Disney Just Bought LUCASFILM LTD. = Star Wars Franchise

[lockedoutlogic]

"Empire Strikes Back" was the best of all of them because Lucas didn't direct it or write the screenplay, IMO.

He didn't direct "Return of the Jedi" but he wrote it.

I still remember doing my own version of Luke's "Noooooooo!!!!!!" when someone in my class spoiled the ending for me before I saw it.

I fixed that with "Return of the Jedi" by standing in line for hours on opening day!

Empire strikes back was probably one of the best overall movies of the entire decade...and could be the best "sci-fi" movie ever...

But even if you don't care for mark Hamill or Carrie fisher playing actors...

Empire was what gripped the fans and kept people "into" Star Wars in the long period where there was no new material.

And even Jedi...which had some bad/ rehashed story elements but from a visual/ technical standpoint...was the most advanced movie for a long time. Jedi always seemed like an excuse for Lucas to redo the original movie with the right amount of money and special effects.

The "battle of endor" was probably the best visual effects work in any movie until either the Abyss, terminator 2, or Jurassic park...6, 8, and 10 years later.

And those movies were all from effects at ILM...from Star Wars.

I have to admit...this sale to Disney has brought back what was GOOD about Lucasfilm and Star Wars...

Because it has been Soooo incredibly bad for so long.
And unfortunately...the person responsible has been George Lucas...in the end. For the good and the bad.

 

[pilferk]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but .........

It could just be like Marvel, They wanted the movies/franchise.

Its a HUGE jump to say this is to build Star Wars Land.

The difference is this: Marvel has a tie in with a competing theme park (and a perpetual deal for that relationship to continue, basically forever).

Disney parks have the only Star Wars theme park attractions in existence.

No possibility of brand confusion, with SW and Indy, which helps.

I don't think the deal was ABOUT SWL. I think the overall value of the IP's (Star Wars, Indy, etc) were the primary consideration. I think the annual merchandising revenue from the SW franchise alone made the deal super attractive to Disney and the prospect for future revenue off of new film/TV material probably made them drool.

I also think there is a very likely probability that SWL was considered during the deal, though. Disney is big on synergy and cross use of it's IP's...so use in their theme parks was most definitely a factor.

 

[pilferk]

Disney already stated in the conference call they are only focusing on Star Wars and Skywalker Sound.

True.

For now.

Because those are likely the most valuable properties in the portfolio. And lets face it...Indy was kinda tarnished by Crystal Skull.

But I expect that, eventually, Disney will begin to mine the rest of the IP's that they're getting, and will work on anything they think is valuable.

 

[pilferk]

Mark Hamill might be the worst actor ever...but he looks like laurence olivier compared to the clowns from the new movies...probably because he isn't surrounded by green screen crap created by computer viruses every single second...that's when you know you missed (probably about 30 minutes into The Phantom Nothing was when i knew)

guess i'm done

I agree with (and have said, in other places) 99.9% of what you said.

Just the bit above I sort of disagree with.

Portman, Neeson, Lee, Jackson....there are a good number of actors in the Eps 1 - 3 who have PROVEN they are not hacks.

And, for the most part, they were HORRIBLE in the SW movies. Which makes you wonder how much of it was their acting ability, and how much was the way they were directed, the dialogue they were given (using your analogy, Olivier couldn't have saved those scripts, IMHO), and the editing/filming of the shots. Oh, and the fact that the two "romantic" leads had absolutely ZERO chemistry between them...which means casting was pretty lousy too.

I've often said that green screen acting, as a whole, must be the hardest thing on the planet for an actor to do. No set, no energy, no context. Given all that, your cast would have to really mesh well for it to work. And at least with voice acting (where you basically never see anyone other than your sound engineers)...you usually get some rough-ins to watch or general context to work with.

I'm with you, though. Less focus on technical wowwie toy use and more on story and character development. And don't let George write one word of dialogue or offer one "insight" to an actor while filming. Creative consultant, indeed.

 

[pilferk]

It is very funny but really sad that so many find this news as positive. Disney couldn't make animated so they bought Pixar. They can't generate live action success so they buy Lucasfilm for Star Wars, a huge franchise but one that is oh so dated and useless. I couldn't even talk my 23 yo daughter into riding Star Wars with me today and she still hasn't ridden the updated version!

Too bad Disney forgot how to harness imagination. Walt would not want to be unfrozen at this point.

I doubt this influences Avatar beyond the switch to plan B, which was always coming anyway.

Pssst...Walt hired the best talent in the business.

It was a different world in the 30's - 60's.

This (mergers and aquisitions) is how you do that, now.

 

[pilferk]

My boys, 21 and 26, are very excited. Like super super super excited. But, we love the franchise a LOT.

We don't find the franchise dated, either...but we follow the "universe" via the books, comics, and video games that are current.

My 8 year old son is very excited.

Which, IMHO, is a big part of why Disney went out and got Marvel and, now, Star Wars. Broadening demographic appeal in the family market.

 

[pilferk]

This post was hijacked from my brain...
Except for the Star Wars land by 2015...Disney construction does not move that fast anymore

Usually, I'd agree about DHS timeline.

