Disney buys Lucasfilm

TheVision · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 21:34

Kind of amazing if only to see how much money is involved.

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/10/hol ... _gonna.php

Quote:

BURBANK, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.

"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."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

metalangel · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 21:38

Whyyyyyyyyy

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10173

If they've any sense they'll immediately release the original trilogy unmolested bar fixing the mattes and stuff and make the $2b cash outlay back overnight.

And lets face it, even pre-Pixar Disney would have struggled to do a finer job than lucas.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Lucas wanted more money, Fox wouldn't fund another Star Wars, he sold up. I reckon.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

But fuck it, bring on Star Wars Episode VII. Should be a laugh. They can't fuck things up any further, can they?

nickachu · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 22:06

WTB wrote:

But fuck it, bring on Star Wars Episode VII. Should be a laugh. They can't fuck things up any further, can they?

Yes, yes they can.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

BikNorton wrote:

If they've any sense they'll immediately release the original trilogy unmolested bar fixing the mattes and stuff and make the $2b cash outlay back overnight.

And lets face it, even pre-Pixar Disney would have struggled to do a finer job than lucas.

I thought the mattes for the unruined original trilogy had been fucked over during the enshittening process for the "George's inelegant world of piss" editions? The upshot being that the lovely looking proper original Star Wars, Empire and, yes, Jedi if we must Blue Ray releases everyone wants literally cannot ever happen.

Plissken · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 22:39

Well, maybe they can hand Star Wars over to some proper writers while Lucas does what he does best, sit back and count money.

metalangel · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 22:40

nickachu wrote:

WTB wrote:

But fuck it, bring on Star Wars Episode VII. Should be a laugh. They can't fuck things up any further, can they?

Yes, yes they can.

I don't want three movies about the Yuuzhan Vong. I don't even want one.

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 22:55

Oh my, that's some serious money.

Malc74 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:03

Quote:

A Disney spokeswoman was heard to mention that Star Wars VII would be "something about Jar Jar Binks being thrown into the future by a time warp."

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:04

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

Malc74 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:06

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:09

Malc74 wrote:

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

I've only seen 1, 2 and 3 (and a bit of 4 and a bit of 5).

Alberto · **Joined:** 28th Jan, 2011 **Posts:** 1198

Grim... wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

I've only seen 1, 2 and 3 (and a bit of 4 and a bit of 5).

Why on earth didn't you watch the old ones first? Even I know they're the "proper" ones!

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:13

Alberto wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

I've only seen 1, 2 and 3 (and a bit of 4 and a bit of 5).

Why on earth didn't you watch the old ones first? Even I know they're the "proper" ones!

Dunno, really. Saw the first (as in 1, 2 and 3) at the cinema without seeing the others.

Saw a bit of 4 and it was so crap I laughed at it and didn't watch any more. The AT-ATs were cool in 5 though.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Wait, what?! Get them watched on your tablet. They'll look less shit. You can't go through life having not seen the original Star Wars films. That's just weird. Especially for someone who works in IT and runs a fucking nerd forum.

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:21

WTB wrote:

Wait, what?! Get them watched on your tablet. They'll look less shit. You can't go through life having not seen the original Star Wars films. That's just weird. Especially for someone who works in IT and runs a fucking nerd forum.

No screen size is going to fix the deeply embarrassing "duel" between Vader and Obi Wan.

I don't like Monty Python either.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

You don't have to enjoy them, but you have to watch them.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Grim... wrote:

Oh my, that's some serious money.

It's only four times more than Facebook paid for Instagram; for which, Disney bought Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ILM, THX, a whole bunch of stuff. One, or possibly both, of those valuations is pissed.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

As noted in Twitter, this officially makes Leia a Disney Princess.

Malc74 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:32

Grim... wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

I've only seen 1, 2 and 3 (and a bit of 4 and a bit of 5).

I saw the original trilogy years ago, but they made no impression on me at all, to the point that, apart from the severed arm in the cantina, Guinness's hammy overacting, Ewoks and ZOMG! Good guys win! I could tell you very little about them.

