Disney to buy Star Wars for £405bn

Disney to buy Star Wars for £405bn NEWS

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Walt Disney have agreed to buy George Lucas's film company lucusfilm Ltd for $4.05billion, including the Star Wars franchise. This blockbuster deal includes a promise from Disney of a new trilogy of the film with the next installment being Episode 7.

Walt Disney have secured a deal to buy filmmaker George Lucas's company Lucasfilm Ltd for $4.05billion in cash and stock.

George Lucas will now be the second largest individual holder of Disney shares of 2.2 percent stake, with Disney paying half the consideration in cash and issuing 40 million shares to film company.

Within this deal, Disney have bought the rights to the 'Star Wars' franchise, and the new owners have announced the deal will include the surprise promise of a new film in the series to be released in 2015.

Walt Disney have confirmed this week that they have plans to release three more films in the Star Wars saga, the last si-fi movie in the series was 'Revenge of the Sith' which was released in 2005.

George Lucas has denied plans to make more 'Star Wars' movies in the past, but has now said in a video interview this week that he had already created story lines that outlined another three more films.

In an interview on Tuesday the filmmaker said: 'it's now time to pass 'Star Wars' on to a new generation of movie makers.'

This monumental deal brings together two compatible companies who already have a long standing relationship that includes the successful integration of the 'Star Wars' theme into Disney parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

This deal will pave the way for the next 'Star Wars' film which will be Episode 7, in the series followed by Episodes 8 and 9, for which George Lucas is said to be the creative consultant.

The first movie will be released in 2015 with Disney's long term plans to release a new film every two to three years after.

Although the most recent 'Star Wars' movie in the series received a mixed reception from critics, the film went on to break box office records, becoming the second highest grossing film of 2005.

News that Episode 7 will be released within the next three years will delight fans worldwide, although it has been said that some have little appetite for the newinstallmentsfollowing the first six films.

'Star Wars' fans have of course been giving their feedback on the Disney acquisition with one blogger saying:#quote#I feel sick it's like having your mum have an affair and remarry.#/quote#Another adding:#quote#Please don't make us regret this George. You still owe us for introducing us to Jar Jar Binks.#/quote#

Source: Reuters