travelling-blogger

comments

Star Wars creator George Lucas has picked Chicago to host his much-anticipated museum of art and movie memorabilia.

The decision is a major victory for the nation's third-largest city, with San Francisco and Los Angeles also seeking the museum. 

Lucas said in a written statement that he hopes to open the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in 2018, which will feature the director's collection of paintings, illustrations and digital art.

Iconic film series: Star Wars creator George Lucas is opening an eagerly-awaiting new museum featuring a collection of his artwork

'I am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the museum in a city that has a long tradition of embracing the arts,' Lucas said.

The selection was something of a surprise, given Lucas' close ties to California. 

He is a native of the state, Lucasfilm's visual effects division is based in San Francisco and the headquarters for Lucasfilm and Skywalker Sound is across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County.
But Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed hard for his city.

And Chicago was always given a good chance at the Lucas museum, in large part because Lucas' wife, Mellody Hobson, a prominent businesswoman, is from Chicago and the city closed down Promontory Point along the Lake Michigan shore so the couple could host a star-studded party to celebrate after the couple's California wedding.

For the Lucas museum, Chicago offered up a slice of real estate along the lakefront that is near other attractions, including the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

At the same time, San Francisco suffered a setback when it rejected Lucas' first choice of a location near the Golden Gate Bridge.

The brain behind Star Wars: George Lucas has achieved huge success with his sci-fi creation

Mr Emanuel has long been trying to portray Chicago as a global destination.

Throughout the decision process, a spokesman for Lucas praised the city for the attention it heaps on culture, architecture, innovations and education - some of which are the themes Lucas' museum will seek to promote.

'Chicago's a great city. We have a tradition that resonates closely with the way George Lucas has described his museum, as a museum of visual storytelling,' said Gillian Darlow, a co-chairwoman of Chicago's site selection task force.

'He wants to help inspire other people, especially kids, to have bold visions the way he did.'
Mr Emanuel met reporters briefly yesterday evening at City Hall to announce the decision.

Reuniting: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, from the original trilogy, are back for a new movie

'I can't thank George and Mellody enough,' he said. He pledged to work with the community to develop plans for the museum.

The plans emerge amid filming of the first of a new Star Wars trilogy, after Lucas sold the rights to Disney in 2012.

Due for release in December 2015, Star Wars Episode VII will be set 30 years after 1983 film Return of the Jedi and will reunite Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher ( Princess Leia) from the original trilogy.

A Star Wars land is also rumoured to be in development at the Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.