George Lucas made his first-ever appearance at Comic-Con on July 27 to reveal new details about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a $1 billion institution set to open next year in Los Angeles. The panel, moderated by Queen Latifah and featuring Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang, included a video narrated by Samuel L. Jackson showcasing the 300,000 sq. ft building designed by Ma Yansong, along with highlights from Lucas and Mellody Hobson's collection of 40,000 objects, ranging from comic art to works by Frida Kahlo and Norman Rockwell.
The museum aims to elevate narrative art forms like comics and illustration to the same status as fine art, challenging traditional hierarchies in the art world. Lucas emphasized his emotional connection to art over commercial value, contrasting with typical high-end collectors. The announcement comes amid organizational changes, including the departure of director Sandra Jackson-Dumont and a 14% staff reduction, signaling Lucas's increased direct control over the museum's content direction.