Disney Buys Lucasfilm

The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm from founder George Lucas for $4.05 billion. Both were ranked in the Top 15 in License! Global’s annual ranking of the Top 125 Global Licensors. The deal allows Disney to operate live-action film production, visual effects, audio post-production, animation and consumer products. The deal is set to bring about a new feature film to be released in 2015. “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,” says Lucas, CEO of Lucasfilm. 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… and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come.” Disney already features Star Wars in its parks throughout the world and plans on expanding the opportunities for the Star Wars franchise in consumer products, games, television and theme parks.