Walking out of Skyfall someone tells me, “Disney bought Lucasfilm and there’s going to be a new Star Wars film in 2015.” The first part I believed, the second part I laughed at. Why? I don’t know, but just the idea of more Star Wars after the three prequel films is something I either can’t or don’t want to wrap my head around.
The plan is to have Star Wars: Episode VII ready for 2015 with Star Wars: Episode VIII and Star Wars: Episode IX to follow every other year after. Reports suggest this will be the start of a new trilogy of films, which sounds as if we have seen the last of the Skywalker family. Disney will handle distribution, taking over from 20th Century Fox. Studio suits have already said of future Star Wars plans, “What we’re buying, is an extensive treatment for what would be the next trilogy.”
As you’ll see in the video below with George Lucas discussing the sale, he has finally handed off lead duties at Lucasfilm to Kathleen Kennedy, who left her position as co-head of Kennedy/Marshall Co. earlier this year. Here’s Lucas’ official statement:
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. 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.”
The obvious takeaway here is that while Disney has purchased Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, all they’ve really done is acquire Star Wars, the true reason anyone even talks about the company outside of their post-production work.
Now you’re probably wonder, “What about Indiana Jones?” Well, the fact Paramount owns distribution rights to that franchise means there are some entanglements to clear up before anything happens there. For now it’s all about lunchboxes, action figures, coloring books, video games and, oh yeah, three movies to help sell all that merchandise.
The deal also includes all companies operating under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light + Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound.
