Walt Disney Company chairman Alan Horn today signed a $4.05 billion deal to acquire LUCASFILM from company founder and creator of the star Wars franchise, George Lucas.
Kathleen Kennedy who currently serves as Lucasfilm’s co-chair will become president of the new Disney division as well as executive producer on future Star Wars films.
The deal also includes Lucasfilm’s highly profitable consumer products and merchandising divisions, Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound and the Indiana Jones franchise.
The next new Star Wars movie—the seventh in the series and now coming from Disney—is set for release in 2015.
Previous Star Wars blockbusters were release by 20th Century-Fox.
The acquisition of Lucasfilm by the House of Mouse brings yet another major entertainment operation under Disney’s umbrella. Pixar Animation Studios came on board in 2006 followed in 2009 by Marvel Entertainment.
Meh, that is all I can muster at this point.
I’ll just bet you Disney will cut corners and budgets on future Star Wars movies. They’re known for their hard edged pressure on the bottom line.