George Lucas: The Academy "has nothing to do with artistic endeavor at all"

The talk of Oscar snubs and lack of diversity among the Academy's nominees is nothing new for director George Lucas.

"There's always controversy. That's why I'm not a member," Lucas said Friday on "CBS This Morning."

While some have suggested the Academy should be more diverse, Lucas pointed to the larger issue, saying Hollywood at large should reflect more diversity.

"Selma" director Ava DuVernay, who could have been the first black female nominated for best director, and actor David Oyelowo were among those who critics said were overlooked.

"The thing about the Academy, it's a political campaign. It has nothing to do with artistic endeavor at all," Lucas said, praising "Selma" as a "beautiful" and "wonderful film."

Lucas said the politics hurt everybody.

The venerated director and admitted contrarian is releasing a new movie called "Strange Magic," an animated musical based on "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"I did this just for fun over 15 years -- it took a long time because it was sort of sitting on the desk in the corner and I would go and work on it for a while," Lucas said. "But the secret is I wanted to tell the story in music, but using existing music, so to go through and find all the lyrics that would actually tell the story."

The songs span six decades and range from "Can't Help Falling in Love" to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

While Lucas said he created "Star Wars" for 12-year-old boys, this was created with his three daughters in mind.

"I just figured, I'll make one of these for girls. Because, you're not supposed to make movies for girls," Lucas said.

With the tagline for the movie being, "everyone deserves to be loved," Lucas also referenced his own love life with wife and CBS News financial contributor Mellody Hobson.

"I'm the old bog king curmudgeon who never thought I'd find love again, and you know I found a beautiful princess who somehow finds me attractive," he said.