George Lucas and the Sequel Trilogy Script Development
George Lucas developed story treatments for a sequel trilogy to the original Star Wars trilogy over several decades. He outlined broad narrative arcs involving the Skywalker family and the Force before selling the Lucasfilm franchise to The Walt Disney Company in late 2012. The sale included the rights to produce new Star Wars films, and Lucas provided story notes and treatments that influenced early sequel planning. According to a report from Forbes, Lucas had shared detailed story ideas with Disney executives before the acquisition was finalized.
After the acquisition, Disney established Lucasfilm Ltd. as the production hub for new Star Wars content. Kathleen Kennedy became president of Lucasfilm and oversaw the development of the sequel trilogy. Lucas's original script treatments were not used directly, but elements of his story concepts were adapted into early development documents. The studio formed a writers' room and hired multiple screenwriters to shape the final scripts for the three sequel films.
Screenwriters, Story Structure, and Production Timeline
Michael Arndt was hired in 2012 to write the first sequel screenplay, followed by Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams, who contributed to story and script development across the trilogy. Rian Johnson wrote and directed the second film, while Abrams returned to direct and co-write the third film. The production timeline spanned from 2012 through 2019, with principal photography for each film taking place at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom under Lucasfilm's production oversight.
The sequel trilogy follows a structured arc that introduces new protagonists alongside legacy characters from the original trilogy. The story centers on the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order, with themes of legacy, redemption, and the balance of the Force. Each film was released theatrically by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and the combined global box office gross exceeded 4.4 billion dollars across the three films, according to public box office data reported by industry tracking sources.
Legacy, Reception, and Franchise Expansion After the Sequel Trilogy
The sequel trilogy received mixed critical reception, with audience and critic scores varying across the three films. The final installment became one of the highest-grossing films of its release year worldwide. The trilogy's narrative choices influenced subsequent Star Wars projects, including streaming series produced for Disney+ by Lucasfilm. The studio continues to expand the Star Wars universe with new films, animated series, and multimedia content under the Lucasfilm brand.
George Lucas has maintained a limited public role in the sequel trilogy's production but remains associated with the broader Star Wars franchise as the creator of the original stories. The Walt Disney Company continues to manage the Star Wars intellectual property through Lucasfilm Ltd., with ongoing development of new films and series announced through official studio channels. For background on the franchise's corporate structure, see the Lucasfilm overview page.
Sources
Disney Lucasfilm acquisition details and SEC filings for The Walt Disney Company.