It is a known fact that Star Wars has had an unparalleled influence on science fiction and action as a genre. This is all thanks to George Lucas, who has been at it for decades, but it is not devoid of criticism; the most common one being the lack of women, as some say, and here’s what the Director had to say about that.
George Lucas on fewer women in Star Wars
George Lucas was asked back in 1988 by Starlog why there are fewer women in the movies. He was also asked if he plans on inculcating more women in the films to come, to which he responded by saying:
“Well, what of Princess Leia? When you’re making a war film, how are you going put women in it? Think of other war films, think of The Longest Day, those films. Well, it’s your galaxy; I have to go with the rest of the world. And still make it believable. I’m not sure how many women will be in the rest of the films; that’s the kind of thing that plots dictate. What would Star Wars have been like if Han Solo had been a woman?”
Time and time again, there have been various debates centering around Lucas’ choice of not having enough female characters. While some are contentious about this, others seem to have no issues with it.
There has also been criticism of the manner in which the movies treat the female characters’ trajectory. One such case is Padme, who serves mainly as a trigger for Anakin Skywalker’s progression in the series. The progression here is his villain arc, as some fans suggest.
While this is one of those cases where fans wished they would see Padme as less of a docile character and more of a force to be reckoned with. Her death was a catalyst for another character, yes, but it did dilute her substance as a character.
However, it is important to note that Star Wars also has had exceptions. Ahsoka Tano, Rey Skywalker, Nomi Sunrider, and Jaina Solo are some perfect examples of strong female characters that were introduced later on in the movies.
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