How Star Wars Was Born from George Lucas’s Failed Attempt to Adapt Flash Gordon

Star Wars is now one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. However, its creator, George Lucas, originally had an entirely different cinematic project in mind. Ironically, the failure to bring that vision to life ultimately led to the birth of Star Wars, much to the delight of millions of fans.

In 1971, Lucas directed THX 1138, his first feature film, which explored themes of dystopian science fiction. His next project, American Graffiti, was a nostalgic coming-of-age film about a group of young Americans enjoying one last night together before their lives take different paths.

Just four years later, Star Wars hit the big screen, laying the foundation for a massive franchise that continues to thrive to this day, despite ongoing controversies. However, at the time, Star Wars was not Lucas’s first choice—it was actually a backup plan. The director had originally set his sights on adapting a well-known sci-fi series for the cinema.

A Missed Opportunity That Led to Cinematic History

What was the film George Lucas wanted to make? The director was a huge fan of Flash Gordon, a sci-fi adventure that first gained popularity as a comic series before being turned into several low-budget films.

Lucas was well aware of the flaws in these earlier adaptations. In The Secret History of Star Wars by Michael Kaminski, Lucas is quoted as saying:

“I especially loved the Flash Gordon serials… Of course, I now see how crude and poorly made they were… But I loved them so much, even when they were terrible, that I wondered what would happen if they were actually done well.”

His vision was to create a new version of Flash Gordon, one with higher production values and a more compelling narrative.

However, there was a major obstacle: the rights to Flash Gordon were owned by Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis. At the time, De Laurentiis had no interest in handing over the rights to Lucas, as he was already planning a film adaptation with legendary Italian director Federico Fellini at the helm.

Disappointed, Lucas left a meeting with the producer and later confided in his friend Francis Ford Coppola (director of The Godfather) that he was frustrated by the setback. Determined to move forward, Lucas decided to create his own space saga instead.

This rejection turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Forced to come up with something new, Lucas devised an entirely original universe—one that would ultimately become Star Wars. Although he initially feared the film would be a commercial failure, it would go on to revolutionize the science fiction genre and shape pop culture for generations.

What Happened to Flash Gordon?

As for the long-awaited Flash Gordon film, it eventually saw the light of day in 1980—several years after Star Wars had already cemented its legacy. However, Federico Fellini was no longer attached to the project. Despite its mixed reception, the film still holds a respectable 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Do you remember Flash Gordon and its various adaptations? What are your thoughts on the franchise?

Interestingly, not long after the release of Star Wars, George Lucas found himself entangled in a legal battle with another sci-fi franchise. He sued a rival production over similarities to Star Wars—a legal dispute that lasted even longer than the series in question.