George Lucas facing new setback in Chicago museum project

A U.S. judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to halt George Lucas' plans to build a $400 million (£274 million) museum in Chicago, Illinois.

The Star Wars creator successfully beat opposition from local parks advocacy group, Friends of the Parks, in October (15) after local council members approved his bid to establish the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum, close to the city's Soldier Field sports stadium.

However, Friends of the Parks campaigners have since been granted permission to continue with legal action they filed in 2014 against city bosses and officials at the Chicago Park District in an effort to block the project.

Federal judge John Darrah issued the ruling on Thursday (04Feb16), putting plans for construction on pause.

Lucas has yet to comment on the latest setback.

The filmmaker had previously moved the project from San Francisco, California to Chicago after having a previous application there denied.

At the time of the museum approval last year (15), which included concessions such as extra parking spaces for sports fans and the addition of a park space close to Lake Michigan, Mayor Rahm Emanuel declared: "The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be an incredible addition to Chicago's Museum Campus. The Lucas Museum will join the 56 other museums in Chicago to provide new cultural and educational benefits for generations to come. And the new parkland will add more open greenspace that will be enjoyed by residents across the city."

The museum is slated to hold the moviemaker's extensive art collection as well as memorabilia from his Hollywood career.