@Meanlucario
I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Maybe a few, but no direct evidence, let alone an outright testimonial admission to taking ideas for Phantom Menace from StarChaser or other knockoffs like Message from space or Battle Beyond the Stars.
@Background Pony #7524
It does have how Maul would die, and hand getting cut off, how the PM door was open via lightsaber, among a few other things, and it’s not like Lucas hasn’t ripped off things before for his Star Wars movies.
Apparently the NC and Linkara review of Superman 4 was cursed since the footage was deleted and Linkara had to send Doug footage for him to react to in order to have the review out on time.
@Jarkes
The fun question is than how much is by choice, since I remember the corruption being with the higher ups, so it could be that he just didn’t want his means of financial support for him and his family in jeopardy. History is full of people who are willing to let horrible things happen if it means that them and their family are safe, with World War 2 being a great example of it.