HURRICANE DISNEY SWAMPS LUCASFILM! That’s right, Disney already owns Pixar, ABC, ESPN, and Marvel, and as of today, they own Lucasfilm too, with plans to release a Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015.
Ready za mouse-ear armbands!
Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing.
“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. 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. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”
Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future. [PressRelease]
At this point, I’d like to recommend that we all run about the room with our arms above our heads.
UPDATE: And here’s the picture:
Can you imagine how many cats are under that desk? No way Lucas agreed to $4 billion without a little “signing bonus.”
“DO I GET TA PET DA KITTIES YET?!”
“Almost, George, just put your name on this paper.”
I rejected this Photoshop for being, I dunno, overwrought.
Now that the shock has worn off…
It’s scary that Disney owns pretty much everything. But as it relates to the product… I’d just as soon they let Star Wars die off, like it should have after Episode I, but let’s face it, there’s no way Disney can do worse with Lucasfilm than Lucasfilm’s already been doing. I don’t know the inner workings of the company, but it seems like George Lucas has been the worst thing about Lucasfilm since about the mid nineties.
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Lucas: “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of film makers.”
And only 19 years too late!
*29. Crap.
dammit a star wars movie with lucas wait thats good?
without*
It has potential to be awesome.. Imagine if they got like.. Brad Bird to direct.
Disney has been driving the Marvel bus since just before Iron Man. Everything since from Marvel has been nothing short of brilliant, by nerdgasm Comic Book Movie standards.
This could very well be a great day for all those Star Wars Fans who were disappointed with the prequels. That is of course, as long as Disney doesn’t make teh new Star Wars movie a fucking cartoon.
Thats because technically, they’re not driving the bus. They’re letting people who know what the fuck they’re doing drive the bus, Disney’s just putting up the cash. Hence all the success at Marvel Studios. So there is all the reason in the world to feel “A New Hope” about a continued Star Wars film franchise.
I’m right there with you and John Chimpo, Underball.
I would point to Captain America as evidence that Marvel’s record is by no means unblemished. Only a true “Episode 1 was fine” level fanboy would say that did the character justice. Fortunately, they redeemed the character in Avengers
But who controls the rights to American Graffiti?!?!?
Don’t even. That movie fucking rules.
I’m more concerned about “Howard the Duck” and “Tucker: A Man and His Dream”
Throw in Red Tails. Red Wings. Whatever.
Oh fuck Indiana Jones. That could go either way.
Can you imagine how bad it would be if Disney decided to move ahead with an Indiana Jones sequel inspired by a spaceshi……fuck.
A THX 1138 remake? I know, it’s already been done *basically*.
HAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.
Oh man.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAH.
Awesome.
I like.
Can’t wait for Bieber as the Son of Luke Skywalker, Miley as Hannah Solo, Jaden Smith as Lando, Jr., and of course their collaborative soundtrack!
You forgot the Sith Sisters played by Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! *runs screaming*
There is sooooo much win in this post.
The Nerdening hath begun.
You mean The Fuckening.
Somewhere in Hollywood George Lucas worked up a fierce appetite signing papers & the owner of a kittens-only petshop was in the best possible place at the best possible time
What kind of P/E ratio does that price represent? And by P/E, I mean “Price-to-Ewoks.”
Obviously, Disney is going to replace The Forse with fairy dust. And C-3P0 will be turned into a singing lightsaber.
It’d still be better than Phantom Menace.
Not necessarily a horrible idea, I just wish George Lucas was dead because he is the Al Davis of movie franchises
For the record I could watch the Twilight/Bella/Lion attack GIF with the Hugh Laurie reaction face back-to-back all day.
Carrie Fisher better sharpen up that coke pinky.
It’s going to be awesome watching the 15th version of the recut, especially when Han shoots Goofy in the cantina.
Lucas sold out a long time ago. Might as well make it official. $2 bil is a lot of cash.
Disney will continue the run of sci fi success that began with Mars Needs Moms and John Carter.
Before Disney commits to Episode 7, can they hire this guy to reboot, sorry fix, Episode 1?
[youtu.be]
..and 2 & 3.
those too. The idea to keep Darth Maul alive makes too much sense.
HAN SHOT BAMBI’S MOM FIRST
Hopefully this is the last we hear of George Lucas until his forced “in memoriam” segment at a future Academy Awards.
THRAWN!!!
/I’ve spent too much time of Wookiepedia
//I don’t know how to take this news as I’m not much of a Star Wars fanboy
//The first and second statements aren’t mutually exclusive, I assure you.
I would LOVE Thrawn.
