George Lucas will receive the Honorary Palme d’or at 77th Cannes Film Festival

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George Lucas, the iconic filmmaker behind the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or on May 25 during the Closing ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

“The Festival de Cannes has always held a special place in my heart,” said Lucas in a statement. “I was surprised and elated when my first film, THX-1138, was selected to be shown in a new program for first time directors called the Directors’ Fortnight.”

“Since then, I have returned to the festival on many occasions in a variety of capacities as a writer, director and producer. I am truly honored by this special recognition which means a great deal to me,” Lucas continued.

In announcing the Honorary Palme d’Or award, Cannes praised Lucas for building “a Hollywood empire through the nine episodes of the saga — four of which he directed himself,” and for his “unflagging passion for technology” which has made him “one of the pioneers of the visual effects industry.”

Lucas is one of the several cult filmmakers expected at the Cannes Film Festivals. Other big names set for a trip to the Croisette include George Miller who will present “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” out of competition on May 15. The premiere will come nine years after Miller unveiled “Mad Max: Fury Road” at the festival in 2015. Meanwhile, the attendance of Francis Ford Coppola with latest film “Megalopolis” has not yet been confirmed as distribution plans for the self-produced, big-budgeted movie are still being sorted out.

The presence of Lucas at the upcoming festival is a significant coup. The director-producer had not attended last year’s world premiere of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” (by Variety)