George Lucas to receive Cannes film festival’s Honorary Palme d’Or

Director George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson arrive for the Los Angeles premiere of Lucasfilm’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, on June 14, 2023. The Cannes film festival will give the Star Wars creator a special award at its closing ceremony this year, organizers said Tuesday, April 9, 2024. MICHAEL TRAN / AFP

PARIS—The Cannes film festival will give Star Wars creator George Lucas a special award at its closing ceremony this year, organizers said Tuesday, April 9.

“Star Wars is nothing short of mythology,” organizers said in a statement paying tribute to the legendary 79-year-old producer and director who will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or on May 25.

“The Festival de Cannes has always held a special place in my heart,” said Lucas, whose first movie, THX 1138, was shown at the French festival in 1971.

“Since then, I have returned to the festival on many occasions in a variety of capacities as a writer, director and producer. I am truly honored by this special recognition which means a great deal to me,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Organizers compared Lucas’ achievement with the nine “Stars Wars” movies to J.R.R. Tokien, writer of the “Lords of the Rings” series.

READ: Three new Star Wars films on the way: producers

“He imagined a universe, with its geography, populations, languages, moral values and even its vehicles,” said the statement, which highlighted the “unprecedented success.”

“The film captivated American crowds and became a worldwide socio-cultural phenomenon, which continues to this day.”

As a producer, Lucas also created the Indiana Jones series of movies and was associated with projects such as Akira Kurosawa’s “Kagemusha.”

The Cannes festival will be held from May 14 to May 25. Organizers will announce the official selection of movies on Thursday.