Author Topic: Disney purchases LucasFilm, Star Wars Episode VII slated for 2015 (Read 13559 times)

Great Rumbler · « **on:** October 30, 2012, 04:39:47 PM »

Quote from: http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/disney-acquires-lucasfilm-star-wars-creator/

Disney has just confirmed that it has agreed to acquire George Lucas‘ Lucasfilm Ltd, and that includes rights to the Star Wars franchise that will now continue on. The companies have targeted a 2015 release for Star Wars: Episode 7 and plan future movies based on the movies’ most iconic franchises. The stock and cash transaction is worth an estimated $4.05 billion, and the companies have scheduled a conference call in a half-hour to discuss the deal, which was approved by the Disney board and Lucas, the sole Lucasfilm shareholder.

As for the new Star Wars installment, the companies only would say that Lucasfilm co-chairman Kathleen Kennedy would be executive producer on Episode 7 and any more Star Wars movies, and Lucas would serve as creative consultant. There was no indication about where the story would pick up, though technically in the franchise’s chronology it would follow Star Wars: Episode 6 — Return Of The Jedi, the third film in the initial trilogy that came out in 1983.

As part of the deal, Kennedy will become president of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, whose feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date. And that doesn’t even take into account the franchise’s massive merchandising clout.

“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger in a release announcing the deal. “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.”

Disney is paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing based on Disney’s stock price on October 26. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm chairman and founder Lucas.

“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.”

Lucasfilm’s businesses include live-action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio postproduction. Disney also acquires the technologies from the San Francisco-based company, which operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light + Magic, and Skywalker Sound.

Needed its own thread.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:41:36 PM »

Crossposting from the movie thread:

Quote from: Great Rumbler on October 30, 2012, 04:37:47 PM

Quote from: Mr. Gundam on October 30, 2012, 04:28:33 PM
If the film is out in 2 1/2 years, I wonder how long this has been in the works?

Episode II came out exactly 3 years after Episode I, and Episode III came out exactly three years after Episode II.

As did Empire and Jedi.

What I'm getting at is there is probably an outline or a script or something for VII. You don't just buy a company and then be like "oh yeah, new Star Wars movie in a couple years." I'd love to know how long this deal has been in the works, and when the idea of making Episode VII materialized.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:43:57 PM »

Kaboom

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:46:33 PM »

Pretty major pickup for Disney, definitely. And who would have guessed that Lucas would ever let go of his baby while he was still alive? Maybe there's also hope for a new Indiana Jones movie that isn't terrible, unfortunately Disney's been really iffy with big-budget adventure movies.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:51:08 PM »

Manabyte strokes out while...stroking it.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:54:40 PM »

This is fucking huge!

I don't think it's just Star Wars that makes this huge, but rather ILM and Skywalker Sound and LucasArts are all included. JESUS, talk about cheap when you consider that ILM does nearly 60% of the visual effects in major motion pictures. I think George knew what he was doing, Fox has been hesitant about green lighting another Star Wars film for nearly a decade now. So best way for him to get around that was to sell it all. That mad mother fucker!

Tasty · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:59:28 PM »

Disney buying all the fan-nerd companies. First Marvel, now Lucasfilm. What's next, Wizards of the Coast?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:00:10 PM »

George Lucas just made $2 BILLION today in cash money. Rollin' in scrilla.

Quote from: Andrex on October 30, 2012, 04:59:28 PM

Disney buying all the fan-nerd companies. First Marvel, now Lucasfilm. What's next, Wizards of the Coast?

Obsidian?

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:05:16 PM »

I think that the third park over in Anaheim is now gonna happen for sure with this acquisition they have no excuse in making a marvel/lucasfilms park. Hell Epcot better watch out...

Diunx · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:05:24 PM »

Where is Mana? Can somebody get a hold on this motherfucker so I can make sense of all this!

