George Lucas’ Museum of Narrative Art officially opened in Los Angeles — and Hollywood showed up in force.
The museum’s grand opening Saturday brought together an extraordinary lineup of celebrities, filmmakers, musicians, business leaders and political figures, turning the long-awaited launch into one of the city’s biggest celebrity gatherings of the year.
Among those in attendance were Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Mark Hamill, Doja Cat, Kim Kardashian, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Francis Ford Coppola and Denis Villeneuve.
Ford, who famously played Han Solo in five Star Wars films, was photographed with his wife, Calista Flockhart, and Lucas during the celebration.
Doja Cat also took the spotlight, arriving in a dramatic backless gown before performing during the Hollywood-heavy evening.
The museum itself sits in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and represents the culmination of a project Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, had been developing for years.
The approximately $1.5 billion museum was entirely funded by Lucas and Hobson and features works from Lucas’ extensive private art collection, with a particular focus on illustration and narrative art.
During the opening ceremony, Lucas explained why he wanted to create an institution dedicated to the artists behind the imagery that has shaped popular culture.
“I believe it wholeheartedly that you get to decide what art is,” Lucas said to applause.
He also recalled his original vision of creating what he described as a “temple to illustrators,” arguing that illustrators deserve recognition alongside other artists whose work traditionally appears in museums.
Queen Latifah served as emcee for the opening remarks, while the evening’s co-chairs included Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Lewis Hamilton, Steven Spielberg, Pharrell Williams, JR and Julie Bell.
The celebrity turnout was only part of the spectacle.
Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson introduced a drone show later in the evening featuring imagery inspired by works represented in the museum, including R2-D2, Captain America, Banksy and Frida Kahlo.
The festivities continued with performances from members of the Black Eyed Peas, including will.i.am, Taboo, George Pajon and J. Rey Soul.
The opening also featured plenty of unexpected celebrity pairings. Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were spotted together exploring the galleries, while Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian attended the event separately and later left together.
Other guests included Jon Batiste, Jack Black, Nicolas Cage, Vin Diesel, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Janelle Monáe, Emma Watson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sofia Vergara and Magic Johnson, among many others.
After years of planning, legal hurdles and location changes, Lucas’ vision has finally become a permanent part of Los Angeles’ cultural landscape.
The museum opens to the public September 22.
