Just before the premier of Revenge of the Sith the thought crossed my mind that all this farewell, last Star Wars ever business might be a bit like Cher's farewell tour(s).  What if a few years from now Lucas decided that he wasn't done? 

Later, as we were enjoying the hype the very night of the premier it struck me like a thunderbolt: Who could possibly turn away from all this?  Not that Lucas enjoys being personally involved with all the fan nuttiness but who could actually turn away from a $2 billion + empire that as of this latest movie has it fullest head of steam in 22 years?  Yes there will be a TV series and no doubt the Clone Wars cartoon will have at least one more season in it.  But TV series are not movies.  Star Wars is a saga that is embedded in the language of film.  Comics, books, cartoons and even TV series are mere excursions from the core of what Star Wars truly is.  Those other mediums have life because of the bright centers of intensity generated by the movies.  Lucas may be done with Star Wars but he does not want Star Wars to be done and none of those other mediums have the power to maintain what Star Wars is. 

A week or so after the premier rumors hit that Lucas was planning another film.  I groaned out loud when I read this because there's no way he's hard at work on another movie after dedicating the last 10 years or so to making the prequels.  The man is in his 60s.  I wrote it off to typical Internet speculation.  After all it seemed that Cinescape was basing their report on speculation that they had encouraged Lucas to make.  Then I hit TFN today and read this. Now this makes sense in terms of the $2 billion empire.  Lucas gets the ball rolling on the TV series and steps aside.  The TV series runs for 5 years.  There's a one to two year gap after then end of the series and then a new movie is announced.  The movie won't be directed by Lucas but I'll bet money that if he's still alive he will be the executive producer.  Of course this is all speculation.  I don't claim to “know” what's going to happen and to be honest I'd rather it didn't.  I like Star Wars being over and done with.  And I like that the all 6 movies chronicle the rise, fall and redemption of a single man.  Adding one more Star Wars film will be money making decision and it'll feel tacked on as obviously it will have nothing to do with Darth Vader.  But in terms of keeping the franchise alive it makes total sense.  And I'll bet money that Spielberg will get first crack at the next one.  Lucas and Spielberg are best friends and although Spielberg has said that Star Wars is “George's baby” rumor is that he had a bit of involvement in this last film.  If George has had is say with Star Wars and has no interest in directing a SW movie again I can't see Spielberg turning it down.

Well, that's enough nerd speculation for now. 

-Neil