George Lucas gives his verdict on Rogue One: a Star Wars Story

Lucas, who made the original Star Wars movies before selling Lucasfilm to Disney for a colossal sum of money, clearly found it difficult to let go of the fantasy franchise when the first film came out last year, even suggesting that his split from Star Wars was like a divorce. He also likened Disney to "white slavers" - whatever that means.

While Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy insisted Lucas "really liked" The Force Awakens, he clearly had the hump, telling Charlie Rose on CBS that the film's new owners had rejected his ideas: "The issue was, ultimately, they looked at the stories and they said, 'We want to make something for the fans'... they decided they were going to do their own thing so I decided, 'Fine. I’ll go my way and I let them go their way.'"

But Edwards' stand-alone Star Wars movie, starring Felicity Jones, seems to have had more of a positive reception than JJ Abrams's sequel.

"Two days ago, we got to show George the movie," Edwards revealed at a Rogue One press event.

"We all had a phone call and I got to speak with him yesterday. And I don’t want to put words into his mouth, but I can honestly say that I can die happy now. He really liked the movie, so it meant a lot.

"To be honest, and no offence to anyone here, it was the most important review to me... and I will take that conversation to the grave.

"It was a real privilege and his opinion means the world to me."

Rogue One: a Star Wars Story will be released in UK cinemas on 15th December