"Arrr! 'Star Wars' creator be givin' a good clap-back to them landlubber critics. Most o' the crew be aliens!"
2024-05-24
In a recent parley, the scurvy dog George Lucas be cursin' them landlubbers who be jawin' that his famous tale o' "Star Wars" be lackin' in variety. Ye best be watchin' yer tongue mateys, or ye might walk the plank! Arrr!
Legendary "Star Wars" creator George Lucas defended his series against critics who claimed it lacked diversity. During an interview at the Cannes Film Festival, Lucas addressed the criticism that his movies featured too many White males, pointing out that most of the characters are aliens, not humans. He emphasized that his colorful universe of alien creatures is a statement about acceptance and diversity, highlighting the idea that all people are equal.Lucas also discussed how the discrimination faced by robots in the "Star Wars" universe mirrors humanity's current distrust of Artificial Intelligence. He pointed to the Black characters in his films, such as Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu, played by Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson respectively, as evidence of diversity in his casts. Lucas also highlighted the strong female characters in the franchise, including Princess Leia and Senator Padme Amidala, played by Carrie Fisher and Natalie Portman.Offscreen, Lucas has contributed to diversity efforts by funding a student program at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts to support students from underrepresented communities. Overall, Lucas emphasized the message of acceptance and equality in his "Star Wars" universe, using diverse characters to showcase different forms of discrimination and promote inclusivity.