[Mark Hodgkinson]

...then Star Wars forever

Disney is to pay $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind Star Wars from its chairman and founder, George Lucas.

Possibly more exciting still is the announcement they are to shoot a seventh movie in the Star Wars series called - wait for it - 'Episode 7' set for release in 2015, with plans to follow it with Episodes 8 and 9 and then one new movie every two to three years.

The Future of Star Wars Movies - YouTube

The Walt Disney Co. announced the astonishing agreement to make the purchase in cash and stock Today (30/10/2012). The deal includes Lucasfilm's production companies, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, as well as rights to the "Indiana Jones" franchise.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement:

"The last 'Star Wars' movie release was 2005's 'Revenge of the Sith' — and we believe there's substantial pent-up demand," Iger said.

Kathleen Kennedy, the current co-chairman of Lucasfilm, is to become the division's president and report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Lucas will be creative consultant on new "Star Wars" films.

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

And count all that lovely lolly, eh George?

[Phil Hinton]

Video added. Is this exciting?
I am not sure how to take this news to be honest. After the continual releases and feelings of being taken for a ride, will that continue to be the case, or will we get some exciting content? And will we get the 1977 cut on Blu-ray?

[jacked]

Originally Posted by Mark Hodgkinson

And count all that lovely lolly, eh George?

He won`t need his winter fuel allowance now

[Nevaborn]

I dunno whether to laugh or cry tbh. Whats this mean for 1313 and other games of any quality. Can we kill off clone wars and get a decent series. The new films will they follow the following books.

Can we please get cheaper better made figures.

I dont min disney having a monopoly on thibgs as long as quality is paramount.

[SyStemDeMoN]

Will the clones wars CGI series stop then ? Or will it continue to be made through disney instead of Warner ?

[Nevaborn]

Originally Posted by SyStemDeMoN

Will the clones wars CGI series stop then ? Or will it continue to be made through disney instead of Warner ?

Who knows but hope its stopped. Need a darker series not kiddy animation.

Its why Star Wars has gone down hill so much. They make all these kiddy shows but miss two crucial facts.

1) the Star Wars generation even the prequels are now adults an we want an adult universe to enjoy with action, romance, danger. Not an animated comedy.

2) even kids of today want action and violence and not a stupid cgi cartoon yoda.

Disney makes awful tv shows but lets hope they can atleast in part help this franchise.

[amd mad]

they need Burton to direct or Nolan?

[db2332]

Its a trap!!!!!!!! (sorry)

[tvmcp]

Whatever they release, you can be sure all the characters in any new film will lend themselves to plastic form along with their accessories, available at sky high prices for many years to come.
If anyone knows about bleeding people with endless merchandise it's Disney.

[Prawnee]

Originally Posted by amd mad

they need Burton to direct or Nolan?

Burton? Really? Well I suppose Jar Jar could be replaced by Depp.

[Tolq]

...

I always knew George liked money, but I never thought it was this bad. Roll on the crossovers - Jack Sparrow vs. Indy! The sad thing is that it seems more likely to happen than for Disney to bring anything remotely interesting to these "franchises". Yuck. I feel dirty just using that word in this context.

[nigelndw]

'What happened to the Star Wars that I used to know?'

[LicensedTaximan]

Originally Posted by Nevaborn

I dont mind disney having a monopoly on things as long as quality is paramount.

I like the use of the word Paramount in context of Disney..... Of course George needs all this extra money to buy all those pies he's been eating recently. Do I notice a bit of a wobbly chin there plus some podgyness aound the old bread basket area.

[golden phoenix]

Originally Posted by LicensedTaximan

I like the use of the word Paramount in context of Disney..... Of course George needs all this extra money to buy all those pies he's been eating recently. Do I notice a bit of a wobbly chin there plus some podgyness aound the old bread basket area.

fat cat springs to mind..a very fat cat that got the cream..all of it..

[Canti1982]

Quickly, put the plans in a droid and blast them into space

To be honest though I'm not really sure if it's going to be such a bad thing, lets face it for most (older) people thr last few were quite disapointing can Disney really do much more damage. There is actually potential for a good film given the right cast and director. Maybe HBO can give them some pointers

[Gary Lightfoot]

Those are my feelings too. We've almost nothing to lose and everything to gain

Gary

[golden phoenix]

Originally Posted by Gary Lightfoot

Those are my feelings too. We've almost nothing to lose and everything to gain

Gary

yeah when your starting from the bottom, theres no place to go but up!..i hope there is an improved blu ray release of the box set as well. the current release was pretty shocking including the appalling artwork. and poor matte that wasn't cleaned up in the earlier films, and some dire extras...i wont go on... im quite positive about this move. release the new box set but with the original trilogy.now they have the rights, they can do anything can't they.

[LicensedTaximan]

Originally Posted by golden phoenix

I hope there is an improved blu ray release of the box set as well......

Ok i've bought the original films on VHS when they were the lousy NTSC conversions onto PAL VHS. Then I bought them again when they were properly mastered onto PAL VHS.... Bought them once again when they were THX'ed in VHS. Then they were bought on DVD and also, the then, new episodes 1, 11 and 111, and guess what. I purchased them again (like many others) on Blu-ray.

So i'm ****** if I am buying the b****y things again even if Disney & Georgy bung 'em into 3D and even if the originals come out as they were before "Sir" started to fiddle around with them...So there, i've 'ad enough of buying George's pie orders.

[DrGekko]

I guess I'm not overly surprised, at the end of the day, Lucas needs to retire as he says and hand over the chalice to the "next generation of filmakers". They know they have a daunting task ahead of themselves but to be honest, who else make the movies? Just because they own the company, doesn't mean they won't use the best writers, producers, special effects teams and directors in the industry - they own ABC (Lost was brilliant) and most recently Marvel, of which The Avengers was a great triumph.

I'm sure they'll do a great job for the next generation. Looking forward to Star Wars Episode VII already!