Matt C 482 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I just heard of the news. Apparently, the deal for stocks and cash is worth an estimated $4B, and it will include rights to the Star Wars franchise. From Disney's own press release:Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company 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 entertainmenttechnologies 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.The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm’s legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world’s top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney’s strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney’s very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney’s portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company’s ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world’s highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm.Note: Additional information and comments from Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, and Jay Rasulo, senior executive vice president and CFO, The Walt Disney Company, regarding Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, are attached.http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=96524Hmm... first Marvel and now Lucasfilm. Disney is on a roll this year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 47 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 New Star Wars film set for 2015.http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-buys-lucasfilm-new-star-wars-film-2015/Wow.I'm wondering if Disney might put on pressure to restore the original three. Very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 39,927 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thought it had to be fake, but others are reporting it toohttp://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/disney-says-it-is-buying-star-wars-maker-lucasfilm-for-405-billion-from-george-lucas/2012/10/30/484eb5ae-22cc-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.htmlhttp://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/disney-buying-star-wars-maker-lucasfilm-20121031-28if8.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 47 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Ack! NInja'd!Got my info here:http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-buys-lucasfilm-new-star-wars-film-2015/Moving my thoughts from my thread--I wonder if Disney's ownership might have any impact on a sooner-than-later restoration of the original Star Wars films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 This is massive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,541 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,456 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 47 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Yeah, with Intrada's connections, that could actually prove helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 This is monumental! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissPadmé 17 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Star Wars + Indiana Jones Soundtracks --> Lucasfilm --> Walt Disney --> Intrada!! (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,483 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 HAHAHAH HAHAHAH HAHAAAAAAAAAAA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 3,108 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 It MUST have a score by John Williams - no one else will do...well, John Williams or me. Either is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Hrmh, really not happy about this, this is the one instance I agreed with Lucas: six films is enough. Hell, they could keep the TV series going for a long time, but now they'll have to recast, unless it's taking place in the far future.On the other hand, Disney has the Intrada relationship, and they'll want to cash in on this end too, especially with Star Wars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,483 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 KM is gonna go to Defcon 1 over this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 It MUST have a score by John Williams - no one else will do...well, John Williams or me. Either is fine.Not to be a pessimistic ass hole.But I don't see John making it to the new films. mrbellamy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 It MUST have a score by John Williams - no one else will do...well, John Williams or me. Either is fine.Not to be a pessimistic ass hole.But I don't see John making it to the new films.He's only 80, he might make it to VII. But I see Episode I MK 2 happening again there anyways.Failing that, maybe Mark Griskey or Michael Giacchino: We've been saying Griskey should score a film, and he did really well with the two TFU games and TOR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 3,108 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Hrmh, really not happy about this, this is the one instance I agreed with Lucas: six films is enough. Hell, they could keep the TV series going for a long time, but now they'll have to recast, unless it's taking place in the far future.On the other hand, Disney has the Intrada relationship, and they'll want to cash in on this end too, especially with Star Wars.I don't know - it can be the start of a new trilogy because the story line of the others is complete so doesn't need the classic characters. I think the backstory is rich enough that they could do something good if they *understood* what made the original good. Eg: JJ Abrams did not understand Star Trek. He made something decent, but it wasn't Star Trek. I thought some of the games and comics were quite good story wise so I believe there is enough there for something quite good...in the right hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,483 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Jablonsky will be recruited as composer under Hans Zimmer's "franchise musical developer" role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,456 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Don't forget, Disney owns The Muppets too. Anyone else see the house of mouse becoming a monopoly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Giacchino does have a Disney relationship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,456 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 An Episode VII film is going to bring 30 years of EU fiction crashing down like a house of cards. Kiss that industry goodbye.They can't really film Truce at Bakura, and the best works for a new trilogy -- Zahn's books -- would require the actors to be 30 years younger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 9,243 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 This is heavy. I guess the positive possibilities far outweigh the negative ones, but we'll see what comes of it. Remastered releases of the original OT? Remastered scores? The real Monkey Island 3? New good Star Wars games? