In a chat with USA Today, the man that created Star Wars has revealed what his original plan was with the new trilogy.

Long before the Disney deal came together, George Lucas was apparently working on the stories for a brand new trilogy of Star Wars films. But the writer-director knew that this would be another 10 year commitment, and that was something he wasn’t eager to be a part of. So his plan became to write, produce, and direct Star Wars: Episode VII– launching the new trilogy in May of 2015- and then sell LucasFilm off so that someone else could finish it.

But then Disney swooped in with an offer, and Lucas relished the opportunity to hand the reins over. “It’s better for me to get out at the beginning of a new thing and I can just remove myself,” he says.

Indeed, Lucas sounds relieved that things worked out the way they did. In fact, he’s excited about what this means for his experience watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens later this year. “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,” Lucas tells USA Today. “The next one, I’ll be able to enjoy it like anybody else.”

I don’t think he’s the only person relieved that he handed things off to a new generation.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens blasts its way into theaters on December 18.

SOURCE: USA Today