Star Wars 1313 News for Xbox 360

Disney buys LucasFilm, LucasArts included

NewsPublish Date 31/10/2012 - 9:31am GMT

Three new Star Wars sequels on the way, whilst Disney says it will focus on social and mobile games.

The Walt Disney Company overnight announced a deal to acquire LucasFilm from George Lucas for the rather substantial sum of $4.05 billion.

The deal will see Disney produce three new Star Wars sequels, with film seven set for release in 2015. Films eight and nine will hit screens in 2017 and 2019, respectively. George Lucas won't be directly involved in the movies, but does hold a creative consultant role.

"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. "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."

Regarding LucasArts, LucasFilm's gaming division, Disney CEO Robert Iger said during an investor call (heard by GamesIndustry) that the firm plans to "focus more on social and mobile than we are on console."

Disney will, however, work "opportunistically" to license its properties for use in video games, rather than self-publishing.

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User Comments

Joey_Bananas

I scoffed when I read this last night. A new Star Wars film? I don't like the sound of that unless they do away with the Skywalker saga and go into different areas of the huge Star Wars franchise.

I agree that the direction of going down the social and mobile games route is a waste of talent and IP as well. I'll make sure to stay away from anything LucasArts under Disney now (although I did that for the past few years since Force Unleashed anyway).

Posted 13:31 on 31 October 2012

Bloodstorm

Social and mobile games? Waste of talent.

Posted 13:20 on 31 October 2012

pblive

Lets face it, George Lucas has been running a Mickey Mouse operation for years now, anyway...

Posted 12:44 on 31 October 2012

Lew3107

Didn't like any of the six Star Wars films, and I doubt Disney can change my opinion.
Did a good job on the Marvel films though. I've loved each one except the Spiderman trilogy & Ghost Rider.

Posted 10:23 on 31 October 2012

guyderman @ munkee

There's no debate to have really as it comes down to personal taste - as much as I love Blade I actually prefer Blade 2. Iron Man is great, Iron Man 2 while not as good was still a decent Movie, The Incredible Hulk was Good fun as was Captain America and Thor, The Avengers was brilliant fun, X-Men 1 was a decent movie, First Class was excellent, X2 is one of my fave comic book movies. I'm the only person in the world who sems to, but I also liked Daredevil, Spidey 1 & 2 were both good - a majority of people seemed to like Amazing Spider-man as a pop corn munching Sunday afternoon move both the FF4 movies were watchable - not great - but watchable. The ones I have not been too keen on are Blade 3, X-Men 3, Wolverine,Ghost Rider 1 & 2 and Spdey 3 - all of which are still infinitely more watchable than The Phantom Menace and a majority of Attack of the Clones.

Considering the amount of characters, history and how convoluted a lot of Marvels comics are I think a majority of the movies have been handled pretty well - not to everyone's tastes - but what movies are. On the whole I take my kids to watch most of these movies, (obviously not Blade), and we have a good time - entertainment, that's what it's about - sadly most people seem to forget that this is the main attraction for most movies. They are Comic book movies after all - made to be fun not works of art.

**before anyone picks me up on it I am well aware that Disney and Marvel are only responsible for a handful of these movies - I just went through the catalogue of movies based on Marvel characters as Munkee mentioned Blade as a good Marvel film.

Posted 10:21 on 31 October 2012

MJTH @ dudester

Isn't that what the prequels were for, and we know how they turned out...

Posted 10:14 on 31 October 2012

dudester

I think they could breathe some life into star wars, it might not be something die hard star wars fans will like but I think it will bring to a new audience.

Posted 10:10 on 31 October 2012

MJTH @ munkee

I'm not saying I'm happy with Disney taking over star wars and lucas films, but the don't ruin every franchise they acquire.

They did a job with the muppets at least.

Posted 10:09 on 31 October 2012

munkee @ guyderman

I REALLY don't want to get too heavily into a Marvel debate (we're probably about to :P). but, I genuinely disagree. I think the only good Marvel films are:

Ironman (1)
Blade (1)

and I'm looking forward to Ant-Man. Mainly, because Edgar Wright is directing it.

Posted 10:03 on 31 October 2012