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:09:52 PM »

Quote from: Diunx on October 30, 2012, 05:05:24 PM

Where is Mana? Can somebody get a hold on this motherfucker so I can make sense of all this!

http://www.thebore.com/forum/index.php?topic=39136.msg1576476#msg1576476

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:11:31 PM »

Manabyte just committed nerd seppuku

Barry Egan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:12:07 PM »

I don't really care about the star wars franchise, but I am like 100% certain this sequel will be better than the prequels.

archnemesis · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:16:29 PM »

Good thing I stopped caring about this franchise in 1999.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:17:43 PM »

What Disney really needs to do is reboot the prequel trilogy.

Diunx · « **Reply #15 on:** October 30, 2012, 05:47:53 PM »

Does this come with Lucasarts? I want a Monkey Island movie now Disney!!!

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2012, 06:07:25 PM »

Quote

"It's now time for me to pass 'Star Wars' on to a new generation of filmmakers," said Lucas, 68, in a statement.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2012, 06:54:40 PM »

Chances of a good Star Wars movie increased dramatically today

ManaByte · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2012, 06:57:02 PM »

They own Indy. Andrex is a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2012, 06:58:48 PM »

Quote from: Count Drugula The Satanic on October 30, 2012, 05:49:41 PM

I guess Disney got sick of trying to replicate PotC success and just went out and bought a bigger franchise. And now I'm wondering what's going to happen to Indiana Jones?

Paramount originally signed a 5-movie deal, but I'm not sure if any other deal was signed since then or what the terms of that deal might be beyond that. Disney could probably wrangle it away if they really wanted to, though.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2012, 07:02:05 PM »

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2012, 07:03:00 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on October 30, 2012, 06:58:48 PM

Quote from: Count Drugula The Satanic on October 30, 2012, 05:49:41 PM
I guess Disney got sick of trying to replicate PotC success and just went out and bought a bigger franchise. And now I'm wondering what's going to happen to Indiana Jones?

Paramount originally signed a 5-movie deal, but I'm not sure if any other deal was signed since then or what the terms of that deal might be beyond that. Disney could probably wrangle it away if they really wanted to, though.

Disney and Paramount did The Avengers together, so doing Indy together isn't much of a stretch.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2012, 07:11:09 PM »

Quote from: Count Drugula The Satanic on October 30, 2012, 07:06:50 PM

Quote from: pilonv1 on October 30, 2012, 06:54:40 PM
Chances of a good Star Wars movie increased dramatically today

John Carter.

Haven't seen it, but it's probably better than the Prequel Trilogy.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2012, 07:18:40 PM »

It is.

Himu · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2012, 07:38:58 PM »

Hopefully Disney applies the Disney touch and cockblocks Lucas on creative shit.

etiolate · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:04:39 PM »

For all the self-loathing based hate of Star Wars and all the prequel based hate of Star Wars, the original three had an element to them of mythos and character that I am not sure either Lucas or Disney really has anymore.

So I'd rather not they push out a Star Wars that is adequate but nowhere near timeless.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:08:35 PM »

Quote from: Count Drugula The Satanic on October 30, 2012, 07:06:50 PM

Quote from: pilonv1 on October 30, 2012, 06:54:40 PM
Chances of a good Star Wars movie increased dramatically today

John Carter.

Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:09:36 PM »

This is probably the best thing to happen to the Star Wars franchise in like... 20 years or whatever.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:37:45 PM »

Quote from: Green Man on October 30, 2012, 07:36:32 PM

So, why isn't ILM doing the CG for Iron Man 3? Surely this had to be in the plans for Disney for a while now. I also really think Episode 7 is a waste of time. Disney is better off making smaller Star Wars films focused on other aspects of the universe, due to the extremely poor reception of the prequel trilogy. Not to mention those would be easier to handle in terms of budget and scope. Bounty hunters, let's go!

Oh and is Disney picking up the game division? I gotta wonder what happens to SW 1313 and other games they've been working on.

Firstly: Iron Man 3 is a co-production with Paramount and Chinese interests. So I'm thinking that the Chinese wanted to keep the cg production in its country to increase the piece of pie they'll get off the movie. Remember Disney is in all reality just the distributor for Paramount.

