Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4 billion

[Brandon]

Disney (DIS) is buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion, adding the legendary Star Wars franchise to the entertainment giant's stable of characters. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Founder George Lucas.

The buyout ranks among one of the largest ever made by Disney. It's fourth behind the $19.7 billion, $7.6 billion and $5.2 billion buyouts of Capital Cities/ABC in 1995, Pixar in 2006 and Fox Family in 2001, respectively, says S&P Capital IQ. It tops the $3.96 billion Disney paid for Marvel in August 2009.

Disney expects to more aggressively expand the Star Wars film schedule, Disney CEO Robert Iger said in a statement. Following the release of Episode 7 in 2015, "our long term plan is to release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years," Iger said in the statement.

Based on Disney's closing price on Oct. 26, the deal is valued at roughly $4.1 billion. Disney will pay half the deal value in cash and issue 40 million shares of Disney to pay for the deal.

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

Kathleen Kennedy, co-chairman of LucasFilm, will report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.

The latest part of the Star Wars saga, Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for a 2015 release.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/disney-star-wars-lucasfilm/1669739/

 

[CM30]

I'm surprised, but somewhat optimistic. I mean, Disney has to do a better job with Star Wars sequels than Lucas, right?

And hey, with Lucas supposedly being able to throw whatever crazy ideas and special effects into things he wanted due to a lack of pressure from anyone else, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe someone at Disney might be able to get him to tone down the crazy/insane ideas that people hated and end up getting back to something like the first trilogy again.

 

[Brandon]

When I hear "Lucus Films" I'll always think of the beginning of this game I spent to much time on as a kid.

 

[fattony69]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. I think if anything it is a bit overdue. I had my first insights that this may happen when Disney World had their Star Wars theme time when they would bring actors along with changing half the park into Star Wars theme.

 

[Roach]

I heard about this. Only heard from this news story that Disney also own Pixar.

I am interested to see what they do with the new Star Wars films planned. Been a long time since the last was out and I want to know what they will be changing.

 

[thenextGeek]

Star Wars has always been one of my favorite movie franchise of all time and this news just brings me so much joy. I'm wondering if there will be a new protagonist or will they continue the Luke Skywalker storyline? Star Wars fanatics must be very excited about this news. I'm also okay with the time that they will release the movie since I really want it to blow me off my seat. :dead:

I'm already expecting that these Star Wars characters would also be released on the Kingdom Hearts game franchise. It would be cool if a keyblade could be combined with a light saber right? :Blackalien:

 

[Creaky]

The original 3 films are still the best, really hope they don't do anything silly with the new ones.

 

[cpvr]

Disney recently released this video "
Darth Vader: What Are You Going to Do Next?"