Disney finds the force – for $4bn - FT.com
Mickey Mouse has forged an unlikely alliance with Darth Vader after Walt Disney agreed a $4bn deal to acquire Lucasfilm, the company behind the Star Wars films, and revealed plans to release a seventh movie in the series.
The deal, which will be paid with a mix of cash and shares, adds Lucasfilm to a portfolio of brands owned by Disney, including Pixar, Marvel and ESPN. It represents a sizeable pay-day for George Lucas, the creator of the series, who owns 100 per cent of Lucasfilm.
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said Mr Lucas, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers.”
Disney’s “reach and experience” would help Lucasfilm “blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products”, he added.
Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, said the purchase combined Disney’s “unique and unparalleled creativity” with “one of the greatest family entertainment franchises”.
Disney has had a long and fruitful relationship with Lucasfilm, with Star Wars rides and attractions available at Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.
Star Wars Episode 7 will be released in 2015, with more feature films “expected to continue the Star Wars saga,” Disney said. The six films in the series have grossed $4.4bn at the global box office, with the characters also generating lucrative returns when licensed and sold as toys and other consumer products sales.
The acquisition reunites Lucasfilm with Pixar, with the animation company behind Toy Story starting life as a unit within Lucasfilm in 1979 before being spun out in 1986. Disney will also take ownership of technology developed by Lucasfilm, which also owns the Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound brands
Mickey Mouse has forged an unlikely alliance with Darth Vader after Walt Disney agreed a $4bn deal to acquire Lucasfilm, the company behind the Star Wars films, and revealed plans to release a seventh movie in the series.
The deal, which will be paid with a mix of cash and shares, adds Lucasfilm to a portfolio of brands owned by Disney, including Pixar, Marvel and ESPN. It represents a sizeable pay-day for George Lucas, the creator of the series, who owns 100 per cent of Lucasfilm.
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said Mr Lucas, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers.”
Disney’s “reach and experience” would help Lucasfilm “blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products”, he added.
Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, said the purchase combined Disney’s “unique and unparalleled creativity” with “one of the greatest family entertainment franchises”.
Disney has had a long and fruitful relationship with Lucasfilm, with Star Wars rides and attractions available at Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.
Star Wars Episode 7 will be released in 2015, with more feature films “expected to continue the Star Wars saga,” Disney said. The six films in the series have grossed $4.4bn at the global box office, with the characters also generating lucrative returns when licensed and sold as toys and other consumer products sales.
The acquisition reunites Lucasfilm with Pixar, with the animation company behind Toy Story starting life as a unit within Lucasfilm in 1979 before being spun out in 1986. Disney will also take ownership of technology developed by Lucasfilm, which also owns the Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound brands
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