Fans filled the San Diego Convention Center on Sunday, waving glowing lightsabers and chanting “Lucas!” in anticipation of George Lucas’s appearance at Comic-Con. The legendary filmmaker was joined by director Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang, vice president of Lucasfilm, with Queen Latifah moderating a panel introducing Lucas’s long-awaited cultural venture—the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
Opening in 2026, the Lucas Museum will be a first-of-its-kind institution celebrating illustrated storytelling across eras, cultures, and artistic mediums. Located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, the museum will span 11 acres and feature a 300,000-square-foot building. It will house galleries, two theaters, a library, community spaces, retail areas, a café, and a restaurant. Surrounding the building will be an expansive green space designed for public enjoyment and cultural gatherings.
Lucas received a standing ovation from the crowd as he took his seat, and the energy remained high throughout the presentation. A video preview offered glimpses of the museum’s striking architecture and rich collection. Pieces include works from iconic comic book artist Jack Kirby, painter Norman Rockwell, and illustrator Kadir Nelson. A dedicated Lucas archive will also showcase film props, models, concept art, and costumes from his decades-long career.
Lucas shared that his journey into art collecting began as a college student. While traditional fine art was out of reach financially, comic books provided an affordable gateway into the art world. Over time, he amassed a vast and diverse collection that now forms the foundation of the museum. Rather than keeping the collection private, Lucas said he wanted to create “a temple to the people’s art.”
Del Toro, reflecting on the museum’s significance, praised it as a home for visual storytelling that “can’t be erased.” He emphasized that narrative art transcends commercial boundaries and carries the power of collective memory. He also hinted that some of his own personal art collection might be contributed to the museum’s exhibits.
Lucas avoided discussion of his most famous franchises, “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” instead focusing entirely on the museum’s mission. He and del Toro agreed that narrative art, by nature, must remain deeply human—rooted in personality, experience, and tradition, not technology.
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