<P> Lucas insisted that the movie would be part of a 9 - part series and negotiated to retain the sequel rights, to ensure all the movies would be made . Tom Pollock, then Lucas' lawyer writes: "So in the negotiations that were going on, we drew up a contract with Fox's head of business affairs Bill Immerman, and me . We came to an agreement that George would retain the sequel rights . Not all the (merchandising rights) that came later, mind you; just the sequel rights . And Fox would get a first opportunity and last refusal right to make the movie ." </P> <P> Lucas was offered $50,000 to write, another $50,000 to produce, and $50,000 to direct the film . Later the offer was increased . </P> <P> Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977 . It was followed by The Empire Strikes Back, released on May 21, 1980, and Return of the Jedi, released on May 25, 1983 . The sequels were all self - financed by Lucasfilm . </P> <P> The opening crawl of the sequels disclosed that they were numbered as "Episode V" and "Episode VI" respectively, though the films were generally advertised solely under their subtitles . Though the first film in the series was simply titled Star Wars, with its 1981 re-release it had the subtitle Episode IV: A New Hope added to remain consistent with its sequel, and to establish it as the middle chapter of a continuing saga . The plot of the original trilogy centers on the Galactic Civil War of the Rebel Alliance trying to free the galaxy from the clutches of the Galactic Empire, as well as on Luke Skywalker's quest to become a Jedi . </P>

When was the first star wars film made