I saw Ep 1 but JAR JAR.
I saw Ep 2, but if you put a gun to my head I honestly could not tell you a single thing about it. And I was stone-cold sober when I watched it, too.
Didn't even bother with Ep. 3.

So yeah, the entire Star Wars saga to me is "JAR JAR, severed arm, hammy overacting, Ewoks, happy ending."

Which is how it should be, I think.

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:34

If I know my geek lore well enough, I'm pretty sure they were never called ewoks in the films.

Also

Malc74 wrote:

happy ending

ZOMG SPOILARZ

Malc74 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:35

EWOKS! (eee chihuahua).

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Also from Twitter: Disney bought Marvel and then The Avengers happened. Reason for optimism. Imagine a Whedon Star Wars film.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:42

WTB wrote:

You don't have to enjoy them, but you have to watch them.

You don't have to enjoy it, but you have to be violated in the posterior by a rhino.

Frankly, I'd be much happier if I hadn't seen any of the star wars films, as they were rather naff and entirely ungripping.

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:42

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Also from Twitter: Disney bought Marvel and then The Avengers happened. Reason for optimism. Imagine a Whedon Star Wars film.

Or they might reboot it. What a fucking thing that would be

MaliA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 23:45

Grim... wrote:

Alberto wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Grim... wrote:

What makes you think that JarJar can't live that long anyway?

I know absolutely fuck-all about Star Wars.

I've only seen 1, 2 and 3 (and a bit of 4 and a bit of 5).

Why on earth didn't you watch the old ones first? Even I know they're the "proper" ones!

Dunno, really. Saw the first (as in 1, 2 and 3) at the cinema without seeing the others.

Saw a bit of 4 and it was so crap I laughed at it and didn't watch any more. The AT-ATs were cool in 5 though.

I always thought t was only me that thought 4 wasn't much good. It was, maybe, when I was 8 or so, but, in everyone's heart of hearts, it isn't great.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

I think the original trilogy only really worked in the context of the time, it's hard to overstate how amazingly fucking cool those films looked at the cinema when special effects in general were so shonky.

Admittedly we never saw Star Wars at the cinema on its first run (I was only three

), but my dad did take me and my brother to see it when we were a little bit older, before Empire Strikes Back came out, and then we saw Empire Strikes Back at the cinema as well (this is before poor people had video players in their houses).

It's all a bit cheesy now but at the time it was the most amazing thing in the world - fucking light-saber battles! It was like the aliens had landed or something.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

The original trilogy was and still is fantastic. You're all mental.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Worst nerds ever.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

WTB wrote:

The original trilogy was and still is fantastic. You're all mental.

Well they're about five gazillion times better than the second trilogy, but that really isn't saying much.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 0:27

Malc74 wrote:

I saw the original trilogy years ago, but they made no impression on me at all, to the point that, apart from the severed arm in the cantina, Guinness's hammy overacting, Ewoks and ZOMG! Good guys win! I could tell you very little about them.

I saw Ep 1 but JAR JAR.
I saw Ep 2, but if you put a gun to my head I honestly could not tell you a single thing about it. And I was stone-cold sober when I watched it, too.
Didn't even bother with Ep. 3.

Haven't watched 4,5 & 6 in years. The only bit of the first one I've seen was the extended scene prior to the start of the Pod Racer thing where they're all being introduced and that was enough to put me off seeing the rest.

With 2 and 3, I've seen one in the cinema and not seen the other one at all and I've no idea which way round it is.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 0:37

Imagine if all that money was put towards creating a FUCKING BRAND NEW SCI FI EPIC.

FOR FUCKS SAKE, LEARN TO THINK YOU FUCKING CUNTS INSTEAD OF THROWING MONEY AT THE SAME OLD SHITE

Malc74 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 0:39

They should totally just get the original cast together again and do a Star Wars version of Batteries Not Included.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

The prequels are all bad films. Bad acting, bad script, bad plot, bad effects, bad characters, even the toys were almost universally shit. Save for a couple of set pieces, they are beyond redemption.

Star Wars itself had a dodgy script, some dodgy acting, but the plot was sound (because it was nicked) and the actors were generally good and the effects were unparalleled at the time. It was the freshness of so much of it that worked, it was loveable, so we loved it.