And May 2015 might be optimistic, I agree (considering that Avatarland was scheduled to be opened right around then...though that may have just changed all things considered).

But I wouldn't be surprised to see late 2015 or early 2016, given the Ep VII release date info. That is...if they're going to do it. They could very well put things on "heckuvarush" in order to take advantage of the PR wave they're likely to ride with Ep VII's release.

They might, instead, decide to shoot for something close to Ep VIII release (which I think would be 2017-ish?), but I suspect they want the theme park synergy sooner rather than later.

We'll see...

 

[pilferk]

Disney animation is releasing Wreck-it-Ralph, and it could actually be a hit. And they found a director in Rich Moore that was part of the Simpsons, futurism, the critic.

Off topic but..

I got to see an advance screening of it. Admittedly, I'm a video game nut (and have been since I was 7 years old) who also really likes Disney. So I'm not a tough sell.

Having said that: It was REALLY good. It might be my favorite Disney produced (aka non-Pixar) movie since Lion King. My kids loved it. My wife loved it. They probably didn't get all the little gaming references in there...but they got enough of them. And it's a cute story with relatable/memorable characters (some of which are original to the production, some of which are just GREAT send ups of video game classics).

It reminded me, somewhat, of Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One"....with a more family friendly approach/message.

 

[pilferk]

The new Star Wars films will NOT begin with the 20th Century Fox theme

Nope..probably the Disney castle.

Won't THAT be a mind blowing moment.

 

[chartle]

The difference is this: Marvel has a tie in with a competing theme park (and a perpetual deal for that relationship to continue, basically forever).

Disney parks have the only Star Wars theme park attractions in existence.

No possibility of brand confusion, with SW and Indy, which helps.

I don't think the deal was ABOUT SWL. I think the overall value of the IP's (Star Wars, Indy, etc) were the primary consideration. I think the annual merchandising revenue from the SW franchise alone made the deal super attractive to Disney and the prospect for future revenue off of new film/TV material probably made them drool.

I also think there is a very likely probability that SWL was considered during the deal, though. Disney is big on synergy and cross use of it's IP's...so use in their theme parks was most definitely a factor.

My point at the time was to counter the posters that just automatically assumed (like they did for Marvel and yes its a different situation) that this purchase meant (pick one):

• New rides
• New land in DHS
• Death to Avatarland
• New 5th gate

 

[YellowXterra]

I hope Disney builds a Death Star I think it would be cool to visit

 

[chartle]

I hope Disney builds a Death Star I think it would be cool to visit

I see a Space ship Earth refurb.

 

[pilferk]

My point at the time was to counter the posters that just assumed (like they did for Marvel and yes its a different situation) that this purchase meant (pick one):

• New rides
• New land in DHS
• Death to Avatarland
• New 5th gate

I think there is a decent to good chance that it does mean 1 and/or 2. I think it's unlikely it means 3 or 4.

I don't think the REASON for the deal was to do 1 and 2, though. I DO think those are synergies that were likely considered. I think (as lockedout suggests in an earlier post) that one of the biggest driving forces was the merchandising bonanza opportunity this offers Disney, and the truckloads of potential revenue it offers. I think the new films, and other offerings, are really just a means to that end.

Disney learned something with Cars....good or bad, depending on your "bent". The IP doesn't have to do huge box office. You just have to be able to sell huge numbers of cheap (to make) toys based off the IP...and you probably stand to make a bigger profit at the end of the day (% ROI wise). A bit cynical? Maybe. But I suspect that's Disney's line of thinking....with lots of added gravy.

I know..I'm late to the party on the discussion. Blame Sandy.

 

[pilferk]

I see a Space ship Earth refurb.

Or at least overlay? I mean..they put an ugly looking hand and wand over the top for the Millennium Celebration. They turned the castle into a really tacky/ugly cake. They should be able to do something to turn Epcots Geosphere into a Death Star, right? RIGHT?

 

[Disco]

I see a Space ship Earth refurb.

Darth is all for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtw33b9TCfU
Two words, Ewok pinata...

 

[DCTooTall]

I see a Space ship Earth refurb.

Death Star Spaceship Earth?

I'm having flashbacks.....

 

[HubbDave]

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Pssst...Walt hired the best talent in the business.

It was a different world in the 30's - 60's.

This (mergers and aquisitions) is how you do that, now.

I don't disagree but it doesn't make it better, does it?

Further, I just am not a fan of forced sequels. I loved, loved, loved POC but would think better of it if the sequels hadn't occurred. I know that I am in the minority thus wrong, but I simply prefer to see creativity set loose, that's all.

 

[bigAWL]

The new Star Wars films will NOT begin with the 20th Century Fox theme

I've never used this emoticon before, but it's exactly how I felt when I read this post. No, no, no. This will not do at all. Now Disney has to go and get 20th Century Fox.

I've read (on wikipedia) that John Williams even chose the key of the Star Wars theme to match the key of the 20th Century Fox fanfare.

 

[diamondpixienc]

~Wow!!! This is huge news. This may be Disney's real answer to Harry Potter!

Exactly!