Secondly: Yes this is everything Lucas. It includes all of the IP's, all of the companies (ILM, LucasArts, Skywalker Audio, etc), and it includes any new original IP's created by Lucas in his liftime. All of the companies will continue to exist in their present form too.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:49:47 PM »

They said somewhere they want to run ILM as-is - a studio independent entity

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #30 on:** October 30, 2012, 10:02:23 PM »

Quote from: Green Man on October 30, 2012, 07:36:32 PM

I also really think Episode 7 is a waste of time. Disney is better off making smaller Star Wars films focused on other aspects of the universe, due to the extremely poor reception of the prequel trilogy.

$1 billion
$650 million
$848 million

What the die hard fans think doesn't mean a thing, a new Star Wars trilogy is practically money in the bank.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2012, 10:12:06 PM »

yeah, not to mention all the Jar Jar toys and such. If the films are even moderately well-reviewed, they'll be the biggest things in the multiplex by far that month

Himu · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2012, 10:27:35 PM »

I personally find Tangled as proof that they have the ability to make a good Star Wars film because it was charming, well written, and had great visual aesthetic. Best Disney film since The Lion King. If Lucas himself has very little creative output, I think SWVII could be the best thing for Star Wars in decades.

Mandark · « **Reply #33 on:** October 30, 2012, 10:38:54 PM »

Well, I wouldn't expect the people who made Tangled would be making a new SW movie, or that it would naturally translate.

I'll go with the conventional wisdom: a new SW should be better than the prequels, but there's plenty of room for improvement where it could still end up not being good. Hope we get a HD release for the untouched original trilogy, but not holding my breath.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2012, 11:01:03 PM »

Fortunately for Disney, the bar is set so low for Star Wars, there's almost no way they can fail to meet expectations.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #35 on:** October 30, 2012, 11:05:12 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on October 30, 2012, 10:27:35 PM

I personally find Tangled as proof that they have the ability to make a good Star Wars film because it was charming, well written, and had great visual aesthetic. Best Disney film since The Lion King. If Lucas himself has very little creative output, I think SWVII could be the best thing for Star Wars in decades.

Treasure Planet >>>>>>>>>> Lion King >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tangled

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #36 on:** October 30, 2012, 11:40:03 PM »

Someone Photoshop all the Disney Princesses alongside Leia in the bikini stat

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #37 on:** October 30, 2012, 11:46:40 PM »

For those people like me who hate watching videos and would rather read shit... here is this intresting piece of info:

Quote

ANOTHER UPDATE: In case you're curious about whether George Lucas is happy to be $4 billion richer today, or you'd like to hear him discuss what other, non-money-related reasons he had for yielding control of his franchise to Disney, here's this just-posted video in which he discusses the merger with Lucasfilm's new head, Kathleen Kennedy. In it, Lucas also describes the "treasure trove" of Star Wars stories he's bequeathed to his heir—including story treatments for Episodes 7, 8, and 9, plus "a bunch of other movies"—with Kennedy adding that they're already sitting down with writers to discuss plans for what to do with those. Lucas also says he'll be happy to be just "a fan" now, obviously forgetting that Star Wars fans are never happy.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #38 on:** October 31, 2012, 12:03:07 AM »

Getting George Lucas away from the full screenplay is the first big step. He's good at world-building, but not so good at actually writing lines of dialogue that people will actually have to say aloud. Getting him out of the director's chair is the next big step, since he's also not so good at coaxing good performances out of his actors.

Which is not to say that the people he's replaced with will necessarily be better, but at least there's a CHANCE now.

Rusty Shackleford · « **Reply #39 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:21:42 AM »

Himu · « **Reply #40 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:49:25 AM »

Quote from: Mandark on October 30, 2012, 10:38:54 PM

Well, I wouldn't expect the people who made Tangled would be making a new SW movie, or that it would naturally translate.

I'll go with the conventional wisdom: a new SW should be better than the prequels, but there's plenty of room for improvement where it could still end up not being good. Hope we get a HD release for the untouched original trilogy, but not holding my breath.

Of course, I'm just drawing the comparison, only because it shows that Disney still has creative spark. It's more than I can say for the guys at Lucasfilm, and that's not even bringing Pixar into the picture.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #41 on:** October 31, 2012, 02:45:12 AM »

4 billion is a lot of money, but Disney is going make that money back in less than five years. Even though the brand isn't what it used to be.