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Is LucasArts under LucasFilm?Edit...yes it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,456 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Yes.http://www.shacknews.com/article/76439/lucasarts-acquired-by-disneyFor all we know, these new Star Wars movies will take the new Disney route: direct to disc animated sequels. That would be ok. The classic actors are too old, tired, and disenchanted with the craziness of the franchise to reprise their roles. Sure, Mark Hamill looks like the Emperor now, but he's dead unless you pick and choose EU stories to film. Disney would just end up giving roles to its current group of old, tired, and washed up actors like Eddie Murphy and The Rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 2,305 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 OMG!I thought it was April Fool's!!!(if this means we could have a bluray of the ORIGINAL UNALTERED TRILOGY, I would love it!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,483 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Lucas selling it must be devastating to him when alls said and done. He's felt the hatred and is trying to move on, let go. He feels ostracised by those who made him wealthy; a stark contrast to once being their worshipful master. Is it even possible to pity him? I do. crocodile 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard P 4,305 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Ummm, wow. To all parts of this news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brónach 1,307 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 This is far too weird for me to grasp right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 482 Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 For all we know, these new Star Wars movies will take the new Disney route: direct to disc animated sequels.Disney's been phasing out that unsightly trend. There's the Tinker Bell franchise, but it hasn't been theatrically released to begin with. (At least not in the U.S..) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I am really, REALLY surprised that king mark hasn't seen this yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 482 Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Deadline also mentions that the Disney-Lucasfilm acquisition also includes the Indiana Jones franchise.http://www.deadline....r-wars-creator/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,677 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I go away for a few drinks and look what happens.I don't know whether I should care either way.Maybe the scores will see the light of the day? Seems more possible now. That's a good thing.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Deadline also mentions that the Disney-Lucasfilm acquisition also includes the Indiana Jones franchise.http://www.deadline....r-wars-creator/I think that was fairly obvious, and we already knew Indy 5 was somewhere in the future.For all we know, these new Star Wars movies will take the new Disney route: direct to disc animated sequels.Disney's been phasing out that unsightly trend. There's the Tinker Bell franchise, but it hasn't been theatrically released to begin with. (At least not in the U.S..)They only do this with their own animated movies, and as of late they've been pretty good: for instance, Bambi II was good enough to get cinema viewings outside the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crossfader 592 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Good Lord.This is awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,254 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Disney will rule the world one day.If this means remastered unaltered films on blu and complete score releases, I'm game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,085 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Good Lord.This is awful.What? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Good Lord.This is awful.Why do you say that? Truth be told, there are SOME good aspects: for one, complete scores have a better chance of being released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,254 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 He's probably referring to Episode VII. Star Wars was always kinda meh to me, so I don't care either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Just so long as Star Wars doesn't appear in Kingdom Hearts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 848 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 This is GREAT news. Star Wars Forever..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,541 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scallenger 577 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 To me an additional film is a "meh" kind of thing. If it ends up sucking to you, just disregard it. The positive potential here is far greater. Lucas said "never" to the original theatrical trilogy getting released again... but that could now be very well changed because of this. That to me is honestly far more exciting than expanded scores right now (I know... I'm awaiting death threats and objects thrown for saying that, but we have good enough edits for the time being, whereas I have never been satisfied with restoration efforts on the original theatrical trilogy films... especially in a HD sense). But as said, with Intrada's new relation with Disney, it feels like expanded scores could really happen now too, even perhaps for Indiana Jones and other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 9,243 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 If Disney has the option of taking the score release rights away from Sony, I imagine (without any knowledge in these matters whatsoever) that an Intrada driven re-release of the scores, or at least a release on Disney's own label with involvement of some of the score production insiders, could be a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 39,927 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 No Intrada releases of any Star Wars scores would be possible until after Sony's exclusive distribution rights to them ends. Lucasfilm could create the new CD masters entirely in-house with no Sony involvement at all, but Sony would still have to be the label to release them. Until their contract is over.I wonder how many years of rights Concord bought for Indy 1-4? Hopefully only 5 years (ie till the end of 2013) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Could it be possible for Disney to buy those distribution rights? Or, if I recall correctly, wasn't it LucasFilm themselves holding back any release? Sony would just distribute what they were paid to release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 If JW scores (doubtful), then this is great news. Otherwise, meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 39,927 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 George Lucas talks about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giftheck 1,036 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 So, he actually had the Sequel Trilogy written after Episode III? He must have had a lot of time on his hands. You know, he totally didn't have at least two major movies after Episode III at all to fill the gape before retirement.I take it Fox will lose the distribution rights, and they'll go to Disney when they do, like Marvel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,479 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 No longer interested in Lucas or Star wars. Meh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,541 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now