WI Lucas died early 1990's

What if George Lucas had died in a car crash or something in late 1992 or early 1993? Some immediate effects I can think of:
  • coverage of his death may mean The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones gets to run it's planned course (which would be four seasons, as opposed to not quite two)
  • depending on the timing, Steven Spielberg could find himself more psychologically strained than OTL as he finishes up Jurassic Park and films Schindler's List, meaning he might take a long break from directing
  • that, in turn, might mean Kubrick doesn't try to push his AI project on Steve in 1995, meaning either he sticks with the project (rather than putting it on hold to do Eyes Wide Shut) or finds someone else to direct
  • and, of course, the Star Wars prequels are unlikely to happen
Thoughts?
 
No Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Special Editions of the Original Trilogy either probably.
In turn, likely preveting other "Special Editions" (eg ET).
Indiana Jones 4's original Frank Darabont script was like the final product, except much better in execution. George Lucas was the force involved in rejecting it.
Would there even be a fourth Indiana Jones film (sequel) TTL? I can kind of see Spielberg feeling that further Jones adventures without Lucas' input just wouldn't be right, and let the (completed) prequel show be the final word on the series, at least for awhile.
 
Depending on the date, Steve Jobs hasnt bought Pixar from him yet so no Toy Story etc. Maybe the estate sells the assets after his death but who knows what happens then.
 
CGI is now just slightly less scapegoated for crappy 90s and 2000s movies, and geekdom sticks to ranting over Star Trek and bad comic book films instead. The pedestal on which the OT movies stand is slightly lower.

Knowing Hollywood, new Star Wars material for film/TV may still get made eventually. If it turns out "bad," fans will wish Lucas lived, and even a more well-received follow-up will have vocal detractors simply due to the inability to satisfy everyone.
 

Gaius Julius Magnus

Gone Fishin'
Would there even be a fourth Indiana Jones film (sequel) TTL? I can kind of see Spielberg feeling that further Jones adventures without Lucas' input just wouldn't be right, and let the (completed) prequel show be the final word on the series, at least for awhile.
Maybe a single stand alone prequel film is made in honor of Lucas.

Also Lucasfilm could get sold earlier than in OTL with the Disney acquisition.
CGI is now just slightly less scapegoated for crappy 90s and 2000s movies, and geekdom sticks to ranting over Star Trek and bad comic book films instead. The pedestal on which the OT movies stand is slightly lower.

Knowing Hollywood, new Star Wars material for film/TV may still get made eventually. If it turns out "bad," fans will wish Lucas lived, and even a more well-received follow-up will have vocal detractors simply due to the inability to satisfy everyone.
I think CGI would still become a scapegoat for some as Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, etc were already showing how it could be used. But I do agree that the Original Trilogy will probably become less revered over the long term without the Prequels to distract from them.
 
Depending on the date, Steve Jobs hasnt bought Pixar from him yet so no Toy Story etc. Maybe the estate sells the assets after his death but who knows what happens then.
Sorry, that was circa 1983 iirc, definitely early 80's, a decade before our PoD.
Maybe a single stand alone prequel film is made in honor of Lucas.
Not sure, given that the OT is already called "episodes 4-6".
CGI is now just slightly less scapegoated for crappy 90s and 2000s movies, and geekdom sticks to ranting over Star Trek and bad comic book films instead.
I think CGI would still become a scapegoat for some as Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, etc were already showing how it could be used.
Yeah, but it wasn't being used to "ruin" old classics yet, so I imagine there'd be less of a backlash.
The pedestal on which the OT movies stand is slightly lower.
But I do agree that the Original Trilogy will probably become less revered over the long term without the Prequels to distract from them.
But this would only be if no prequel trilogy was made, right? Otherwise...
Knowing Hollywood, new Star Wars material for film/TV may still get made eventually. If it turns out "bad," fans will wish Lucas lived, and even a more well-received follow-up will have vocal detractors simply due to the inability to satisfy everyone.
Also Lucasfilm could get sold earlier than in OTL with the Disney acquisition.
Now this I can actually see happening; likely, the films are somewhat better than the prequels we got OTL, but are considered worse due to Lucas nostalgia.
 
Would there be notes on the prequels from the Master (lucas TTL) himself then the prequels might work out just as bad or even worse compared to OTL.

If there are NO such notes and the prequels ARE made they will to have draw heavily on Episode IV-VI - lots of info there...

then we have West End games: Star Wars role playing game and the Thrawn Trilogy (1991-1993 IIRC),

Wasn't there a Han Solo trilogy which established him as imperial fighter pilot ;)

IIRC then both a new hope and the Thrawn trilogy established that Vader was NOT the Emperors chief Henchmen (Thrawn had Mara Jade as the Emperors right hand and A new Hope had Tarkin ordering Vader around...)
 
If there are notes, they'll only get treated as guidelines, not holy utterings, so it's quite possible we'll avoid, at least, the issue of Jar Jar Binks (I can't imagine another studio exec putting him in, at least, as he actually appeared OTL).
 
Re prequel notes

I do know the prequels were announced October 1993, but that George didn't begin writing the script for Episode I until November 1994; so I would guess whatever notes he had on prequel ideas either don't exist, aren't very developed at this point or are very different from the final product OTL.
 
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