Lucas Scraps Plans for Indiana Jones Cannes Bash

GEORGE LUCAS has stunned partygoers at the Cannes Film Festival by deciding against throwing a lavish launch party to celebrate the premiere of INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.

The legendary moviemaker has ignored the French film festival's usual etiquette by snubbing a spectacular premiere after-party in favour of a comparatively compact 'filmmakers party' - with just 250 guests - after the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise is premiered at the event on Sunday (18May08).

The move comes amid rumours the film was panned by movies bosses in Los Angeles who previewed Harrison Ford's revival of his role as the whip-cracking adventurer, according to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

And Lucas, who worked on the eagerly awaited film with veteran director Steven Spielberg, is seemingly trying to play down the hype surrounding the movie, in case it's a flop with film fans.

He says, "When you do a movie like this, people anticipate that it's going to be the Second Coming. And it's not. It's just a movie. You're not going to get a lot of accolades doing a movie like this. All you can do is lose."