Empire was a great film, pure and simple. Epic romance, tragedy, twists, action.... It was written in the most part by Leigh Brackett, the genius behind Howard Hawks, Altman and John Wayne's best stuff. The other reason it worked so well was Lucas hired Irvin Kirshner, fresh from "Eyes of Laura Mars" to direct.... And he was a man uniquely capable of bringing out more of what the audience wanted from the characters and world we so enjoyed the first time round. We remeber the spaceships and laser swords from Star Wars. With Empire,mwe remember the faces. The comparatively laboured mess of Jedi that followed only proves it. Empire was an odds-beater and it gave the IP a momentum that no amount of shit has diminished to this day.

And what a load of shit it has been. I'd like to destroy the last four films they put out, get the cast back together and pick up from Empire thirty years of horrible war later. With, as mentioned, Wheedon in charge.

The problem is, though, that as with The Matrix and Aliens and so on, there's really no more story necessary to tell. With James Bond and Spider-Man and so on, you can rehash endlessly because that's what's been established. But you can't replace Mark Hamill on a dune staring at twin suns with William's strings rising in the air around you. You can't recast Han Solo, who should have been killed as planned in the assault on the shield generator anyway and you certainly can't get any more decent comedy mileage out of The Droids.

If they just push on with new characters then fine, it could well be great, but they'll make an unsavoury meal if they use too many of the original ingredients in the future.

In any case, it was always the story of Anakin Skywalker... and Lucas has made sure we all know he was a stupid, annoying cunt. We all prefer Vader. That's kind of ruined it. The killer blow is that you could make a new trilogy and they'd be awesome films but as soon as the force gets brought into it, we'll all remember Liam Neeson defecating on our beloved fictional spirituality with his midi fucking chlorians.

The discovery and wonder is what made this universe awesome, and that's been done away with, over a decade ago.

I wish them luck, especially as ILM and such are great agencies in modern film. But I have a bad feeling about this.

GazChap · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 0:59

Never saw why Star Wars was so loved.

Bag of turds, the lot of them. Mildly entertaining, but hardly worth the praise that it gets.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

Malc74 wrote:

JAR JAR, severed arm, hammy overacting, Ewoks, happy ending

I've had a few nights out like that.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:05

Malc74 wrote:

They should totally just get the original cast together again and do a Star Wars version of Batteries Not Included.

That is my second most "i will cry like i've never cried before" film. Gets me ebery time

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:08

GazChap wrote:

Never saw why Star Wars was so loved.

Bag of turds, the lot of them. Mildly entertaining, but hardly worth the praise that it gets.

Yeah, like you didn't say "Punch it Chewie" when you tried launch mode.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

GazChap wrote:

Never saw why Star Wars was so loved.

Bag of turds, the lot of them. Mildly entertaining, but hardly worth the praise that it gets.

Space wizards. Lazer swords. Evil cyborg samurai. Wisecracking pirates. Princess nipples. Peter Cushing. Cover me, Porkins. The soundtrack. The opening scene with the Star Destroyer. The sound design. The ship design. The 'lived in universe'...

Malc · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:18

OMG when my parents got a VCR we had one kids tape put aside for our stuff. On it there was superman, starwars and Raiders of the lost arc. (in that order)

I think I must have watched Star Wars about 100 times as a kid. I loved it, I've seen the others from the original triology enough times too, and of course I saw the remasters at the cinema, along with the new ones, and the animated one too.

I am cautiously optomistic about this, I nearly always am when stuff like this happens. Sometimes I am plesently pleased, normally it's disappointment, but still, at this stage, cautious optomism.

Malc

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

George Lucas agreed with me about the plot, but I'm sure two billion pounds would change my mind, too...

Quote:

" 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've left pretty explicit instructions for there not to be any more features. There will definitely be no Episodes VII–IX. That's because there isn't any story. I mean, I never thought of anything. And now there have been novels about the events after Episode VI, which isn't at all what I would have done with it. The Star Wars story is really the tragedy of Darth Vader. That is the story."

The guy's full of shit.

