Fallout from the rift between Kurtz and Lucas was far-reaching for the Star Wars saga, with Kurtz growing disenchanted with plans to make the third film Return of the Jedi more toyetic and triumphant.
Kurtz was a hands-on producer for 1977’s Star Wars, shepherding George Lucas’ pet project from Flash Gordon-knockoff to problematic production to unprecedented sci-fi phenomenon.
His career hit a major snag with 1989’s Slipstream, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film from TRON director Steven Lisberger starring Star Wars lead Mark Hamill.