Just how expensive is a cat addiction? The way that fucker Lucas siphons cash from Star Wars reminds me of the way Sharon Stone’s character in Casino behaved towards Sam Rothstein. Fucking leach. Is he building his own moon*?
Yeah, yeah, could have gone with Death Star – “That’s no moon, etc” – but fucks are not given.
Ahem. Apologies to Mr Lucas. [www.hollywoodreporter.com]
The last three movies were dogshit though.
Howard the Duck and Donald Duck buddy galactic cop movie or GTFO.
[gif.mocksession.com] mfw I hear this great news, My body is so ready for episode 7
The news itself is not unwelcome. Fingers crossed that Ahmed Best gets more work.
So is this the October surprise?
Disney owns ESPN in case there’s a question of what happens when their indifference is combined with idiocy.
All questions will be answered by the 300,000 word think piece Bill Simmons is writing.
I am totally for this. Lucas nose dived the franchise so hard there is no where to go but up. Also Disney has done good things with Marvel.
Maybe Lucas-Arts can make a fucking video game now?
I stand in support of The Phantom Menace. I did however hate the second two if only because Neeson was gone and they had someone other than a ten year old boy hitting on / hooking up with Amidala. And then there was that final scene in episode 3…
I look forward to in four years when other fanboys are bitching about how the new movies are complete crap now that Lucas is no longer in charge of them.
Literally nothing can be crappier than Jar Jar Binks.
I <3 Jar Jar.
Thats what they said about the Ewoks.
This is actually pretty exciting. Sucks I just bought the Blu Ray box set though, because I thought: “No way they’re ever making another Star Wars movie.”
I dunno, man, Jake Lloyd was arguably worse than Jar Jar.
I’m pretty sure they went with Jake Lloyd solely for the bowl cut in order to show the “ominous” Darth Vader helmet shadow when he turned his head.
Difference being that Jake Lloyd was just a wiener kid with barely any talent, while Jar Jar was straight up written to be that annoying and stupid.
No, you can’t pin that on Lloyd. You pin that on a script that calls for a ten-year-old kid constantly shouting “Oh no!” and “Look out, R2!” He sucked, but the script sucked way more.
Maybe Disney can bring some of that John Carter magic to the franchise.
Sorry to disturb the conversation at hand but does it look like Mickey Mouse is trying to finger the Statue of Liberty to anyone else?
A Star Wars/Fantasia/Alice in Wonderland would be pretty cool. All I know is that someone’s dad is going to die in Episode 7: The Search for More Money.
Mashup, a mashup of the three would be cool.
I am in a bit of shock. I always thought it would be Lucasfilm that would gobble up the Mouse, so to speak. Can you imagine a world where George Lucas owned Disney? Just think of how different the theme parks would be:
Top Ten Ways Disneyworld/land Would Be Different if George Lucas Owned It:
10. All the little people on the “It’s a Small World” ride would be replaced by Ewoks.
9. Jabba the Hutt’s Wild Ride- further details too disgusting to describe.
8. Anyone not buying a Star Wars T-shirt and matching plastic lightsaber would be summarily stomped & ejected from the park by security.
7. Walt Disney’s moldy, old corpse would be dragged out of cryogenic storage, stomped & ejected from the park. A little plate marked, “Reserved for George” would be placed next to the cryogenic tomb.
6. Children can have their picture taken with any of the creatures from the Tatooine cantina.
5. Tourists are encouraged to buy a hat with replicas of Lucas’ ears attached to them.
4. Young women will be invited into see George personally in the Magic Kingdom and “feel the Force.”
3. Frontierland will be changed to JarJarLand. Tourists can enjoy getting bumped off cliffs and pushed into rivers by their clumsy Gungan guides. (“Meesa oops, yousa ouch time!”)
2. Donald will lose his job to Howard. Hilarity might ensue.
And the number 1 way Disneyworld/land would be different if George Lucas owned it would be:
1. Goofy would turn to the dark side and reveal himself to be Pluto’s father!
So, Disney is literally like 3 purchases away from becoming a full monopoly, and five from a real country. Fuck.
A country for the children, with no booze.
Just like Walt wanted, except run by Jews.
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Tatooine we go…
Looks like Disney nuked the fridge.
Warwick Davis will take over as the talent agent for the cast of It’s a Small World.
I can’t wait to see the respectful, well-crafted Episode VII of the legendary Star Wars trilogy that they’re fast-tracking for 2015.
God, I hope we see a Willow sequel with Fatmartigan.
Starring:
CGI as Luke Skywalker (voiced by Mark Hamill)
a 87years old potato as Han Solo
and Carrie Fisher as Jabba the Hutt