GEORGE LUCAS, GUILLERMO DEL TORO, DOUG CHIAN, AND QUEEN LATIFAH CELEBRATE NARRATIVE ART IN HISTORIC COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL PANEL

Hall H panel drew record-breaking audience for a captivating discussion about the power of illustrated stories and the forthcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

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SAN DIEGO, CA, July 27, 2025 — Today at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, George Lucas offered an exclusive look at and new details about the highly anticipated Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open in 2026 in Los Angeles. Joined onstage in Hall H by Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and legendary artist and production designer Doug Chiang, and moderated by iconic artist, actress, and producer Queen Latifah, the panel marked one of the most talked about and widely attended sessions in Comic-Con history, drawing over 6,000 on the final day of the convention.

Co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be the world’s first institution dedicated to the exploration of narrative art, celebrating illustrated storytelling across eras and cultures, from ancient cave drawings and children’s book illustrations to comic books and digital media.

Opening the panel, Lucas shared his passion for collecting narrative art over five decades: “Society cannot exist without a common belief system. And that’s where illustration is vital to show you what that means in everyday life,” Lucas stated, emphasizing how the museum “is a temple to the people’s art.”

Del Toro, a Lucas Museum board member and celebrated champion of visual storytelling, spoke to the emotional depth and social power of narrative art. "Imagine if we only had classical music, and rock-n-roll was never created? This is rock-n-roll and rock-n-roll needs to been shrined,” del Toro said, drawing parallels between the museum’s eclectic collection and the panel’s genre-defying filmography.

Doug Chiang, Lucasfilm’s Senior Vice President and Executive Design Director, provided a fascinating testament to the importance of exposing young people to comic art and illustration. Said Chiang, “Comic art and magazine illustration were kind of looked down upon...but it was a way for me to enjoy art, and it invited me to learn more about art. And what I love about what George and Mellody are doing with this museum is they are acknowledging and giving respect to artists who really haven’t been highlighted before.”

Moderator Queen Latifah expertly navigated the discussion, and brought humor, insight, and personal reflection to the panel. With a deep appreciation for comics and visual culture, she linked the panelists' creative journeys to the emotional power of storytelling: “The connection that I hear in our various conversations is emotion—an emotional connection that the art evokes from you. That's one of the most important things to never forget. I think when people step into this museum, they will be emotionally affected by it.”

During the panel, Latifah also mentioned some of the other art in the collection, including the first-ever Flash Gordon comic strip, an original splash page from Black Panther (1968), and original Peanuts strips from the 1950s and ’60s, among many others.

The panel concluded with a standing ovation, a testament to the audiences' anticipation for this first-of-its-kind cultural institution.

Photos and video clips from today's historic "Sneak Peek: LucasMuseum of Narrative Art" panel are available here: https://app.box.com/s/92tevk5fc1x9ugcsz1octdt81vi4q55t

The Lucas Museum’s full press kit is available here: https://dams.lucasmuseum.org/portals/press/#page/home

In advance of the museum’s launch, the public are encouraged to signup to be the first to hear about exclusive opportunities with the Lucas Museum at lucasmuseum.org/join-us.

About the Lucas Museum

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art believes illustrated stories connect us and reflect the shared beliefs that create community. Co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson and set to open in Los Angeles in 2026, the museum has a collection with rich holdings of works by illustrators including Norman Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith, Kadir Nelson, Beatrix Potter, Maxfield Parrish, and N. C. Wyeth; comic artists including Winsor McCay, Frank Frazetta, George Herriman, Jack Kirby, Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, and R. Crumb; and much more. Additionally, the museum is the holder of the Lucas Archives, which includes props, models, concept art, costumes, and more, that span the full extent of Lucas’s filmmaking.

The building is designed by renowned architect Ma Yansong of MAD with assistance from US-based architecture firm Stantec. It sits in Los Angeles's Exposition Park on an 11-acre campus that includes expansive new green space designed by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA. The 300,000-square-foot structure will feature galleries, two theaters, a retail store, a library, a café, a restaurant, as well as event spaces. lucasmuseum.org

Media Contacts

Alex Capriotti, Lucas Museum, press@lucasmuseum.org

Heather Phillips, Big Chair Communications, heather.phillips@bigchair.co

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