TheFireFaerie · **Joined:** 1st Jul, 2012 **Posts:** 1609

WTB wrote:

The original trilogy was and still is fantastic. You're all mental.

x 100000

TheFireFaerie · **Joined:** 1st Jul, 2012 **Posts:** 1609

Craster wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

JAR JAR, severed arm, hammy overacting, Ewoks, happy ending

I've had a few nights out like that.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:35

He really is, isn't he?

Tragedy of Darth Vader my fucking ass. He destroyed a fucking planet! He's Himmler!

I miss the old model effects, I can't believe it but I do. I watched The Howling this evening and the old non-CGI werewolf transformation, although looking ostensibly 'unrealistic' was far more cringe inducing because you just knew it was there.

With the old prequel space battles you could imagine yourself in them, because there were fewer ships and it was all the more comprehensible, instead a load of random shit thrown at the camera ala Sith's space battle of Coruscant. They were perfectly paced and each shot so expensive they were artfully done. And, y'know, "It's a trap!"

And Star Wars is great. I hate the entire property now, not only because of Lucas but because of the endless hammering into the ground comedy nerds have done (thanks Family Guy, no, really) and because its become some sort of storytelling wheel-clamp on sci-fi fantasy. Fuck off, Hero of a Thousand Faces. But that doesn't detract from how much sheer fun is in the first prequel film, and awe and imagination in the second one. Its like watching Flynn's Robin Hood, it's impossible not to have a good time. And yes, the sabre duel is crap -which is odd, because if there's one thing the old serials did better then than they do in films now, its sword fights - but that doesn't matter so much. Kenobi's look to Luke before he dies sells it. And the rest of film is greatness.

The Battle of Hoth was the coolest thing ever. Not only literally.

Where am I going with this? I don't know. I can't give two fucks Lucas selling it to Disney other than I hope it shakes off the last clinging horrible adoration of what is a completely spent 'property'. Let it die. Let it die and let people discover the originals forty years from now and enjoy them for what they are. The fact Lucas can't understand that posterity lies in the hands of original and unique untampered art appreciated for audacity and imagination instead of production line junk is just stunning.

Besides, half of Star Wars success is John Williams score (see Ice Cold in Alex and Dambusters if you want to be shocked at how much that is plagarised) married with Ralph McQuarrie's incredible concept art. The cold feeling left by the new films shows how much McQuarries work was inspired.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:30

Pretty much agree with everything GY said. BUT(!) I would be interested in seeing what would happen with the Star Wars universe in the hands of someone else. And also if LucasArts could be resuscitated out of its shit Star Wars game stupor. Considering how Disney sold off or shuttered all its gaming concerns, I doubt LucasArts will survive much longer. Which is a shame.

asfish · **Joined:** 5th Dec, 2010 **Posts:** 3353

Quote:

Lucas wanted more money, Fox wouldn't fund another Star Wars, he sold up. I reckon.

He was worth around $2 Billion before this deal and funded the last 3 films himself. He just let Fox distribute the Films as they were there for the first 3.

Not sure why he has done this really, ok he gets 2 Billion but he is already rich and at 68 what does he need more money for?

As for Disney, they get the next 2 or 3 films right and they will make their money back. Not sure if Lucas hangs onto all the merchandise in this deal?

He always kept such a tight grip on the films and plots, I'm really surprised that he has sold out and allowed more films to be made. Even with the long rumoured TV show he wouldn’t make it until the cost of the effects he wanted made it financially viable.

Looking forward to the next films though as more Star Wars in the world is no bad thing

Dimrill · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:20

asfish wrote:

Not sure why he has done this really, ok he gets 2 Billion but he is already rich and at 68 what does he need more money for?

BBC wrote:

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," Mr Lucas said.

"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."

Maybe he did do it for artistic reasons.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA sorry, couldn't keep a straight face.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

asfish wrote:

Not sure why he has done this really, ok he gets 2 Billion but he is already rich and at 68 what does he need more money for?

He's part of the Giving Pledge, the foundation started by Gates and Buffet, so half of it is going to charity. He also has three kids and probably a number of grandkids, so providing for his family would be a reasonable guess too. It doesn't have to be about Hollywood ego and greed.

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Disney buys Lucasfilm
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