Star Wars creator Lucas get engaged to financier

A spokeswoman for Lucasfilm said the 68-year-old director was engaged to 43-year-old investment firm president Mellody Hobson.

Ms Hobson serves as chairman of DreamWorks Animation and is a financial contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America programme.

Lucas helped to launch the modern blockbuster age with his Star Wars sagas and Indiana Jones adventures.

The original Star Wars still stands as the number two film in terms of tickets sold domestically, behind only Gone With The Wind.

Lucas, who has has three children – Amanda, Katie and Jett – was previously married to film editor Marcia Lucas from 1969 to 1983. She won an Academy Award for her editing work on the original Star Wars film. All three of his children have appeared in the three Star Wars prequels, as has Lucas himself.

Disney completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise from Lucas for $4.06bn in cash and stock last month.

During the 1980s, Lucas was in a relationship with singer Linda Ronstadt. He began dating Mellody Hobson in 2006 and she has accompanied him to several events including the Academy Awards ceremony, Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes.

Born and raised in a Methodist family, Lucas has admitted the religious and mythical themes in Star Wars were inspired by his interest in the writings of mythologist Joseph Campbell.