Leaders place ad in San Francisco Chronicle to lure George Lucas museum to Treasure Island

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- There was a plot twist Friday in the saga over the future of George Lucas' Museum.

Bay Area leaders are waging a new battle to lure the Star Wars director back to build his museum.

Local movers and shakers took out this full page ad in the San Francisco Chronicle, urging Lucas to build his museum on Treasure Island.

The splashy ad was signed by big wigs like Senator Dianne Feinstein, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and three former mayors.

They want the Lucas Museum to be the star attraction on a redeveloped Treasure Island.

The director originally wanted to build his museum of Star Wars memorabilia in the Presidio, but the trust rejected the project for being too big.

Lucas then moved it to Chicago, his wife's hometown, but it's now on hold there due to a federal lawsuit by people who don't want it along Lake Michigan.

And that has the San Francisco lobby quoting princess Leia, "hope is not lost today. It is found."

"Treasure Island is wide open for the kind of development that could incorporate this particular facility and give it a sense of place, so that people recognize that Treasure Island is a place worth going to and an important part of San Francisco," said former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos.

Treasure Island may be under-developed now, but the city plans to spend millions in the next 15 years to create housing for 25,000 people.

Lucas' team will meet formally with San Francisco officials next week about the museum.

The city believes "the force is strong with this one."