Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion

[CyberJCM]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...-ct-disney-lucasfilm-20121030,0,3821750.story

As a major fan I find this incredible! I don't necessarily find it to be good news either.

Long story short, George is retiring and cashing in. Good for him, I don't blame him. Disney will acquire Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound. They claim a desire to make a new live action Star Wars film for 2015, as well as continueing and expanding the Star Wars franchise.

This is a huge deal, and really puts Disney into the MegaCorp category. My feelings are this: Say what you like about George's tinkering with his films, and some of the lame offerings (Clone Wars, Indy 4) we've had lately. But I won't be surprised if Star Wars ends up like all the other Marvel superhero movies we've been getting lately. While an entertaining watch, I don't see Star Wars like that. I worry about its future. At the same time, if they can stay true, it may just be the kick in the butt it all needed to get huge again, and maybe they can do great things with all that they'll acquire.

What do you guys think about this deal?

 

[Loric]

I have a bad feeling about this....

My gut feeling is bad.... very bad, But, I'm a big Star Wars fan, and Disney does what Star Wars does best, marketing. So it might not be much of a change in the end. At worst we have a shot at someone who can direct, making a star wars film. Disney makes quality, if formulaic movies and clearly know some things about digital effects, so we could get some good Star Wars films out of it.

Plus, I see Disney being much more willing to re-release a digital version of the original cuts of the first trilogy. While I like half of the special effects Lucas has added over the years, changes to the story only made the movies less enjoyable. If we get a post laser disk digital copy of the originals, we as fans win. If we get some new quality Star Wars movies we win more.

 

[CyberJCM]

You are definitely right Loric, and thats my hope as well. They are saying that they will make Star Wars Episode 7 for 2015, with 8 and 9 to follow later. Lots of speculation out there what they will be. Will they be the Thrawn Trilogy from the novels? Will they be totally new stories? Will they do a Tron: Legacy on Mark Hamill or recast? Will they (please don't!) "reboot" things ala Star Trek J.J. Abrahms style? Also, will they finally create that long rumored live action TV series?

As far as the originals in original form rereleased... I hope so! I'm like you, I don't despise everything George has done to the films, but some changes were just too much. I'm also not an Original Trilogy purist either. I liked Eps. 1, 2 & 3. But I do miss the original cuts of 4, 5 & 6.

 

[Loric]

If they reboot, I'm boycotting. If they expand, I'll gladly pay for a ticket to see what they can do.... and encourage them to make more.

My only request, is that they pick a tone and age range to shoot for. Having JarJar Binks in the same movies as a man being burned almost to death dont work for me. If you go PG to PG, if you go PG-13/R go for the hard PG-13/R. Its a universe with plenty of dark themas (its freaking war!), just make it coherent. Episode 4 & 5 work on this level, but 1, 2, 3, and 6 were trying to please to many different types of people.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

Speaking of reboot, I hope that word is expunged from the movie business. Trying to remake Star Wars would be like remaking the Sistine Chapel. OK maybe not that . Leave it sacred. And for new films, film like it was done originally, less CGI, please! (aka , none). Bring back the original theatrical releases (I'm thinking all those terms were in the fine print in favor of George).

 

[Loric]

I'm fine with CGI if its done well. Reboots too if its been 30 years and half the cast are incapable, but rebooting something new every 5~10 years is just naked profiteering. Do we need a new Batman origin movie every 5 years? There have been 60+ years of great stories in dozens of different Batman titled comic books, but they choose to tell the first one over and over again. It gives reboots a bad name.

 

[CyberJCM]

I'm fine with CGI if its done well. Reboots too if its been 30 years and half the cast are incapable, but rebooting something new every 5~10 years is just naked profiteering. Do we need a new Batman origin movie every 5 years? There have been 60+ years of great stories in dozens of different Batman titled comic books, but they choose to tell the first one over and over again. It gives reboots a bad name.

Agreed! The latest Spiderman was the worst I thought. The Tobey Maguire movies werent that old! It wasnt needed! And if you are going to do it, do it well. I dont think the new Spiderman was any better than the others, in fact, the main giant lizard bad guy was really lame I thought.

So yea, no reboot of Star Wars. Oh man... I bet that means they reboot Indiana Jones though..... lame. Or American Grafitti Fast and Furious style... As Loric said, I have a bad feeling about this....

