You can take the George Lucas out of LucasFilm, but “Star Wars” is forever. In what is likely going to be the biggset news item of the next few weeks and months, Disney has not only purchased LucasFilm (for a cool $4.05 billion), they’ve slated an untitled “Star Wars: Episode 7” movie for 2015. Let us repeat: a new “Star Wars” movie is coming in 2015.
LucasFilm has gone through some changes this year, with George Lucas stepping away from the day-to-day with the company, and Steven Spielberg‘s Kathleen Kennedy taking over his position on the board. And while Lucas has continually professed he just wants to go into his basement and tinker with making experimental movies, he’s never been one to shy away from milking the franchise he started, and we can’t imagine this next installment in the series won’t have his guiding influence in some capacity.
Of course, details are still coming together, and Disney and LucasFilm are scheduled to get on the phone with press later today to talk about the deal. But let’s just remember that when Disney bought Pixar, it wasn’t long until the acclaimed animation giant was churning out sequels. $4.05 billion is a lot of cheddar, and we’d wager Disney plans for “Star Wars” will be less about integrity (and let’s face it, the series is now a product/brand and not much more) than making sure we keep getting bi-annual updates on the trade embargos threatening the Federation or whatever. And indeed, the torch is being passed to a new (moneymaking) generation.
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” Lucas said in a statement as he hit eBay for ivory backscratchers. “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.”
We really want to be excited by this, but we remain cautious — after decades of disappointment — about where this series goes next. But continuing the saga with a new episode? That’s a very big mountain to climb. Where do you want to see the “Star Wars” story go? Let us know below.
Star Wars is for adults not kids..
Either Brenda Chapman was one of the orchestrators of this whole deal, or she comically escaped Disney for the greener pastures of Lucasfilm and had a "mother… FUCKER!!" moment when Disney bought them out.
A Star Wars movie starting with the Disney castle instead of the "Fox fanfarre"? Nooooooooo!!!!!!
So will this episode 7 retcon all of the expanded universe stuff (novels etc) out of existence? There doesn't seem to be a lot of time to play with unless you go WAY in the future. I know, I'm a nerd.
New Star Wars Ep 7 in 2015. Is it April 1st already? 😀 Pass, no thanks.
I'm torn. How can there be a Star Wars with out George? No George. It's sad. I don't know how to take this news. Where are they going to go with the story? Will it still have the feel and look of a Star Wars film? Who will direct it? Will they try to change what we know of it? I don't know…
A part of me is secretly happy!
Not to shit on anyone's childhood memories of the genre defining Episodes 4,5,6 but this news just made me throw up a little in my mouth.
David Fincher to direct?
Rupert Wyatt, you're up!
I'm willing to bet that Joss Whedon hate himself to agreed to The Avengers sequel.
Would an old han solo make an appearance?
quick, someone get JJ Abrams on the phone!
So this means they also have the rights to Indiana Jones now right? So suggestion on who should direct Episode 7, Brad Bird?