Disney buys Lucasfilm, sets ‘Star Wars 7′ for 2015
Three years after Spider-man joined the Mickey Mouse Club, Darth Vader is following suit.
The Walt Disney Company is buying Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in cash and stock. In a conference call with investors, Disney CEO Robert Iger also announced the release of the seventh installment of the Star Wars franchise in 2015.
The sequels will be shown every two to three years after Star Wars 7. Lucasfilm founder George Lucas will serve as creative consultant to the films.
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. 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,” Lucas said in a statement.
Under the terms of the deal, Disney also acquires Lucasfilm’s animation, visual effects and audio post-production studios.
Impact on Comics
Dark Horse president Mike Richardson assured that the licensed “Star Wars” comics will continue for the “near future.”
“Dark Horse and LucasFilm have a strong partnership which spans over 20 years, and has produced multiple characters and story lines which are now part of the Star Wars lore,” Richardson told Comic Book Resources. “
‘Star Wars’ will be with us for the near future. Obviously, this deal changes the landscape, so we’ll all have to see what it means for the future.” Dark Horse Comics reassures release of Brian Wood’s Star Wars ongoing series in January 2013.
It is likely that Disney will transfer the licenses of LucasFilm properties to Marvel Comics, the comic book publisher it bought in 2009. Disney moved its properties from BOOM! Studios over to Marvel following its acquisition.
Impact on Games
IGN reports that its video game division LucasArts will continue the development of Star Wars 1313.
“For the time being all projects are business as usual. We are excited about all the possibilities that Disney brings,” LucasArts told IGN.
