Star Wars Episode 7 Set For 2015: Lucasfilm Ltd. Sells to Disney for $4 Billion

Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

If you felt a disturbance in the force today, now you know why.

Two of the most iconic movie franchises in the world exchanged hands today when George Lucas, founder of Lucasfilm Limited, sold the company, along with the rights to both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises to the Walt Disney Company for $4.05 Billion in cash and stock.

Star Wars diehards can take solace in the fact that George Lucas will remain onboard as a creative consultant, as well as the fact that the storyline for the new trilogy, Episode 7 and beyond, was actually drafted by Lucas himself.

Disney has confirmed that the 7th episode in the epic series is actually already in the early stages of production, with a tentative release date set for 2015. George Lucas, who had previously said that he would never make another Star Wars movie, said of the blockbuster transaction,

Courtesy of Disney

“I’m doing this so that the films will have a longer life, I get to be a fan now … I sort of look forward to it. It’s a lot more fun actually, than actually having to go out into the mud and snow.”

Episodes 7-9 will focus on Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia in the years following the death of Darth Vader and the destruction of the Death Star. Once Episode 7 is released, Disney plans to release Episode 8 and Episode 9 approximately 2-3 years apart.

Lucasfilm Ltd. becomes one of a myriad of companies that have been acquired by the Walt Disney Company over the years; an impressive lineup that includes ABC, ESPN, Pixar and Marvel.

How do you feel about this transaction?

Yahoo

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