When Disney paid $4 billion for George Lucas' company LucasFilm in October 2012, most fans were unaware that he was already developing a new trilogy before handing over his beloved franchise. With 11 months and change left until Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters, and Star Wars Rebels currently airing on Disney XD, the Star Wars franchise is more popular than ever. But, years before J.J. Abrams took the helm, George Lucas was planning on making the seventh Star Wars movie, and then sell off his LucasFilm company. As it turned out, Disney came along at just the right moment for George Lucas.

"It's better for me to get out at the beginning of a new thing and I can just remove myself. The time is more important to me than the money."

George Lucas added that he knew another trilogy would require a 10-year commitment, but he still planned on releasing the new Star Wars in May 2015 before selling LucasFilm. That was before Disney offered to buy LucasFilm, though, and shortly thereafter, George Lucas got married and had a child less than one year after the LucasFilm purchase was announced. He also revealed that his one regret with making the first six Star Wars movies is that he never got to enjoy them as a fan, which will be rectified when Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in December.

"The only thing I really regret about Star Wars is the fact I never got to see it - I never got to be blown out of my seat when the ship came over the screen. The next one, I'll be able to enjoy it like anybody else."

The filmmaker did reveal that he is currently writing smaller "experimental" films, but no details for those projects were revealed. Would you have liked to see George Lucas direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Chime in with your thoughts below, and stay tuned for more Star Wars details.