Wow. Just…WOW.
And here I thought it was going to be another news day dealing mainly with the horrible Sandy aftermath. Then, Disney decides to break the Internet by announcing that they just bought LucasFilm from its sole shareholder, George Lucas for about $4.05 billion (half of that in cash and the other half in stocks).
Along with that, Disney has not only confirmed that Star Wars Episode 7 is coming to theaters in 2015 and that this will be the first of many movies that will continue the Star Wars legacy for years to come. PLUS, they already have an extensive treatment for the next trilogy in development.
Click here for the full press release.
Wow. Just…WOW. Disney is super good at these super stealthy mega purchases, no? First, Marvel a few years back and now LucasFilm. This includes all the companies under that banner and all the properties like Indiana Jones and…Howard the Duck!
By the way, THAT is how you do a press release. State that you have a plan in place to placate fans/investors and not just state that you’re vaguely developing something. DC Comics/Warner Bros could learn a number of things from the Mouse.
What does this mean?
1.) First and foremost, Star Wars will now be in the hands of someone other than George Lucas. Yes, he’ll still be on board as a ‘Creative Consultant’ but the fact that Disney now controls a franchise like Star Wars (which spans movies, television, video games, comic books, novels and all that merchandise) is HUGE.
2.) This could be the fresh shot in the arm that the Star Wars movies have needed since the enormously underwhelming prequel trilogy. Star Wars have become a joke, looked at even by longtime fans with disdain and disappointment. George Lucas has created an amazing universe, but its time for new ideas, new characters and a new direction if the Star Wars universe is to flourish. Bring it ON.
3.) This could mean that the long gestating live-action TV show might finally see the light of day. Lucas’s excuse…er reasoning for tabling it was not being able to make it work financially. Disney might be able to get this done and satisfy sci-fi fans who not only long for a live action Star Wars TV show for adults, but also a high concept sci-fi TV show that has been missing from our flat screens since Battlestar Galactica.
4.) Maybe this means we might see the Expanded Universe get adapted into animated movies or a TV show. This way, fans of the original trilogy get to see the further adventures of these characters but in a new format.
The possibilities really are endless here. A part of me is a tad wary given how much faith I’d lost in the Star Wars franchise over the years.. But I’m willing to embrace this fresh start in my long relations with SW and look toward the future with clears eyes and a full heart.
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