Terence Stamp Bashes ‘Star Wars’ Director George Lucas, Calls Films Boring
Even during the best of times, George Lucas has never been known as an "actor's director." Watch some behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the original 'Star Wars' trilogy and you'll see the actors straining for a reaction or direction from the man. Spielberg he is not.
If you want verbal proof of Lucas' indifference (for lack of a better word) to the acting craft, 'Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace' star Terence Stamp ("Chancellor Valorum") is here to lay it out for you in no uncertain terms. George Lucas is boring.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Stamp makes it clear that he did not enjoy his time working with Lucas on the 'Star Wars' film:
We didn't get on at all. I didn't rate him that much as a director, really. I didn't feel like he was a director of actors; he was more interested in stuff and effects. He didn't interest me and I wouldn't think I interested him.
Fair enough; that's not much a surprise to those of us who know Lucas' reputation as someone who would rather play alone with his toys than with the other kids. But Stamp's next anecdote really sums up what it must be like for an actor on a Lucas set.
I came all the way back from Australia to do it. I didn't want to but my agent leaned on me and I wanted to meet Natalie Portman because I'd seen her in The Professional. And I did meet her and she was absolutely enchanting. But on the day I'm supposed to do my scene with her, for which I'd traveled halfway around the world, I said, "Where's Natalie?" And George says, "That's Natalie," and points to a bit of paper on the wall. It was just boring.
We can only imagine the look of confusion tinged with white-hot rage on Stamp's face when that little revelation was dropped on him. This is the original Zod, after all.
J.J. Abrams is more in the Spielberg style of directors and perhaps he'll bring some passion back to the universe with 'Star Wars: Episode 7.'