Posted on 10/30/2012 1:49:11 PM PDT by Hojczyk
The Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday it has agreed to buy Lucasfilm, which includes the Star Wars franchise, for $4.05 billion in cash and stock from George Lucas.
The deal includes a tentative release date of Stars Wars Episode 7, along with the possibility of growing the franchise with more feature films.
“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement.
Current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, will become President and report to Walt Disney Chairman Alan Horn.
“This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value,” Iger said.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
There was an article in the 1970’s shortly after the first Star Wars movie in which Lucas stated that the intent was a 9 movie series - 3 sets of 3 trilogies. The final set would be related to what came after the first 3 released movies. Some people thought that he would show that it is all a cyclical process, but nothing much was learned about the “final 3” movies. I’m hoping that intent of the ideas for the final 3 movies are what they hope to create in these and not the han-leia twins scenario of the paperbacks that has developed over the years... still I’d love to see any advancement of the series beyond the clone wars and endor scenarios in the movies/videos.
I think the price is good for Disney overall, but I’m concerned about the cultural ministry getting their hands on the property.
Email me if you’d like a pizza roll...
I think he's a better businessman than filmmaker.
Pixar before it became Pixar belonged to him too.
Star Wars Episode 7, featuring Miley Cyrus and Lindsey Lohan as Princess Leia’s adult daughters. Britney Spears guests as their nanny from early childhood.
“Away put your Johnson! I mean you no harm.”
Disney already bought/owns Pixar
after they buy Lucas, will there be any large successful animation studios left OUTSIDE of Disney???
So George Lucas is now worth $4.05 billion I suppose. Unless others own stock in Lucas Film
Lucas screwed it up himself after the second film..... The dreaded Ewoks ARE Disney.
I wonder....if Lucas had waited until Romney is elected and eliminateds capital gains tax (as he promised), if he would be better off financially?
My thoughts exactly...Disney got Lucasfilms for a fire-sale price. BTW, does the sale include Lucas’s special effects division? At one point, they dominated SFX in Hollywood and they still attract a good chunk of the business. That division alone has to be worth $1 billion.
Yes, apparently it includes ILM too. And the game division. Basically everything Lucas still had. THX was already spun off, so that’s probably not involved in this.
I have a bad feeling about this.
It also takes it outside of its story - the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker.
Rather than go with Ep. 7 going way back in time to the original formation of The Republic with the Sith Wars, etc. would probably be more interesting without it having any effect on the main Star Wars story.
I just want them to get away from the clone wars time period. Do something either old republic or something between the original trilogy movies or after. Just anything but the stuff we’ve had for over a decade now.
I know that's what the writer intended to convey, but it's certainly not written that way. It's easily remedied by moving the phrase "from George Lucas."
The franchising rights to the Jar-Jar Binks character are probably worth the $4 billion alone.
I just had a terrible thought, what if they do a JJ Abrams style time/change like they did on the recent Star Trek and we get a whole new different history of Star Wars?
Other than that horrid thought I would hope Disney does indeed come up with a satisfying “next generation” (Star Trek?)that at the very least should give them tourism rights for any newer theme park rides. Moviewise it can go either way but my guess is it will be something aimed at increasing interest at the theme parks first because that is good for twenty years or more.
You may have a point. Lucas is diabetic, a fact He tends not to let get out(some relatives of his have died from it).That and the fact he has a new love interest may be influencing George to ride off into the sunset with a huge bag of cash for Him and his children.
CC
No doubt.
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