Lucas Directed No Movies For Twenty Years

George Lucas did not direct a single film for twenty-two years after the original 1977 Star Wars. He finally broke his directorial hiatus to helm The Phantom Menace in 1999.

During the long gap between his directorial projects, Lucas focused on producing and expanding the cinematic universe. He dedicated his time to building the Lucasfilm empire and pioneering special effects technology. When he finally returned to the director's chair, the anticipation was unlike anything seen in Hollywood history. It remains a fascinating piece of trivia that such a massive visionary stayed behind the scenes for two full decades.