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Initially inspired by his childhood fascination with serials like Flash Gordon, Lucas sought to develop a new science fiction epic that could be serialized. He envisioned a universe rich with mythic themes, drawing influence from Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the political climate of Vietnam, and Japanese samurai films like Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress and Seven Samurai. After pitching the concept to studios like Universal and United Artists—and facing rejection—Lucas found a supporter at 20th Century Fox, where studio president Allen Ladd Jr. believed in his vision.