Star Wars veteran Ian McDiarmid is hopeful series creator George Lucas likes the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, adding he believes the ninth entry in the episodic saga is "absolutely true" to what Lucas started. Lucas criticized Abrams' first franchise entry, The Force Awakens, and on the followup helmed by Rian Johnson, Lucas reportedly only said The Last Jedi was "beautifully made." Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger in recent months admitted Lucas felt upset and betrayed when he realized Disney would not be following his plots for the Star Wars sequel trilogy following its $4.05 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, and Lucas ultimately did not attend the unveiling of the finale to his nine-movie saga.