LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Disney is to buy George Lucas’s renowned film studio including his “Star Wars” franchise, the entertainment giant said Tuesday, announcing plans for more films in the legendary sci-fi series.

"Star Wars 7” will be released in 2015," with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future, said the Walt Disney Co, announcing the deal worth over $4 billion for Lucasfilm.

The deal “combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity,” said Disney chief Robert Iger.

“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Iger, head of global entertainment giant Disney, which is headquartered in Burbank, just outside Los Angeles.

The transaction is valued at $4.05 billion -- based on current stock value -- with Disney paying about half in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. Lucasfilm is 100 percent owned by Lucas.

Lucas, who runs his company from its San Francisco base, added: “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.“

The first "Star Wars" film came out in 1977, and there have been two trilogies -- three films from 1977-1983 and three prequels from 1999-2005 -- while the brand has expanded into theme parks and a huge merchandising arm.

The movies have earned some $4.4 billion at the box office globally over the last 35 years, and offer ”a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases,“ said Disney.

”The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms,“ it added.

The acquisition comes after Disney‘s takeover of animated film giant Pixar and comic book character-driven Marvel Studios.

Those deals had ”demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling,“ said Disney.

Lucas will be succeeded as head of Lucasfilm by his current co-chairman, Kathleen Kennedy, who will report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn, said the Disney statement.

”I‘m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come,“ said Lucas.

”Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products,“ he added. 

<관련 한글 기사>

스타워즈 디즈니 품에...’2015년 스타워즈7 개봉’

월트디즈니가 스타워즈 제작사인 루카스필름을 인수하고 2015년 개봉을 목표로 영화 ‘스타워즈7’ 제작에 나선다고 밝혔다.

31일 주요 외신에 따르면 루카스필름의 자회사들이 소유한 모든 판권을 사들였다. 인수 금액은 약 40억 4천만 달러며, 이번 피인수 회사에는 비디오 게임 개발자들과 퍼블리셔인 루카스아츠도 포함돼 있는 것으로 알려졌다.

디즈니는 스타워즈의 최신작인 스타워즈7을 2015년 개봉을 목표로 제작할 예정이라고 밝혔다. 감독인 조지루카스는 크리에이티브 컨설턴트로서 스타워즈7 제작에 참여할 계획인 것으로 전해졌다.

디즈니는 이번에 루카스필름을 인수하기 전에 세계 1위의 애니메이션 회사 픽사와 만화 영화 제작사 마블 스튜디오도 인수했었다.

(코리아헤럴드)