Modesto’s George Lucas steps out of retirement to join a different film franchise

Modesto’s George Lucas has come out of retirement to join a movie franchise aside from his own — and in a very different way.

The director/producer of the “Star Wars” empire and writer/director of his hometown-based “American Graffiti” has added his voice to the latest “Minions” movie.

Lucas, 82, is part of the cast of the animated film company Illumination’s soon-to-be-released “Minions & Monsters.”

According to a story on Collider.com, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri had talked about including Lucas as a character in the film.

Meledandri said Lucas had told him when they met two years ago that he was a “huge fan” of the company’s animated movies, including "Despicable Me” and the “Minions” series.

“It was such a thrill to learn that and then to share it with the team, because obviously he’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts,” Meledandri said in the story.

In talking to the film’s co-writer and co-producer, he suggested asking Lucas to voice his own role. "And they’re like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Meledandri said. “It was incredible. So, we’re thrilled to have him in the film.”

The Downey High graduate “is already talking to me about the role he wants to do next in the next Minions movie,” Meledandri said in the story. “So, it’s pretty incredible.”

It’s not the first acting outing for Lucas. According MSN, he had uncredited cameos in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Hook” and “Men in Black”; an uncredited minor role (Baron Papanoida) in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”; and a voice role — also playing himself — in “Robot Chicken: Star Wars.”

“Minions & Monsters” is scheduled to open widely July 1, including at Modesto-area theaters, according to Fandango.com.