George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy get producers award

The forces behind the “Star Wars” franchise and other Hollywood blockbusters are getting an out-of-this-world honor.

Filmmaker George Lucas and producer Kathleen Kennedy will be given the milestone award at the 33rd Producers Guild Awards on March 19 for their contributions to cinema, the organization said Friday.

Together, the two have “carved out a fantastic empire of entertainment that inspires and entertains billions, all with the highest levels of both creative and technical achievement,” the Producers Guild of America said in a statement.

“We’re very proud to honor George and Kathleen as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm,” said the guild, referring to Lucas’ production company.

“Protecting creativity while balancing business, moving technology forward to make real what you can see in your mind’s eye and doing it all from scratch most of the time,” Lucas, 77, said in a statement about the demands — and rewards — of producing a movie. “Being recognized alongside my longtime friend and fellow producer Kathleen Kennedy makes this honoring of our shared and individual works even more meaningful.”

The “American Graffiti” director, who also conceived the “Indiana Jones” movies, co-chaired Lucasfilm with Kennedy when the company was acquired by Disney in 2012. Kennedy, 68, subsequently took on the title of president.

Kennedy’s producing credits include “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Back to the Future” and “Schindler’s List.”

“I am very honored to share this award with George Lucas who has inspired a generation of filmmakers who were coming of age, not only through his storytelling but through technological innovation that unlocked our imagination,” Kennedy said in a statement.