George Lucas can't find a place to land his UFO-shaped museum

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george lucas

Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images

George Lucas

George Lucas, for all his fame and fortune, can't seem to stick the landing.

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Since 2012, the filmmaker has looked for a home for his proposed Museum of Narrative Art, which would house Lucas' personal collection of digital and traditional works.

When he proposed the plan to Chicago, it should've been a slam-dunk: Mayor Rahm Emanuel had his back, and it'd replace what is now a parking lot with a major tourist attraction.

But after the city won the bid in 2014, Lucas and city officials became embroiled in a (somewhat) epic battle with preservationists who want to block the museum's construction.

One of the hottest flashpoints is the design: The 300,000 square foot building looks like it was imported straight from the heart of the Galactic Empire.

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The museum's undulating shape, Hoth-white walls, and halo-shaped observation deck have earned both praise and criticism from locals passionate about Chicago's famed lakeshore and surrounding parks.

Right now, the museum is caught in a legal limbo - but Emanuel's administration is hoping Lucas' spacious and space-age concept will soon be allowed to touch down.

Here's what the museum would look like and why it's so controversial.