The Walt Disney company announced today that it will purchase Lucasfilm Ltd. in its entirety, including LucasArts, Skywalker Sound, Lucas Online, all other production companies previously owned by George Lucas, and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Disney will pay $4.05 billion in cash and stock for Lucasfilm, which is expected to generate around $215 million in consumer products for 2012. Lucas, who is the chairman, CEO, and sole owner of Lucasfilm, said, "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.... Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come."
Disney and Lucasfilm already have a long-standing relationship, partnering together to bring Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Disney theme parks. In a prepared release, Disney chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger stated that there are already plans in place to continue the Star Wars saga, including Star Wars Episode VII in 2015 and a new film every two to three years. Lucas will serve as creative consultant to the new Disney-Lucasfilm brand.
Disney executives are confident that they will grow Star Wars to its full potential, as they have with other big franchises following acquisitions of Pixar in 2006 and Marvel in 2009.
A full press release from Disney, including statements by Iger and CFO Jay Rasulo, can be found at the Disney Newsroom.
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