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Finally, someone with the creative fortitude to do justice to an origin story of Jar-Jar Binks! Can anyone say pre-prequel trilogy??

I think Disney's purchase can't hurt. They've let Pixar and Marvel make some of their best features ever, I don't see why they can't do the same with the Star Wars universe. After seeing the newer prequel movies, I think the best thing to happen to the Star Wars franchise is to get it out of Lucas' hands.

 

[goatee]

does this mean vader will be wearing really bright and loud clothing? a virgin promise ring ect?

 

[CyberJCM]

does this mean vader will be wearing really bright and loud clothing? a virgin promise ring ect?

Doubtful. But don't count on this again.

 

[maxman]

Meh. George is only doing what we all wish we could do.
Retire with enough money to own an entire country.

Disney has business sense IMO. They aren't going to make anything for the old fans anyway.
They'll be trying to capture the new audience.

If you really want Star Wars, pop in your VHS version (if you are a fan you still have them around somewhere...) and watch it in stereo sound.

That's about the last time the franchise was any good.

Now on the positive side, just think of all the great stuff Disney can do!
They are a major player as it is, so with the extra they gain, well... the sky is the limit.

 

[Taproot]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

 

[CyberJCM]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

YES!!! Well done!

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Doubtful. But don't count on this again.

Yeah we'll never see that again. Even ILM can't save her now!

 

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I've never understood the aversion to reboots and sequels (or prequels). They don't detract from the quality of the original film; or the original trilogy, in this case. I have more of a problem with the alterations that Lucas made to the original trilogy than I do with any sort of new films made by whomever.

 

[Loric]

I've never understood the aversion to reboots and sequels (or prequels). They don't detract from the quality of the original film; or the original trilogy, in this case. I have more of a problem with the alterations that Lucas made to the original trilogy than I do with any sort of new films made by whomever.

Its not so much that people hate squeals or reboots because they are reboots or sequeals. Its just that 9 times out of 10, the studios put zero effort into them, and the finished products are utter garbage. The movie industry has worked very hard to prove they dont give a damn about the quality of the film, just so long as there is a franchise mentioned in the tailor/poster. Plus, when the reboots come rapid fire every 5 years, people get tired of paying to see the same story again and again. If this was not the case, and consumers had not been burned (over and over) I think people would have much less trouble with them.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me every 2 months for 20 years, and I'm not paying for your garbage again.

 

[CyberJCM]

Its not so much that people hate squeals or reboots because they are reboots or sequeals. Its just that 9 times out of 10, the studios put zero effort into them, and the finished products are utter garbage. The movie industry has worked very hard to prove they dont give a damn about the quality of the film, just so long as there is a franchise mentioned in the tailor/poster. Plus, when the reboots come rapid fire every 5 years, people get tired of paying to see the same story again and again. If this was not the case, and consumers had not been burned (over and over) I think people would have much less trouble with them.

Yup! They are quick buck, mindless entertainment. Very few are honest attempts at a good film.

 

[RondeB]

Having grown up on this, I believe that they need to stick to the Canon or find a way to make any new films fit the existing universe. I understand that there are plot issues that conflict/don't make sense, but these are generally small IMO. There is a lot of story to tell or add to without rebooting. Lucas said he was only going to do 6 films. They are now done and the story is now so large reading it all would be a full time job as there is alignment in the story from books to movies to comics and video games.

As far as Goerge cashing out, why not? This will be a good acquisition for The Mouse as long as they don't squander it.

 

[Haggises]

Let's be fair to Disney. The most harm they could do would still b e less than what Lucas did himself.

 

[Phog Allen]

This could be good...or really bad. Star Wars was my first franchise movie. I was fourteen when it was released. I agree that Lucas' fiddling is worse than cgi or other ownership. I feel Lucas sort of neglected the whole franchise after 1,2, &3. The good thing about the Star Wars galaxy is there are so many sub characters available that good movie plots are there for the making. I always felt the Jango/Boba Fett angle as the clone genesis was front and center for more than just the movie that focused on it. A whole world of Boba Fett's life growing up without Jango and the whole revenge issue would be good stuff.

I agree with keeping the cartoonish cgi to a minimum. Keep it rougher edged like the look of 4 & 5. This works with teens right up through a more mature audience. And lets not forget the whole era of the Republic. The early Jedi adventures could be a franchise in itself.

Cheers, Todd