Lucas to Receive AFI Lifetime Award

1 hour, 4 minutes ago Top Stories - AP

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES - After creating "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "American Graffiti," Darth Vader might insist it was George Lucas' DESTINY to get the American Film Institute (news - web sites)'s lifetime achievement award.

Lucas, 60, was picked on Friday to be the recipient of the organization's 33rd annual prize, following such recent recipients as Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks.

"I've been very fortunate to have had a long career doing what I love to do, and being recognized by the AFI for it is really an honor," Lucas said. "I'm proud to be counted among such an extraordinary group of people whose lives are dedicated to the art of making movies."

Previous honorees include Jack Nicholson, Barbra Streisand (news), Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Poitier and Orson Welles.

The gala dinner and ceremony, in which clips of his films will be presented by many of the stars he worked with over the years, is set to take place next June in Los Angeles.

The award marks a busy year for Lucas. Last month his original "Star Wars" trilogy debuted for the first time on DVD (and became a best seller) along with a revised version of his first film, the sci-fi dystopian thriller "THX 1138."

Lucas also was one of the key presenters recently at the 75th anniversary celebration for the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television (which boasts him as one of its most famous graduates).

And in May, he will wrap up his "Star Wars" prequels with the release of "Episode III ? Revenge of the Sith," which will reveal how Darth Vader became a scarred, half-human half-machine villain.

This will be a day long remembered!

 

Congrats Greorge!

 

I really dont know why you posted this here.......But there is no new spoilers (there ISN'T any spoilers at all) in this post. So the best idea will be to post it in one of the other forums.

 

THANK the Maker, Sedious!

 

I really dont know why you posted this here....... But there is no new spoilers

Perhaps because I naively felt that people who love Lucas' films would be glad of this news in case they haven't heard it yet? The mods can lock it at any time; I just wanted to share this news with people who want it! I myself am really HAPPY!

 

Nice to hear they are honouring him.

He might put the Trailer out early too because of it.

 

very very cool for GL!!!


and expect lotsa of our faves there to honor him....

 

Congratulations George, you deserve it!

 

Congratulations to Mr. Lucas!

 

No wonder Darth Vader threw you down that damn shaft Sedious.

 

good job georgie

 

Congrats on George Lucas!!
He deserves it. He is the greatest storyteller of all time according to many people. For me, he's much more!

 

No wonder Darth Vader threw you down that damn shaft Sedious.



With all the bashing that Lucas gets (and doesnt deserve, in my opinion), it's refreshing to see that he is getting honored.

 

Yes congratulations to George Lucas! Even though the prequels aren't perfect and some bad decisions were made. I still like all your work and have no ill feelings towards you and I appreciate all you've done for film.

 

Yay for George!

 

I really dont know why you posted this here....... But there is no new spoilers

Perhaps because I naively felt that people who love Lucas' films would be glad of this news in case they haven't heard it yet?

That's telling him.

Good for George!

 

Yay George!!!

 

Congratulations, George! It's about time..

 

I know you're reading this George! Congrats, it's well deserved and long overdue.

 

Nice job George.

 

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

That's what Lucas needs with a cup of coffee.

(NOTE: that rhymes )

 

Even though the prequels aren't perfect and some bad decisions were made

*sigh* Even in a thread honoring George, someone had to say something like this.

 

Congratulations, George!

 

yay for George

 

No person ever deserved the award more.

RB