##OMG, SOULLESS CORPORATIONS OWN OUR MYTHS!!! WE MUST RECLAIM THEM WITH SHITTY AUTHORIZED STORIES AND EVEN SHITTIER FANFIC!!!
George Lucas loved the world of Flash Gordon created by Alex Raymond. Growing up he wanted to make the ultimate Flash Gordon movie. After getting a couple of films under his belt as an adult he sought permission from King Features (or whoever the current rightsholder was) to make a feature-length Flash Gordon movie, but he couldn’t get it.
Lucas decided to move ahead with his dreams even if it meant using different characters in a different fictional universe. The end product still managed to kick ass - and he got to control all of the licensing.
