Filmmakers George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola are two legendary figures in the world of cinema. With remarkable filmographies, the two have managed to create some cinematic masterpieces that shaped the entertainment industry.
The two became friends at an early stage of their careers and even founded American Zoetrope, a film production company in 1969. Lucas’ life changed after 1977’s Star Wars, however, Coppola claimed it was bad for Lucas’ career as fans would’ve seen more of Lucas if Star Wars hadn’t taken most of his time.
Francis Ford Coppola thinks that Star Wars success was bad for George Lucas
Despite being good friends, director Francis Ford Coppola thought that the success of 1977’s Star Wars was bad for George Lucas. In a 2020 interview with Vulture, the director explained,
“Well, [Lucas] created something [‘Star Wars’] that brought joy and happiness and pleasure – and even some wisdom – to so many people. Whatever benefits he got from it, he deserved and is welcome to. If I feel sadness, it is that he didn’t make the other movies he was going to make. George is truly a brilliant, talented person. Just look at ‘American Graffiti’ and see all the innovation. We should’ve had more.”
While Lucas’ Star Wars movies were remarkable, we never saw more of Lucas’ work because the Star Wars franchise kept him occupied. Fans could’ve seen Lucas diving into different genres but that never happened.
Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas founded a production company together
Initially, Lucas was assigned to direct 1979’s Apocalypse Now, however, due to the Star Wars franchise, he passed that opportunity to Francis Ford Coppola. The two have maintained a close bond over the years which began when they entered the entertainment industry.
In 1969, they founded American Zoetrope, a film production company, that produced not only Coppola’s films (including Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Tetro) but also George Lucas’s pre-Star Wars film THX 1138.
Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas are legends
In January 2012, Lucas announced his semi-retirement. He stopped producing large blockbuster films and instead re-focused his career on smaller, independently budgeted features. On the other hand, Coppola is still making films, but the spotlight is more on his daughter, Sofia Coppola, who has also created some exceptional films like her father.
Both Lucas and Coppola have made significant contributions to the film industry beyond their roles as directors. They have played pivotal roles in mentoring and inspiring emerging talents, and their production company has helped massively in giving a platform to other directors like Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, Wim Wenders, and Godfrey Reggio. Their iconic works continue to inspire filmmakers and captivate audiences worldwide, making them true legends in the world of cinema.
Source: Vulture
