Why did George Lucas begin the Star Wars films with episode 4 rather than episode 1?

Answer 1

The tone is different in the first 3 episodes. I don't think Lucas could have gotten financing for the series if it started from the beginning.

I also don't think the audience would have made it to episode 4.

Answer 2

George Lucas never intended to make the prequels whe he first wrote the screenplay...He wrote episodes 4, 5 and 6 as one screenplay and then realizing it to be too big, he split it into 3 acts which formed those respective 3 films. He made episode 4 intending to make the sequels only if the first was successful enough. The prequels were only written as a backstory

Answer 3

This was an intentional device by Lucas, attempting to recreate the type of story that kids used to see on Saturday afternoon film "serials". It implies that the audience is coming into the middle of an ongoing storyline, as if they had walked into a serial in the middle of episode 4.

Of course, Lucas had a heck of a time initially to interest the film studios in his screenplay. Before "Star Wars", most science fiction films were small-budget hokey films, without the chance to make millions of money in screenings and in merchandising. Finally, after several film studios had dropped the options, he finally got financing. It wasn't until the amazing success of "Star Wars", that he was able to get the go-ahead for the second, third, and fourth in the series of sequels.

Answer 4

If you look at the sheer storytelling and effects needed in Episodes I-III, you will see why he possibly would have waited. In Episodes IV-VI there is not near as much CGI/effects needed, and it was more basic, and available at the time. In my opinion, although i have watched the Empire of Dreams DVD, Lucas made the last three first due to money/technology. in EoD money and time is constantly a problem that Lucas faces. So what i believe is that Lucas purposefully started late, having written down the first three episodes previously, planning to create the first three when computer graphics were advanced enough to handle The Clone Wars, Mustafar, and Coruscant.

Answer 5

Had something to do with the fact it was a better story 4-6 then 1-3 and the fact that technology was not where he wanted it at the time. If he had done 1-3 first they probably would not have all been made.

Answer 6

Easier to get people to watch 3 movies rather than 6

Answer 7

Put it this way... I give you the second half of a good book. And you pay to read it...Your left with some questions... Wouldnt you pay to see what happened earlier?

Its about the money.

Answer 8

my dad says 'cause it was the most exciting, but i'm not positive he's right

Answer 9

to make us wonder... hmmm?