Oprah Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson Narrate Stunning Drone Show at Lucas Museum Opening

Few passion projects in Hollywood have taken as long to reach fruition as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, first proposed the idea over 16 years ago, with earlier plans to establish it in San Francisco and Chicago ultimately falling through. The journey to completion was anything but straightforward.

CNN reported that the project has cost Lucas approximately $1 billion of his own funds, while some critics have raised concerns about whether the museum is merely a vanity project, citing high membership fees. CNN also highlighted management challenges leading up to the grand opening, including the departure of the former director and CEO and a series of layoffs.

However, all of that seemed to fade away on Saturday night as the museum finally opened its doors for a grand celebration. Lucas and Hobson hosted the opening night gala at Los Angeles’s Exposition Park, ahead of the public opening on Sept. 22. The impressive 300,000-square-foot structure was designed by Ma Yansong of MAD in collaboration with Stantec.

The highlight of the evening, captured by Deadline on X, occurred after dark when Winfrey and Jackson introduced and narrated a breathtaking drone show above the rooftop, illuminating the Los Angeles night sky with visuals inspired by the museum’s collection. It was a spectacular display fitting for a museum dedicated to storytelling.

Guests began the evening by touring the galleries before heading to the fifth floor for drinks, food, and entertainment. At 9 p.m., they moved to the rooftop where Winfrey and Jackson addressed the crowd. Jackson teased a special guest who had traveled through time and space to attend, while Winfrey elaborated on the stories that humanity has shared and preserved.

The visuals showcased the extensive range of the collection. The drone show, produced by Nova Sky Stories, traversed various centuries and artistic mediums, featuring everything from the Cave of Altamira and N.C. Wyeth’s ‘The Storybook’ to Julie Bell’s ‘The Huntress’, Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’, and Maxfield Parrish’s ‘Ecstasy’. Naturally, the Millennium Falcon made a notable appearance as well.

This diverse mix reflects the museum’s aspirations. Earlier in the evening, guests viewed works by renowned artists such as Norman Rockwell, Banksy, Frida Kahlo, Gordon Parks, and Judy Baca, among many others. The collection boasts a staggering 40,000 pieces, including illustrations, murals, comic art, children’s book illustrations, and science-fiction art.

‘Star Wars’ enthusiasts had much to celebrate too, with Mark Hamill, Jackson, and Hayden Christensen all present at the event. Jackson’s connection to the museum dates back to before its opening, as he narrated a sizzle reel showcased at a 2025 panel that highlighted items like the original landspeeder and Anakin Skywalker’s ship from ‘The Phantom Menace’.

The guest list resembled a Hollywood yearbook, featuring luminaries such as Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Tyler Perry, and George R.R. Martin. Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig, Nicolas Cage, Queen Latifah, Eva Longoria, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also graced the red carpet.

The evening’s entertainment matched the star-studded guest list, featuring a 27-piece orchestra, performances by Voices of Fire and Jon Batiste, and a closing set by the Black Eyed Peas. Tom Cruise, Spielberg, Pharrell Williams, and Jensen Huang were among the nine co-chairs who helped anchor the event.

For those who weren’t on the guest list, the wait is almost over. The public will get its first glimpse on Tuesday, with adult tickets priced at $25. If the opening night drone show is any indication, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is poised to make a grand entrance that aligns with its ambitious vision.