STARS WARS: EPISODE 7 (ANNOUNCEMENT!!)

STARS WARS: EPISODE 7 ITS REAL!!

The Walt Disney Company announced that it has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm for a reported $4 Billion dollars! But wait! That’s not all, as it was also announced that Star Wars Episode 7 will be released 2015. (Avengers 2, Justice League and Star Wars 7 all in the same year?? AWESOME!!)

Star Wars FanArt

In a later conference call, Disney revealed that they are planning a new trilogy starting in 2015 with a new movie coming every other year. Meaning that in 2017 and 2019 we will be getting a Star Wars Ep. 8 and 9 respectively.

There’s as always been speculation that a Star Wars sequel tilogy would be made, with Lucas constantly contradicting himself through the years. However it would seem that this so-called "Sequel Trilogy" (Episodes VII, VIII, and IX) would've taken place some two decades after Return of the Jedi and featured an aged Luke Skywalker training a new order of Jedi Knights.

When asked about possible "Indiana Jones," films, the studio responded by saying that they going to concentrate on the "Star Wars" franchise for now. This is following such big purchases as Pixar and Marvel Entertainment. 

You can check out the full press release at the bottom of the article.

A lot of fans have also been wondering what will this mean for the future of the animated series, comics, and all other related Star Wars materials. Well we have some answers for you, starting with Star Wars in comics:

Dark Horse Comics has been publishing all LucasFilms properties for the last 20 years or so, however with the news of Disney purchasing LucasFilms, what will that mean for the this comic book publisher.

IGN got in touch with Dark Horse president Mike Richardson, who had this to say on the matter:

"Dark Horse and LucasFilm have a strong partnership which spans over 20 years, and has produced multiple characters and story lines which are now part of the Star Wars lore. Star Wars will be with us for the near future. Obviously, this deal changes the landscape, so we'll all have to see what it means for the future."

Star Wars Epic FanArt

When Disney bought Marvel, the Disney/Pixar properties that had comics being published by Boom! Studios eventually reverted to Marvel, so we might see the same thing happen with the Star Wars and all the other LucasFilms properties for the matter.

So what will happen with Star Wars on TV?

Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger briefly touched upon Star Wars’ future in television. Since Disney acquired Marvel they have put several animated Marvel related properties on a block on Disney XD.

Iger said, “We intend to do more and create a strong Marvel block,” before adding, “We really like Star Wars‘ potential on TV as well and we think Disney XD will be a strong home for that.”

Star Wars FanArt

It should be noted that there is a new comedic Star Wars animated series, Seth Green and Matt Senreich’s Star Wars: Detours, that is already in production. No network had been announced yet for it, but this news makes it seem highly likely Disney XD could be the potential home for the series.

When it comes to Star Wars: The Clone Wars which airs on Cartoon Network, a corporate sibling to Warner Bros. and DC Comics – making it unlikely that any future Star Wars series will ever air on that channel. Although a sixth season is already in production, whether or not it airs on Disney or another network will remain to be seen, or Disney could simply cancel it.

Wolverine Vs Darth Maul Fan Art! Disney Owns Marvel and Star Wars lets make this happen!

It must be noted that Disney also owns ABC, so anything Star Wars related could easily be featured on Disney XD or on ABC.

• HERES THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

“Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. "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."

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Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm's legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world's top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney's strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

Star Wars FanArt

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney's very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company's unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney's portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company's ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world's highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm.”