--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't long after I began writing Star…" description: "\"It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I realized the story was more than a single film could hold. As the saga of the Skywalkers and Jedi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/george-lucas-1038_film_it-wasn-t-long-after-i-began-writing-sta_88216.jpg" --- # It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I… ![“It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I realized the story was more than a single film could hold. As the saga of the Skywalkers and Jedi Knights unfolded, I began to see it as a tale that could take at least nine films to tell - three trilogies - and I realized, in making my way…” quote by George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/george-lucas-1038_film_it-wasn-t-long-after-i-began-writing-sta_88216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/george-lucas-1038_film_it-wasn-t-long-after-i-began-writing-sta_88216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/george-lucas-1038_film_it-wasn-t-long-after-i-began-writing-sta_88216.jpg) > “It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I realized the story was more than a single film could hold. As the saga of the Skywalkers and Jedi Knights unfolded, I began to see it as a tale that could take at least nine films to tell - three trilogies - and I realized, in making my way through the back story and after story, that I was really setting out to make the middle story.” [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lucas realized the Star Wars narrative needed a broader, multi‑film structure to fully explore its characters and mythos, leading to the creation of a nine‑film saga spanning three trilogies. **In simple terms:** Star Wars needed more films to tell its full story. Key Takeaway Complex stories often require extended formats. Themes storytelling cinema mythology serial narrative Mood enthusiastic nostalgic Type creative narrative When to use this quote - film franchise planning - TV series development - novel series plotting - game narrative design Key Concepts hero’s journey episodic world‑building Practical Applications - outline long‑term arcs before production - use thematic milestones to guide sequels Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of expanding a story beyond its core? - How does a multi‑film structure affect audience engagement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Knights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knights/) [Saga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saga/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Star wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-wars/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Trilogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trilogies/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've been waiting nearly twenty years to have my own light saber. Nothing's cooler than being a Jedi Knight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-ve-been-waiting-nearly-twenty-years-to-have-my-own-light-saber/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I therefore have to use The Force. And weirdly, this doesn't work very well. I don't understand why, because on the last census, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/i-therefore-have-to-use-the-force-and-weirdly-this-doesn-t-work-very/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [This is ridiculous. 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That's not really part of the plan at this point, and I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-never-had-a-story-for-the-sequels-for-the-last-trilogy-that-s-not/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [The first Star Wars movie was one of six original stories I had written in the form of two trilogies. After the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-first-star-wars-movie-was-one-of-six-original-stories-i-had/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [The first script was one of six original stories I had written in the form of two trilogies. After the success of Star Wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-first-script-was-one-of-six-original-stories-i-had-written-in-the/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Each time I do a trilogy it's ten years out of my life. I'll finish Episode III and I'll be 60. And the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/each-time-i-do-a-trilogy-it-s-ten-years-out-of-my-life-i-ll-finish/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [From the outset, I conceived Star Wars as a series of six films, or two trilogies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/from-the-outset-i-conceived-star-wars-as-a-series-of-six-films-or-two/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [For the third trilogy, I don't know if I will still be alive when it comes the time to make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/for-the-third-trilogy-i-don-t-know-if-i-will-still-be-alive-when-it/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [STAR WARS is really three trilogies, nine films. The first trilogy covers the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/star-wars-is-really-three-trilogies-nine-films-the-first-trilogy/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Faith thanks God in the middle of the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/faith-thanks-god-in-the-middle-of-the-story/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“But I have already told the beginning, so right now it's the middle. And Zeb is in the middle of the story about Zeb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/but-i-have-already-told-the-beginning-so-right-now-it-s-the-middle/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More by George Lucas > [The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-story-being-told-in-star-wars-is-a-classic-one-every-few-hundred/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I'm very proud of all the movies I made. I am very happy with everything I've done. I like to watch my movies. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-m-very-proud-of-all-the-movies-i-made-i-am-very-happy-with/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If this were a fantasy world, there would be ten of me and we would each be doing what we wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-this-were-a-fantasy-world-there-would-be-ten-of-me-and-we-would/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [ I thought it \[Star Wars\] was too wacky for the general public. Right or wrong this is my movie, this is my decision, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-thought-it-star-wars-was-too-wacky-for-the-general-public-right-or/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [A special effect is a tool, a means of telling a story. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/a-special-effect-is-a-tool-a-means-of-telling-a-story-a-special/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If you look at 'Blade Runner,' it's been cut sixteen ways from Sunday, and there are all kinds of different versions of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-look-at-blade-runner-it-s-been-cut-sixteen-ways-from-sunday/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“Dreams are extremely important. You can’t do it unless you imagine it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/dreams-are-extremely-important-you-can-t-do-it-unless-you-imagine-it/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Never tell me the odds!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/never-tell-me-the-odds/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [There's nothing worse than the frustration of having somebody who you feel doesn't get what you're doing, trying to turn it into something else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/there-s-nothing-worse-than-the-frustration-of-having-somebody-who-you/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If you really love films, and you really want to get the full impact, there's a huge difference between watching something on a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-really-love-films-and-you-really-want-to-get-the-full-impact/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I've never been that much of a money guy. I'm more of a film guy, and most of the money I've made is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-ve-never-been-that-much-of-a-money-guy-i-m-more-of-a-film-guy-and/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I made lots of movies while in school while everybody else was running around saying, "Oh, I wish I could make a movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-made-lots-of-movies-while-in-school-while-everybody-else-was/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [One of the amazing things about 'Seven Samurai' is that there are a lot of characters. And considering you have so many, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/one-of-the-amazing-things-about-seven-samurai-is-that-there-are-a-lot/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Han Solo: Wonderful girl. Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to like her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/han-solo-wonderful-girl-either-i-m-going-to-kill-her-or-i-m-beginning/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) [Explore all 304 George Lucas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? 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I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I realized the story was more than a single film could hold. 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