In Pretty Fucking Big Deal News today, Disney has aquired Lucasfilm for the tidy little sum of $4.05 billion, and they intend to release a new Star Wars movie in 2015 with Lucas as creative consultant. Lucasfilm co-chair Kathleen Kennedy will become Lucasfilm's president, under Disney head Alan Horn.
This is all the news we have so far, which leads us to conjecture and commentary. Like: whoa! And wtf! From a pure merchandise and theme park standpoint, this is huge. And a new movie?!
From the press release:
“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.”
A new generation of filmmakers could possibly breathe some life into this hoary old corpse, but really, this all feels sort of surreal and outdated, like news you'd read on corny blogs on April 1. What the hell do you guys think about all this?
About the Author: Meredith is the managing editor of Badass Digest and the Alamo Drafthouse. She’s into writing, making stuff, starting dance parties, dressing in costume for the flimsiest of reasons, drinking beer and eating brunch.
