Today, George Lucas has issued a formal apology for using the “white slaver” analogy and any inferred creative and/or corporate slights. Proof that even the creator of the world’s biggest film franchise Star Wars cannot be too critical of its new owners – “the mouse”.

As reported yesterday, George Lucas took aim at the culture of creativity, aka the lack thereof, amongst today’s Hollywood studios in an interview With Charlie Rose. When asked about the sale of the rights to Disney and how he felt about his Star Wars films Lucas responded

“I sold them to the white slavers that takes these things, and…,” said Lucas. “They wanted to do a retro movie. I don’t like that. Every movie I work very hard to make them completely different, with different planets, with different spaceships, make it new.”

As reported in Variety, the statement reads as follows:

“I want to clarify my interview on the Charlie Rose Show. It was for the Kennedy Center Honors and conducted prior to the premiere of the film. I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize.

I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks.  Most of all I’m blown away with the record-breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of JJ and Kathy.”

While the “white slavers” analogy was a nasty and inappropriate reference, was Lucas correct about the general lack of creativity in Hollywood and its preference to refresh rather than create?

Probably.

Only time will tell as the Star Wars franchise churns out five films over the next four years.