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #42 on:** October 31, 2012, 07:18:42 AM »

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-04-free-radical-vs-the-monsters

ManaByte · « **Reply #43 on:** October 31, 2012, 08:09:07 AM »

Kathleen Kennedy has longtime connections to Spielberg.

Disney distributes Spielberg's Dreamworks movies now (War Horse, Lincoln, etc.)

There's a real chance we'll finally see a Spielberg-directed Star Wars.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #44 on:** October 31, 2012, 08:28:30 AM »

Now THAT is super-intriguing.

Del Toro would also be interested I assume. Schedule-wise i'm sure it's impossible but still.

Momo · « **Reply #45 on:** October 31, 2012, 08:36:04 AM »

This is a good thing

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #46 on:** October 31, 2012, 09:08:11 AM »

I hope Disney buys Christopher Nolan next

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #47 on:** October 31, 2012, 09:40:00 AM »

someone get lawrence kasdan on the phone asap

also, phantom menace is one of the few movies i've ever fallen asleep watching in the theater

that incomprehensible senate scene, ugh, zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #48 on:** October 31, 2012, 09:46:31 AM »

Quote from: AdmiralViscen on October 31, 2012, 09:08:11 AM

I hope Disney buys Christopher Nolan next

Batman vs The Avengers vs Star Wars vs Jason, Summer 2018!

tiesto · « **Reply #49 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:05:52 AM »

FUCK I thought this stupid series was done with :'(

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #50 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:07:32 AM »

I'm pulling for a Rian Johnson-directed Star Wars movie.

Owl-faced Wizard · « **Reply #51 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:24:20 AM »

Great big chunks of Revenge of the Sith were ghost-directed by Spielburg. Open secret.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #52 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:38:56 AM »

The problem with making any new Star Wars movies is that you are shackled to it's past. So, the storylines will most likely be focused on a new Skywalker brood and a bunch of fan service to characters of old (to get those parents to show up). When what it needs is a completely new direction and cast of characters.

This isn't a movie for me, but just do Harry Potter with the Jedi Academy as the backdrop. Easy way to get all the old fogeys on the screen and still introduce a whole new generation of tween actors/actresses to play new roles.

I wouldn't even mind A New Hope reboot (and I hate reboots) at some point. I would love to see what someone else does with it.

ManaByte · « **Reply #53 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:51:31 AM »

Quote from: Owl-faced Wizard on October 31, 2012, 10:24:20 AM

Great big chunks of Revenge of the Sith were ghost-directed by Spielburg. Open secret.

He only directed the lava waterfall sequence in animatic form. That's it.

Owl-faced Wizard · « **Reply #54 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:56:52 AM »

Nope. His fingerprints are alllllll over that film.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #55 on:** October 31, 2012, 11:30:23 AM »

It was also the least bad of the prequel trilogy.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #56 on:** October 31, 2012, 11:39:02 AM »

Maybe Star Wars can be good again now.

But the last SF Disney made...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #57 on:** October 31, 2012, 11:39:56 AM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on October 31, 2012, 11:30:23 AM

It was also the least bad of the prequel trilogy.

Parts of it were actually good Id say.

Owl-faced Wizard · « **Reply #58 on:** October 31, 2012, 11:45:41 AM »

I used to think it was roughly as shit as the first two, but I saw it again recently and it's easily the third best film after ANH and ESB.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #59 on:** October 31, 2012, 12:01:15 PM »

Revenge of the Sith is a big step down from A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, but it was at least a somewhat decent movie, unlike the other two prequels. Phantom Menace had annoying kids and Jar-Jar Binks splashed across the screen, though it wasn't as horribly offensive as Attack of the Clones and its subplot about the clone production investigation that was rendered pointless in the end and those abysmal scenes between Anakin and Padme. Attack of the Clones is probably the worst of the six by a green country mile. Phantom Menace would be tolerable if it didn't have kid Anakin saving the day by hitting random buttons on the controls of his ship and if Jar-Jar Binks had never existed.

RotS still had a lot of issues, though.

News:

Author Topic: Disney purchases LucasFilm, Star Wars Episode VII slated for 2015 (Read 13559 times)