In a massive deal announced today, October 30, 2012, Lucasfilm Ltd. has been sold to Disney for $4.05 billion. In addition, plans were announced for a 7th “Star Wars” called predictably, “Episode 7,” due for release in 2015, and plans for an Episode 8 and 9 in the years following.
George Lucas said, “It’s now time for me to pass “Star Wars” on to a new generation of filmmakers.” Lucas also passed along his high-tech production companies Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound, and the rights to the “Indiana Jones” franchise.
Lucasfilm is now under the Disney umbrella which also includes Pixar, Marvel, ESPN, and ABC. They paid $7.4 billion for Pixar in 2006 and $4.2 billion for Marvel in 2009.
Shares of Disney were not trading since the markets in NYC are still closed due to Superstorm Sandy.
