When did Disney buy Star Wars?
19121315#5
Although the "Star Wars" film series itself has never been rebooted, a decision was made, due to works set after the original trilogy that contradict and deviate from Lucas' own view of the "Star Wars" story, to discard the "EU" works from the franchise canon. Lucas decided to cease creative involvement after selling, in October 2012, the "Star Wars" franchise as well as Lucasfilm (the production company of "Star Wars") to The Walt Disney Company. When Disney began development of a sequel trilogy of films and other works, and needed its films to have full creative freedom unbound by the "EU", nearly all "EU" works were removed from "Star Wars" franchise canon and rebranded as "Star Wars Legends". (The two 2008 "EU" works which remained in canon were and its .)
Star Wars expanded to other media
80872#8
Under the deal, Disney acquired ownership of "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones", and Lucasfilm's operating businesses in live-action film production, consumer products, video games, animation, visual effects, and audio post-production. Disney also acquired Lucasfilm's portfolio of entertainment technologies. The intent was for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations. "Star Wars" merchandising would begin under Disney in the fiscal year 2014. Starting with "Star Wars Rebels", certain products will be co-branded with the Disney name, akin to what Disney has done with Pixar. On December 4, 2012, the Disney-Lucasfilm merger was approved by the Federal Trade Commission, allowing the acquisition to be finalized without dealing with antitrust problems. On December 18, 2012, Lucasfilm Ltd. converted from a corporation to a limited liability company, changing its name to Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC in the process. On December 21, 2012, Disney completed the acquisition and Lucasfilm became a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
Lucasfilm
54697852#15
Disney, which now owns the "Star Wars" franchise, expressed plans to expand the franchise's presence in all of their theme parks since August 2014. At that time, there were rumors to include a major "Star Wars"-themed expansion to Disney's Hollywood Studios. When asked whether or not Disney has an intellectual property franchise that's comparable to "Harry Potter" at Universal theme parks, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger mentioned "Cars", Disney Princesses, and promised that "Star Wars", "is going to be just that." Iger formally announced a 14-acre "Star Wars"-themed land expansion at the 2015 D23 Expo. In the 2017 D23, it was revealed that the area would be named . In November 2017, it was announced that the planet in the land is called Batuu. The area will debut at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2019 and will include two new attractions inspired by the "Millennium Falcon" and "a climactic battle between ". A "Star Wars"-themed hotel, a deluxe resort to be built near Disney's Hollywood Studios, was also announced at the 2017 D23 Expo.
List of Star Wars theme parks attractions
14723194#48
Disney Consumer Products and Lucasfilm announced that September 4, 2015 would be deemed "Force Friday" and would be the official launch of all the merchandise for "The Force Awakens". Beginning at 12:01 am, fans could buy toys, books, clothing and various other products at Disney Stores and other retailers throughout the world. Disney and Maker Studios hosted an 18-hour live-streaming presentation on YouTube, showcasing multiple merchandise products beginning on September 3, 2015. Among these products were a remote-controlled BB-8 developed by Sphero. Sphero had participated in a Disney-run startup accelerator in July 2014, where they were invited into a private meeting with Disney CEO Bob Iger, in which they were shown on-set photos and imagery of BB-8 before its public unveiling. Many retailers were unable to meet demand for "Star Wars" products.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
26678#28
When Lucasfilm was sold to Disney, this reportedly included 50 written scripts for a proposed live-action television series with the working title "Star Wars: Underworld". The series was to be set between the prequel and original trilogies and focus on the criminal and political power struggles as the Empire took over the galaxy. As of late 2018, no news has come of that project, but Disney has announced multiple live-action "Star Wars" series for their upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, Disney+.
Star Wars
54565991#4
Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, stated that the "Star Wars" hotel would be Disney's "most experiential concept ever" when it opens. Chapek described the hotel as a "100% immersive" experience that "will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.” Some examples of the planned features included creatures and droids acting as certain hotel staff such as butlers; guests wearing "Star Wars" costumes; and an ability to interact with features of the hotel as if visitors were really in the "Star Wars" universe. Visitors would also be able to have lightsaber training and duels (an extension of the in Disney's Hollywood Studios); explore and pilot "Star Wars" spacecraft; and go on "secret missions" personalized toward the visitors' experience.
Star Wars Hotel
36001776#6
On April 3, 2013, it was announced that The Walt Disney Company had ceased internal development at LucasArts and laid off its staff, except a skeleton crew of less than 10 employees which would allow LucasArts to remain open as a licensor. As a result, all projects were shut down, including "Star Wars 1313". A Lucasfilm representative stated: "After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality "Star Wars" games. As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization." It is possible that "Star Wars 1313" may resume development by an external developer, but until that happens "Star Wars 1313" remains shelved. Following the halting of internal development at LucasArts, Disney announced an exclusive deal with Electronic Arts to produce "Star Wars" games for the core gaming market. However, Disney Interactive Studios retained the ability to develop, and LucasArts retained the ability to license the franchise for the casual gaming market. When asked whether Electronic Arts would continue "Star Wars 1313" and "Star Wars: First Assault", a representative for the company stated, "We are not announcing any specific titles at this time."
Star Wars 1313
47540258#2
"Star Wars": Galaxy's Edge was first publicly announced by The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger at the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015, though it did not have an official name at the time. According to Iger, it will be "occupied by many inhabitants; humanoids, aliens and droids … the attractions, the entertainment, everything we create will be part of our storytelling. Nothing will be out of character or stray from the mythology." Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, stated that the land "will introduce you to a "Star Wars" planet you've never seen before — a gateway planet located on the outer rim, full of places and characters familiar and not so familiar."
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
1167763#12
After the purchase of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, Disney Interactive assumed the role of developing "Star Wars" games for the casual gaming market, while Electronic Arts would develop "Star Wars" games for the core gaming market through an exclusive license (although LucasArts did retain the ability to license "Star Wars" games to other developers for the casual gaming market).
Disney Interactive Studios
26678#14
Lucas decided to leave the franchise in the hands of other filmmakers, announcing in January 2012 that he would step away from making blockbuster films.
In October 2012, The Walt Disney Company agreed to buy Lucasfilm and announced that "Episode VII" would be released in 2015. The co-chairman of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, became president of the company and served as executive producer of new "Star Wars" feature films. The sequel trilogy also meant the end of the existing "Star Wars" expanded universe, which was discarded to give "maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience."
Star Wars
54697852#4
From 1997 to 2015, Walt Disney World Resort's Hollywood Studios held "Star Wars" Weekends, an annual festival, which typically occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for four consecutive weekends in May and June. The festival featured appearances by cast and crew members from Disney's "Star Wars" franchise and in addition, many original Disney characters also appeared dressed as "Star Wars" characters, such as Jedi Mickey, Minnie as Leia, Donald as a stormtrooper, Goofy as Darth Vader and R2-MK (Mickey Mouse stylized astromech droid). The festival began in 1997 and had been held in 2000, 2001, and annually from 2003 until 2015. In November 2015, Disney discontinued the event due to the construction of a "Star Wars" themed-land and the larger daily presence "Star Wars" will have in the park onwards.
List of Star Wars theme parks attractions