Saw this over on TheForce.Net. What I found interesting is how tepid his comments are regarding Indy IV. Sounds a bit like GL didn't think it was their best effort either and I agree they could have done much better, Maybe they will have a chance to redeem.
"We were hoping for box-office figures like that, which is, ultimately, with inflation, what the others have done, within 10%," Lucas explains. "So, we squeaked up there. Really, though, it was a challenge getting the story together and getting everybody to agree on it. Indiana Jones only becomes complicated when you have another two people saying 'I want it this way' and 'I want it that way', whereas, when I first did Jones, I just said, 'We'll do it this way' — and that was much easier. But now I have to accommodate everybody, because they are all big, successful guys, too, so it's a little hard on a practical level.
"If I can come up with another idea that they like, we'll do another. Really, with the last one, Steven wasn't that enthusiastic. I was trying to persuade him. But now Steve is more amenable to doing another one. Yet we still have the issues about the direction we'd like to take. I'm in the future; Steven's in the past. He's trying to drag it back to the way they were, I'm trying to push it to a whole different place. So, still we have a sort of tension. This recent one came out of that. It's kind of a hybrid of our own two ideas, so we'll see where we are able to take the next one."
I think it's kind of sad that professionals of the level's of Lucas, Spielberg and Ford can't seem to really agree on something or come to a compromise. Frankly, if what George says is true he really should learn when to keep quiet. This certainly won't help any future work they might do together. I actually think they should find an outside writer (like they tried) and have them come up with the next story - if they make another one.
I agree, Rico, and I was suprised at his candor regarding this. But we probably shouldn't be suprised as he's always been pretty outspoken regardless of consequence. I think it would be great to have some fresh perspective for Indy but with ego's involved, that might be tough.
Talk about shooting your future assistant in the foot....geez. This is like "well, you guy's don't agree with me so I'll let the whole world know"....
Not a good idea.
King
I still contend that every bit of that conflict showed up on screen in a poorly executed movie.
You know the great thing anout Raiders is that it is a 1930's action adventure (the past). Lucas really should just belt up and go back to being the idea's man. Speilberg is great when left to get on with it. I mean come on, fridges flying through the air, goffers popping up going squeek and flipping swinging monkeys. Lucas all over. Get Indy back to the Raiders action adventure with a strong steady enjoyable story, not a scene by scene oooo kids bit, oooo marketing in stores bit. Saying that i'll still go and buy it on DVD ha ha.