George Lucas Makes His First-Ever Comic-Con Appearance, Unveils Museum He Describes as ‘a Temple to the People’s Art’

George Lucas just made Comic-Con history — and unveiled exciting things to come.

The legendary filmmaker behind the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises attended his first-ever San Diego Comic-Con panel on Sunday, July 27, in the San Diego Convention Center’s iconic Hall H.

Lucas, 81, was joined by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and Star Wars prequels production designer Doug Chiang, with Queen Latifah moderating the lively discussion.

The trio came together to discuss the power of illustrated story and to offer a sneak peek at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will open in Los Angeles in 2026.

“We’ve been waiting five decades for this,” announced Latifah, 55, after making her grand entrance.

Of Lucas, who was greeted with a standing ovation, she said, “His imagination has lit the path for generations of fans and filmmakers alike. … Besides being a sci-fi nerd myself, I am so happy to be here to support two of my closest friends, George and his wife Mellody [Hobson].”

Hobson, a museum co-founder with her husband, was among those featured in a video unveiling museum concept art and work to be displayed from comic artists, painters and filmmakers alike. “I have great respect for George’s vision. He thinks big,” she said.

On the panel, Lucas recalled that he had collected around 40,000 pieces of art since his college days. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years, and it occurred to me: ‘What am I going to do with it all?’ Because I refuse to sell it.” The museum, he added, “is sort of a temple to the people’s art.”

Lucas said illustrators often don’t get recognized for their work. “When I was growing up, comic book art wasn’t taken seriously,” chimed in Chiang, 63. “It was always like, ‘Doug, you’ll grow out of that one day.’ And I’m so glad I didn’t.”

Board member del Toro, 60, pointed out that the popular arts have paved the way for social change. “Comics were the first ones to punch Nazis,” the Mexican filmmaker said to applause.

Some of his own vast collection of art “may go” to the museum as well, he teased, especially after it was threatened by Los Angeles fires.

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The Lucas Museum, co-founded by Lucas and Hobson, will be located in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and is set to open sometime next year.

It will host a collection of works from noteworthy artists, including Charles M. Schulz, Jack Kirby, Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judy Baca, Frida Kahlo and Maxfield Parrish.

The museum will also offer fans of Lucas’ work the chance to view the Star Wars creator’s archive, which includes models, props, concept art and costumes from his iconic projects.

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