1.1667416-4278750353
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2013 file photo, Producer George Lucas speaks at the 2013 Governors Awards in Los Angeles. Image Credit: AP

A judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed that seeks to stop Star Wars creator George Lucas from building a $400 million (Dh1.46 billion) museum along Chicago’s lakefront.

The ruling on Thursday means the project almost certainly will be delayed.

A non-profit group, Friends of the Parks, contends that construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would violate public-trust laws that restrict development along Lake Michigan.

The judge didn’t explain his reasoning in court but is expected to issue a written ruling.

The Chicago City Council voted in October in favour of the museum.

Lucas chose Chicago over San Francisco for the museum after saying the California city was “doodling around,” while Chicago officials aggressively pursued the project.