Sporting a futuristic new design, the George Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art may actually end up back in the Bay Area after all. Following years of trying to get approval to build the museum in the Presidio — which would house Lucas's collection of movie and Star Wars memorabilia as well as illustrations and graphic art — a plan that was ultimately shot down by the Presidio Trust in 2013, Lucas decided to relocate his efforts to Chicago's waterfront instead. Similar to his experience with the Presidio, open space advocate challenged the museum plan there, and Lucas has spent two years with the museum mired in that mess. Meanwhile, Oakland was trying to woo him back here to build the museum there, and the Chronicle now reports that Mayor Ed Lee has met with Lucas to discuss putting the museum on the western end of Treasure Island, with views of the city.

The original plan for the museum on what's now the Sports Basement site next to Crissy Field was met with opposition from the Presidio Trust for several reasons, not the least of which being they didn't think much of the Beaux Arts/Spanish revival design.

For the Chicago plan, Lucas hired Beijing-based MAD Architects who came up with a far cooler design for the museum kind of reminiscent of a circus tent. It's unclear whether that design will just be adapted for the Treasure Island site or if they'll be starting from scratch.

According to the Chron's Matier and Ross, Lucas's museum even has the early support of frequent foe of the mayor Aaron Peskin, who says the project could be "the special, secret sauce" that could make the Treasure Island redevelopment plan work.

Apparently it's likely Lucas will be considering several options in the months ahead, including possibly putting the museum — which is, after all, movie-related — in Los Angeles.

Previously: Presidio Board Sees Lucas Museum's Legal Problems In Chicago As Crisis Averted
Middle Finger Raised To S.F., George Lucas Takes His $700 Million Museum To Chicago