Big business news today as The Walt Disney Company announces it has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.—including the popular Star Wars franchise—in a stock and cash transaction from 100% owner, chairman and founder George Lucas. Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on Oct. 26, the transaction value amounts to $4.05 billion with Disney paying half 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 Lucas. “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.”
Under the deal Disney will acquire the studio including the Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live-action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects and audio post production; plus the substantial technology portfolios of Lucasfilm, LucasArts, ILM and Skywalker Sound. Current co-chairman of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. Kennedy will also serve as brand manager for Star Wars and exec produce new Star Wars films, with Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode VII is targeted for a 2015 release, with the franchise expected to grow.
Amazingly toxic move.
Disney hasn’t shown a speck of insight or creativity in its planning in 40 years.
All of Disney’s animated feature films are the same!
I predict Disney’s Army Of Evil Lawyers™ will sue fan organizations like the 501st right out of existence.
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Dark Horse will soon lose the right to produce the very excellent quality Star Wars comics its made for years, and a shoddy Marvel version will last 5 issues, then die off from poor sales.
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The Disney Executives are far too dumb and arrogant to grasp any of this.
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And thereby .the golden goose will be throttled. .
Ptff…. Conspiracy theorist.
How is this a conspiracy theory?
Lucas & Disney both announced the sale, Disney’s track record is quite well known.
I think that things will work themselves out! Lucas has already had a good history with Disney and includes Star Wars and Indiana Jones themed rides and souvenir merchandise and I know now that the Star Wars side of at least will grow. I’m sure that LucasFilm will continue to show Clone Wars on Cartoon Network for the imitate future and Disney will ruffle as few feathers as possible. Disney realizes the fan base sensitivity to this brand and would like to see the enthusiasm to live on and grow.
I’ve been into star wars since the theater re-releases in the mid 90s, when I was just a kid. I grew up on Disney as well. I’ve waited for star wars 7,8,9 since I was 7 years old, and through the vast amount of canon fiction now out there, I hope to see all of the adventures I’ve read about come to life on the big screen, with risks taken that only Disney would ever try.
I’m not usually optimistic, but this DEFINES kid in the candy store right here.