Star Wars is one of the most famous movie series in the world, and it has been shaped by several talented directors over the years. Each director brought their own style and vision to the galaxy far, far away, helping to create the stories and characters that fans love. Here is a detailed look at the most famous Star Wars directors and their works, explained in a simple, easy to understand way.
George Lucas is the creator of Star Wars and the person who started it all. He was born in 1944 and is an American filmmaker known for directing, producing, and writing some of the most popular movies ever made[1]. Lucas wrote and directed the very first Star Wars film, which was released in 1977 and later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This movie introduced audiences to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and many other iconic characters. Lucas also directed the next two films in the original trilogy: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). However, he only directed Episode IV himself; for Episodes V and VI, he served as writer and producer, while other directors took the helm[1].
The Empire Strikes Back, often considered one of the best movies in the series, was directed by Irvin Kershner. This film is famous for its dramatic story, including the big reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. Kershner’s direction helped make the movie feel deeper and more emotional than the first, and it introduced new characters like Yoda and Lando Calrissian[1]. Return of the Jedi, which wrapped up the original trilogy, was directed by Richard Marquand. This film brought the story of Luke, Leia, and Han to a satisfying close, with the final battle against the Empire and the redemption of Darth Vader.
After a long break, George Lucas returned to direct the prequel trilogy, which tells the story of how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. These films are Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). The prequels introduced new characters like Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi as a young man, and Padmé Amidala, and explored the politics and history of the Star Wars universe in more detail. While these movies were sometimes criticized for their dialogue and special effects, they have become more appreciated over time, especially for their world-building and action scenes.
After Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, a new era of Star Wars began. The sequel trilogy was made by different directors. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) was directed by J.J. Abrams, who is known for his work on movies like Star Trek and TV shows like Lost. Abrams brought back the original characters and introduced new ones like Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. The movie was a huge success and felt like a return to the spirit of the original Star Wars.
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) was directed by Rian Johnson, a filmmaker known for movies like Looper and Knives Out. Johnson’s film was more experimental, taking the story in unexpected directions and focusing on themes of failure and hope. Some fans loved the new ideas, while others were divided, but the movie is remembered for its bold choices and beautiful visuals.
The final film in the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019), was also directed by J.J. Abrams. This movie tried to wrap up the story of the Skywalker family and bring together characters from all three trilogies. It featured lots of action and callbacks to earlier films, aiming to please long-time fans.
In addition to the main saga films, Star Wars has expanded with spin-off movies and TV shows. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) was directed by Gareth Edwards, who is known for Godzilla and Monsters. This film tells the story of how the Rebel Alliance stole the Death Star plans, leading directly into the events of A New Hope. It is praised for its gritty tone and ensemble cast.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), directed by Ron Howard, explores the early life of Han Solo. Howard is a well-known director with movies like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind to his name. Solo delves into Han’s origins, showing how he met Chewbacca and won the Millennium Falcon.
On the small screen, Star Wars has found new life with shows like The Mandalorian, created by Jon Favreau. Favreau, who also directed Iron Man and The Jungle Book, brought a fresh, Western-inspired style to Star Wars, focusing on new characters like Din Djarin (the Mandalorian) and Grogu (Baby Yoda). The Mandalorian has been a huge hit, leading to more Star Wars TV series.
Looking ahead, new directors are joining the Star Wars universe. Jon Favreau is set to direct The Mandalorian & Grogu, a new Star Wars film scheduled for release in 2026[3]. Shawn Levy, known for Stranger Things and Deadpool & Wolverine, is developing another Star Wars movie called Star Wars: Starfighter, set to come out in 2027[3]. These projects show that Star Wars will continue to grow with new voices and visions.
Star Wars has also inspired many other filmmakers. Directors like Ridley Scott, John Singleton, and Peter Jackson have said that Star Wars influenced their own work, showing how important the series has been to the world of movies[4].
In summary, the most famous Star Wars directors include George Lucas, who created the series and directed four of the films; Irvin Kershner and Richard Marquand, who directed the other two films in the original trilogy; J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, who directed the sequel trilogy; Gareth Edwards and Ron Howard, who directed the spin-off films; and Jon Favreau, who has brought Star Wars to television and is now directing a new movie. Each director has left their mark on Star Wars, helping to make it one of the most beloved and enduring stories in cinema history.
