I don't know whether to be glad or sad...

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=771595


Disney buying Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion

Oct. 30, 2012, 5:01 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Disney is paying $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind "Star Wars," from its chairman and founder, George Lucas. It's also making a seventh movie in the "Star Wars" series called "Episode 7," set for release in 2015, with plans to follow it with Episodes 8 and 9 and then one new movie every two or three years.

The Walt Disney Co. announced the blockbuster agreement to make the purchase in cash and stock Tuesday. The deal includes Lucasfilm's prized high-tech production companies, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, as well as rights to the "Indiana Jones" franchise.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement that the acquisition is a great fit and will help preserve and grow the "Star Wars" franchise.

"The last 'Star Wars' movie release was 2005's 'Revenge of the Sith' -- and we believe there's substantial pent-up demand," Iger said.

Kathleen Kennedy, the current co-chairman of Lucasfilm, will become the division's president and report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Lucas will be creative consultant on new "Star Wars" films.

Lucas said in a statement, "It's now time for me to pass 'Star Wars' on to a new generation of filmmakers."

The deal brings Lucasfilm under the Disney banner with other brands including Pixar, Marvel, ESPN and ABC, all companies that Disney has acquired over the years. A former weatherman who rose through the ranks of ABC, Iger has orchestrated some of the company's biggest acquisitions, including the $7.4 billion purchase of animated movie studio Pixar in 2006 and the $4.2 billion acquisition of comic book giant Marvel in 2009.



May the "force" be with them all.

I think this will be good. I wish Russell Davies would stop sitting on the Torchwood franchise and delegate or sell rights to others who are in a position to continue on.

Though I do hope the next Star Wars will be better than the last. :P

Oh, Oh ...
I can see the Federal DoJ's Antitrust Division stepping in (a la Bell Telephone Corp breakup).
Can't have the production of all that viewing enjoyment congregated under one roof!

As long as john travolta keeps putting out films like "Wild Hogs" from the Albuquerque Studios...all the great entertainment isn't under one umbrella. :D

I read in another article that Lucas felt he was getting too old and/or wanted to semi-retire, to tackle another major project so the Disney deal seemed to be a good way to go. I think the next Star Wars will be successful depending on how they play out the old story lines or come up with new ones....