Los Angeles, Jan 11 (IANS): "Star Wars" filmmaker George Lucas has chosen Los Angeles as the future home of his Museum of Narrative Art, which is a $1 billion project.

The museum for Lucas' extensive collection of art and film memorabilia will be built in the Exposition Park adjacent to the University of Southern California.

The filmmaker chose the site over a competing location on Treasure Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, reports variety.com.

Mayor Eric Garcetti's office announced the arrival of "a new jewel", saying the museum will "soon bring unrivaled opportunities to be immersed in stories told on canvas and celluloid".

The museum will be adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Natural History Museum and a museum of African-American history and art.

"I believed in the vision for Lucas Museum, and we went after it with everything we have - because I know that LA is the ideal place for making sure that it touches the widest possible audience," Garcetti said in a statement.

The construction is set to begin this year and to be completed in 2020.

The collection includes about 10,000 paintings, illustrations and other items, with works from Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, Thomas Hart Benton and many others, along with mementos from many films, including "Star Wars".