NEW YORK - Los Angeles has scored a coup, luring Star Wars film-maker George Lucas to build a US$1.5 billion (S$2.1 billion) museum.

The Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art will showcase works with storytelling elements, including paintings, illustrations and movie memorabilia.

Lucas, 73, is pitching the project - set to be completed in 2021 - to "adolescents" - the same demographic he had in mind for Star Wars, reported the Los Angeles Daily News.

His wish is to motivate young people to "see outside the little road that they've got carved out for themselves".