George Lucas Was Still Tweaking His $1 Billion Museum Before Opening: 'It's Not Working Perfectly'

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has already welcomed stars to its grand opening, but George Lucas revealed that some key points were 'not working perfectly' up until the last minute. The 'Star Wars' creator admitted that he had to work on a tiny but important detail in the galleries right before the opening night.

Lucas shared the news in an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning'. In the interview, he also shared the spotlight with his wife, Mellody Hobson, and spoke about the museum's origins as well as how illustrative art draws on one's emotions in telling mythic tales.

'It's Not Working Perfectly'

The interview opens with host Norah O'Donnell thanking Lucas and Hobson, and immediately commenting on how the 'Star Wars' creator was still 'going over the little details' before the museum's opening.

'Well, that's what I'm doing now,' Lucas replied. When O'Donnell asked if he had only noticed something that he wanted to add, he explained that he 'kind of knew it was a problem.'

'The problem is you can't read the tombstones,' Lucas further explained, pointing out that some galleries are very dark and will need appropriate lighting. Luckily, he assured Hobson that he had figured out a lighting solution that would fix the immediate problem.

'What's the point in having them there if you can't read them?' Lucas asked. 'It's not working perfectly.'

A $1 Billion Museum Makes Its Debut

The museum held its opening night celebration at Exposition Park on Saturday, 19 September, ahead of its official public opening on Tuesday, 22 September. The US$1 billion institution has taken around 17 years to reach completion.

The event attracted a major Hollywood guest list, including Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Francis Ford Coppola, Christopher Nolan and Michael B. Jordan. Other attendees included Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

A Museum Built Around Storytelling

Despite its association with Lucas and 'Star Wars', the museum is designed to showcase a much broader definition of visual storytelling.

The five-storey, 300,000‑square‑foot building contains more than 100,000 square feet of gallery space spread across more than 30 galleries. Its collection ranges from paintings and illustrations to comics, animation, photography, film and cinematic artefacts.

The opening exhibitions feature more than 1,300 works, including pieces by Frida Kahlo, Norman Rockwell, Diego Rivera and Banksy, alongside material from the Lucas Archives. The museum also features 'Star Wars' costumes, props and vehicles, including Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder and other production artefacts.

Lucas has described the institution as a celebration of 'the people's art', with the museum seeking to give commercial illustration, comic art and other forms of popular visual culture the same attention traditionally given to fine art.

Hollywood Turns Out for George Lucas

The opening night reflected the museum's connections across the entertainment and arts industries. Steven Spielberg was among the event's co‑chairs, alongside figures including Greta Gerwig, Guillermo del Toro, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, JR and Julie Bell.

The evening featured orchestral and choral performances before guests explored the museum's galleries.

A rooftop drone show later brought together imagery from the museum's collection, including 'Star Wars' characters and works associated with artists such as Banksy and Frida Kahlo. Oprah Winfrey introduced the display, with Samuel L. Jackson providing narration.

The museum's opening comes after a lengthy development process. Lucas initially pursued locations in San Francisco and Chicago before the project ultimately found a home in Los Angeles. The Exposition Park site was selected, and construction began in 2018, with the opening date subsequently delayed several times.

Lucas Museum Opens to the Public

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will officially open to the public on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. Beyond its galleries, the institution includes two cinemas, a free research library, educational spaces, a restaurant and a 13-acre park and gardens.

Even as the museum prepared to welcome thousands of visitors, Lucas was still focused on details inside the galleries. His last‑minute lighting fix illustrates how closely the 'Star Wars' creator remained involved in the project right up to its opening.