George Lucas' Flash Gordon

Star Wars was at least partially the result of George Lucas not being able to obtain the rights to Flash Gordon. For the moment let's say George Lucas did receive the rights to make his version of Flash Gordon. Production starts around when production on Star Wars did. What might that film look like? What might the plot be? I know very little about Flash Gordon. Who would Lucas cast? How would the film do? How would Lucas' version compare with the actual Flash Gordon film that was made in the eighties?
 
Star Wars was at least partially the result of George Lucas not being able to obtain the rights to Flash Gordon. For the moment let's say George Lucas did receive the rights to make his version of Flash Gordon. Production starts around when production on Star Wars did. What might that film look like? What might the plot be? I know very little about Flash Gordon. Who would Lucas cast? How would the film do? How would Lucas' version compare with the actual Flash Gordon film that was made in the eighties?

The opening credits would be identical to Star Wars since they are 100% copied from the classic Flash Gordon serials of the 1930's.

George Lucas is a terrible director and an even worse script writer so it all depends on whether someone other than George is involved in the creative process.


Flash would be played by wait...............Arnold Schwarzenegger with a dubbed voice. They dubbed voices more in those days and I doubt Arnold would have cared in 1975/76.

Ming the Merciless would be Christopher Lee since he had already played Fu Manchu in a movie and Christopher Lee says yes to almost any film role offered.

Dale Arden could be done by Carrie Fisher

Doctor Zarkov could be done by Alec Guiness

Prince Baron is more difficult. Maybe not an American since they usually give royal roles to British actors (OTL Timothy Dalton). I think Michael York.

The Hawk man could be still be Brian Blessed as OTL.

Mings daughter would have to be 'exotic' looking. So maybe Barbara Bach.

The climax of the movie would be an attack on Mings fortified palace and would look similar to the X wing attack on the Death Star. Not sure if Lucas would have introduced the force but I am sure he would have got Light sabres in there somehow.

It would do well at the box office but there would be no legend.
 
George Lucas is a terrible director and an even worse script writer so it all depends on whether someone other than George is involved in the creative process.

American Graffiti was nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay. So was Star Wars. Yeah, George is clearly a terrible writer and director...
 
Probably won't be as popular as Star Wars as Star Wars had the fact that it is recycled mythology and a 'fusion of old in new' - eg the lightsaber being a laser sword among other things. Flash Gorden is more 'future-oriented' and not so retro with a 'used future or w/e. Of course George could reboot Flash Gordon to be like Star Wars plotwise.
 
American Graffiti was nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay. So was Star Wars. Yeah, George is clearly a terrible writer and director...

George Lucas is a terrible writer and director.

I haven't seen American Graffiti. Watching a movie about people in middle America driving cars and listening to Rock n Roll juke box music doesn't interest me.

But

I have seen Star Wars.

The dialogue is painful to listen too. Harrison Ford lives in a Galaxy Far far away but talks like a gum chewing cowboy saying to Leia 'look sister'.

You can even see Harrison Fords' pain as he delivers those awful lines.

And then there's a timeline that even for a fantasy movie is laughable.

The Death Star blows up Alderaan.

Princess Leia is rescued.

Obi Wan dies.

They they escape in the Millenium Falcon.

They reach the secret rebel base.

Luke Skywalker attends a briefing and then puts on a rebel pilot's uniform.

Jumps into an X wing when he has never flown a spaceship in his life

Gives advice on flying to his experienced comrades and then he blows up the Death Star.

All on the same day!!

I can only assume the people who nominated the picture for an oscar were bullied into it by their children.
 
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