Disney to buy Lucasfilm

[CJHobbes]

The mouse is hungry for more, after acquiring Pixar and Marvel.

"The Walt Disney Company agreed Tuesday to buy Lucasfilm in a stock-and-cash deal valued at $4 billion. The deal will make Lucasfilm owner George Lucas a significant shareholder in Disney, which will pay for the film company with $2 billion cash and around 40 million shares of its stock.

The takeover will give Disney (DIS, Fortune 500) control of Lucasfilm's blockbuster Star Wars franchise, which encompasses both filmed productions and a massive merchandising operation. Disney will also absorb Lucasfilm's special-effects production business, Industrial Light and Magic, and its Skywalker Sound audio production studio.
"It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers," George Lucas said in a written statement. "I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime."

Supposedly Star Wars 7 will be slated for a 2015 release. This should get interesting...

And here I thought Georgie boy was a megalomaniac.

[dog037]

Disney will rule the world with all this money.

[Lawdog1521]

Do you think Lucas ever just yells out, "Money fight!" and starts throwing wads of money at his other rich friends?

[AzureAngel17]

For one, Disney just got an incredible deal. I get the feeling Lucas decided he was done, and picked Disney to bequeath Star Wars to.

Considering how "fans" treat the guy, I don't blame him for handing the series to someone else. I just hope Disney keeps the Del Rey / Lucasbooks folks around, they did some great work with the novels over the last decade and a half.

Anyone else really excited to see more ILM/Disney collaborations now though? Their work together on Pirates and Avengers was just fantastic, I can't wait for more.

[LiveHomeVideo]

Coming straight to DVD April 5th: Star Wars Episode 6 1/2.

Embark on an amazing quest as Princess Leia (played by some Disney Channel actress), Han Solo (not played by Harrison Ford) and Chuwbacca (played by an underpaid janitor) search the galaxy for Luke Skywalker's friend, Tinkerbell. With "groundbreaking" CGI and an all-pop soundtrack, this film is fun for the family. Well, except anyone who gives a crap about Star Wars.

[Lawdog1521]

I do think fans can be rude but that's also a part of art. People aren't going to like everything you do. While, like I said, I think some fans take it to far, I've also seen interviews were Lucas has come off like a spoiled child.

[Lawdog1521]

Coming straight to DVD April 5th: Star Wars Episode 6 1/2.

Embark on an amazing quest as Princess Leia (played by some Disney Channel actress), Han Solo (not played by Harrison Ford) and Chuwbacca (played by an underpaid janitor) search the galaxy for Luke Skywalker's friend, Tinkerbell. With "groundbreaking" CGI and an all-pop soundtrack, this film is fun for the family. Well, except anyone who gives a crap about Star Wars.

Disney hasn't raped Marvel or Pixar, so it's unfair to assume they'll do it to SW. At least not the main series. I'm sure there will be direct to video crap similar to what you mentioned though.

[AzureAngel17]

Oh yeah, Lucas totally brought most of it on himself. Thou must never underestimate the nerdrage.

[LiveHomeVideo]

Disney hasn't raped Marvel or Pixar, so it's unfair to assume they'll do it to SW. At least not the main series. I'm sure there will be direct to video crap similar to what you mentioned though.

Pixar was forced to make Cars 2...

Though yeah, I'm not expecting Episode 7 to be treated as a straight-to-DVD sequel. Though I do wonder what the plot will be like, with everything resolved in 6 and all.

[AzureAngel17]

Well, if they want to use any of the old actors and set it 30 years after VI (and give any **** about the established fiction), then... (Spoilers for New Republic-era novels through New Jedi Order)Han and Leia are married and have a pair of twins (who are themselves 25 years old at this point). Luke is married and has an 8 year old son. The "New Republic" that was established by the Rebellion after the original films was just shattered by an invasion of aliens from another galaxy, and has been replaced by a "Galactic Alliance," which even includes what is left of the Empire. At this point, most of the galaxy is just trying to rebuild from that invasion, which is covered by the "New Jedi Order" novels that were published back when Attack of the Clones was about to come out.(/spoilers) (space)
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