George Lucas: I'm retiring

Los Angeles - George Lucas is still planning to retire.

The Star Wars director is hoping to give up on Hollywood and make small scale movies at home for his own enjoyment.

He told Empire magazine: "I'm moving away from the company, I'm moving away from all my businesses, I'm finishing all my obligations and I'm going to retire to my garage with my saw and hammer and build hobby movies.

Criticism

"I've always wanted to make movies that were more experimental in nature, and not have to worry about them showing in movie theatres."

George, 68, has made similar claims in January, and previously in 2005, when the final Star Wars film to date, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released.

While many take the director's words with a pinch of salt - as he is widely expected to keep working as a producer on Hollywood films, including a possible new Indiana Jones movie - it is unlikely he will make any new Star Wars films, possibly after criticism he received over the three films in the franchise he made between 1999 and 2005 and his re-tweaking of elements in the original movies, shot in the 70s and 80s.

He has previously said: "Why would I make any more? When everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?"