George Lucas to focus on 'avant-garde' movies

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George Lucas has pledged his future to "avant-garde" filmmaking.

While the Star Wars creator had previously suggested that he was retiring, he has now clarified that he instead he plans to go back to his roots, making films in the style of American Graffiti.

Lucas told Metro:

I keep telling everyone I'm sort of retiring, but I'm really going back to where I started, which is sort of more avant-garde filmmaking.

"I've made enough money so I can finance it all myself. I don't have to worry or answer to anybody and I can just do whatever I want."

Of his 3D conversion of Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace, which hits cinemas tomorrow (February 9), he added: "Moving from 2D to 3D is like the difference between watching a film in black and white and watching a film in colour. It works in black and white but it works better in colour."

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