Okay, so I've triple-checked to make sure (a) it's not the beginning of April, and (b) this isn't "The Onion" …
So buying Lucasfilm actually makes a lot of sense. The two companies have worked together before ("Star Tours" being the most obvious).
Plans to make an "Episode 7" are … interesting. Given that Lucas long ago let the post-Return of the Jedi canon shift over to books, and I suspect Disney will want to chart its own direction. Cue many, many screams from that segment of the fandom.
Mind you, I don't worry whether Disney can make a decent Star Wars film — if nothing else, they will shine compared to what Lucas himself put out in #1-3 (and, honestly, might redeem a tarnished franchise). The question is, should they?
Embedded Link
Disney buys Lucasfilm, plans to release ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ in 2015
Star Wars fans, you might want to sit down for this one — The Walt Disney Company just announced its plans to purchase Lucasfilm Ltd from George Lucas, with plans to release Star Wars: Episode…
Google+: View post on Google+
h/t +Koushik Dutta, btw.
On the bright side, they aren't (per the current story) rebooting the franchise, which is a big plus compared to what some folks would do.
Some comments I've made elsewhere:
1. I think this is a better fit for Disney than Marvel Comics was.
2. That said, time for Marvel to take back the Star Wars comic book franchise. Which is bad news for Dark Horse.
Also, to heck with an "Avatar" land expansion for Disney Animal Kingdom — I want a "Star Wars" land expansion for Disney Hollywood Studios.
Having been to Disney during Star Wars weekends I can say that Disney has done good things to the property. I thought the franchise was dead after #1-3, but it really is alive and well, even if changed. This announcement is surprising, but it makes sense.
Well, there's been a lot of "Clone Wars" activity sort of under the radar, but I agree this is a great way to get the franchise up and moving again.
In added news, it appears that there will be Episodes 8 and 9, too (Lucas serving as creative consultant), released every 2-3 years.
The deal includes ILM, LucasArts, and Skywalker Sound. Which are no small asset for Disney to have, either.
Is Avatar-land still planed for Animal Kingdom? I wasn't feeling that at all, but I'd take an Endor any day.
Yeah, progress continues to be made on planning (and money spent). I've never felt warmly toward that project — Avatar's just not that big and timeless, and not exactly something I associated with "kids".
I assume Disney's tied into it contractually, now, though.
Added note: Lucasfilm owns the Indiana Jones franchise. While the limited word from Disney mentions that, they also say they're not focusing at all (yet) on non-Star Wars properties.
That said, a "Young Indiana Jones" revival (or even re-release) would be right up Disney's alley …