Includes bibliographical references and index.

From Star Wars: A New Hope to The Rise of Skywalker, this is the first complete assessment and philosophical exploration of the Lucasfilm universe. Lucasfilm examines the ways these iconic films were shaped by global cultural mythologies and world cinema, as well as philosophical ideas from the fields of aesthetics and political theory. Cyrus Patell also looks at how this ever-expanding universe of cultural products and enterprises became a global brand and asks: can a film director be both an auteur and a corporation? More than any other film franchise, Star Wars and Lucasfilm have become part of the cultural imagination. The passionate fan base has played a decisive role in the themes, content, casting and direction of George Lucas' oeuvre. Within these pages, Patell explores what it means for films and their creator to become part of cultural history in an unprecedented way.