Disney has acquired George Lucas' Lucsafilm for US$4.05 billion. Disney also revealed Star Wars: Episode VII is set for 2015 release, the same year as the studio's The Avengers 2 and Warner Bros/DC Entertainment's Justice League. The film will be the start of a trilogy as Disney confirms Episode 8 and 9 will follow "every 2 or 3 years".
Disney previously purchased Pixar in 2006 and Marvel Entertainment in 2009.
In the press release, George Lucas comments:
For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. 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.Disney also release a video where Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and George Lucas discussing the acquisition:
Here, George Lucas and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy discuss the future of Star Wars films:
In the meantime, the Angry Birds strike back...
