But the books, by authors like Allen Dean Foster and many others - we stories told by someone else - and royalties paid to Lucasfilm for permission to write and manipulate story thread in his universe. Lucasfilm, or George in particular merely allowed them to write these stories and took the cash. Bear in mind, these books were written for nearly 20 years before he decided to shake the “money tree” again.
If he can keep clear from the character development and story lines - I have no doubt that the writers and directors can perform a truly epic movie. I just have no faith that Lucas can bear not to be front and center. His decisions and inane rationale tear and the fabric of believability. Consider - a qualification to be the Queen of Alderan is to be a female between 8 and 15. Has he never tried to talk to a girl in this age range? And you want them to rule a planet?
Sorry, watching Anakin Skywalker go from a likable albeit rebellious teenager, to child-murdering serial killer was like someone flipped a switch somewhere, or put his batteries in backwards. Padme response when told that Anakin had murdered school children? “Oh, let me talk to him” Sorry ... just bad film making. And let’s not even go near Jar-jar Binks...