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Episode I – The Phantom Menacemarked George Lucas’s return to the director’s chair sinceA New Hopeas he once again introduced new characters and stories in the space opera. While the film was a huge box office hit, it received mixed reviews with many criticizing its storyline, casting choices, performances, and awkward dialogues.
And it seems that the filmmaker’s ex-wife Marcia Lucas also did not find the film very pleasing. She even admitted to crying after watching the movie as she echoed many of the same critiques while sharing her thoughts on the movie.
The Phantom MenaceMade George Lucas’ Ex-Wife Cry
George Lucashas collaborated with his ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, on movies likeAmerican Graffitiand the OriginalStar Warstrilogy. The film editor also won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for the 1977 filmA New Hope.
However, when the renowned filmmaker returned with the prequel trilogy, her response was unexpectedly emotional. She shared her reaction toEpisode I – The Phantom Menacein J. W. Rinzler’s bookHoward Kazanjian: A Producer’s Life,admitting that the film brought her to tears. She said, as perThe Direct,
“When I went to see Episode I—I had a friend who worked at ILM, who took me as a guest to a preview—I remember going out to the parking lot, sitting in my car and crying. I cried.”
She shared that she did not feel like it was very good and expressed her disappointment with the film’s quality and direction. Lucas also pointed out that instead of utilizing the full potential of theStar Warssaga, her ex-husband heavily relied on CGI and visual effects and labeled the movie as“eye candy.”
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“And I thought he had such a rich vein to mine, a rich palette to tell stories with,”she said. Beyond technical concerns regarding the underutilization of the stories and characters and over-relying on visual effects, Marcia Lucas also criticized the dynamic between Anakin and Padme.
Marcia Lucas Expressed Concern Over Anakin And Padme’s Dynamic
While Marcia Lucas praised George Lucas and acknowledged his talent, she still perceivedThe Phantom Menaceas a missed opportunity in storytelling and filmmaking. One of the issues she highlighted in the bookHoward Kazanjian: A Producer’s Lifewas regarding Queen Padme and Anakin’s dynamic in the movie.
The Phantom MenacefeaturedNatalie Portmanin the role of the Queen Padme of Naboo alongside Jake Lloyd. He portrayed the role of Anakin Skywalker beforeHayden Christensentook over the role inAttack of the Clones,as a more compatible match for Portman’s Padme.
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Among many who raised the issues with these characters’ on-screen dynamic, Lucas also shared her criticism, stating,
“He had all those characters. And I thought it was weird that the story was about this little boy who looked like he was six years old, but then later on he’s supposed to get with this princess who looked like she was twenty years old.”
While the prequel trilogy has constantly been the target ofStar Warsfans’ criticism, especiallyThe Phantom Menace,the filmmakerdidn’t necessarily seem fazedby the negative reception.
The Phantom Menaceis available to stream on Disney+.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3448
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
