel finally made and directed by someone else before he “passes on.”

“I felt that I had to pass it on before I passed on. I thought that it would be easier to do it like that. At least I still have an idea about what is going on,” he said.

The 71-year old added that he didn’t make the wrong decision in passing on the directing baton to Abrams for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” He told the Daily Star that “it’s great” to see the franchise make a comeback and see it on screen again.

Lucas is also heard in the video below telling red carpet host Alex Zane that coming back to London for the premiere feels like “coming home” to a “Star Wars” event that they’ve done for the last 40 years.

In a November interview with Vanity Fair, Lucas had opened up about his decision not to direct “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” He who spearheaded the success of the “Star Wars” movie canon and consequently turned it into a pop culture phenomenon finally felt defeated by the criticisms thrown his way.

“You go to make a movie and all you do is get criticized, and people try to make decisions about what you’re going to do before you do it. You know, it’s not much fun,” he tells Vanity Fair in the video below.

Lucas said there was lack of creative room for him to put his ideas for the franchise of the film. There was no experimentation involved, which he wanted to do given that he first started out making experimental films before becoming a renowned director for his “Star Wars” movies. Instead, he had to do things in a certain way, which he didn’t like since he considered it not fun at all.