George Lucas, Jodie Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Meledandri & Claude Lelouch Awarded French Legion Of Honor

Cue the “Victory March” theme from Star Wars.

Earlier today, George Lucas, Jodie Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and French filmmaker Claude Lelouch (A Man and a Woman) were awarded the Legion of Honor at the Élysée Palace in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron.

Lucas, Foster, Weaver and Meledandri were presented with the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, which is equivalent to a knighthood. Lelouch was given the insignia of Commandeur de l’ordre national du Mérite, which is roughly equivalent to the British rank of Commander.

In presenting Meledandri with the honor, Macron cited the Minions mogul’s ability to create characters that “inhabit our collective imagination.” The French leader praised the “Franco-American partnership” Meledandri created with Jacques Bled when they founded Illumination Studios in Paris in 2011. Also cited was Meledandri’s support for the inauguration of France‘s international tax credit in 2009.

Created in 1802 by Napoleon, the Legion of Honor is France’s highest distinction. It is meant to reward those who dedicate themselves to the public good.