Hard to say Disney's only had "mixed results" with Pixar since, while they were discrete entities from 1995-2006, they had a deep relationship in that period: Disney distributed all of their movies, owned all of their characters, lots of cross-pollination and cooperation between the two companies, Lasseter/Ranft were both long-time ex-Disney guys, etc.

Tomorrowland has had a Star Wars themed ride since the 80s.

Having said that, as a theme park geek of sorts, it's known in the industry Disney has been seeking a competitor to Harry Potter/Universal for some time since Universal is making tons of money and headway in Orlando with it.

Disney has a deal with James Cameron to add Avatar related stuff to the Animal Kingdom but the reception among the geeks is that project has fallen flat (candidly nothing actually exists yet, so who knows). But I think you would make a very safe bet Disney will leverage the Star Wars brand hard in their non-"Disneyland" style parks at their properties all over the world (i.e., Disney Studios aka MGM in Florida, Disneyland Paris's Walt Disney Studios Park, the two China parks).

Right now there's only 1 basic Star Wars attraction (a 3D simulator ride) reiterated at multiple places. And in the spring, DisneyWorld does Star Wars celebration weekends. I suspect you'll see the creation of Star Wars "lands" with multiple attractions, potentially resorts themed to Star Wars, expansion of what they currently do with Star Wars Weekends at Disney World, etc. to combat the Harry Potter stuff.

Hardcore fans will think it's blasphemy to discard the EU. Many think the novels are far superior to the films.


By the way, this book came out in paperback today. I'm thinking of picking it up.





It's inspired by the one truly great scene in Revenge of the Sith

Dvaut-

Star Tours has been in tomorrow land since the 80's

It's a different one that is (has been) at MGM / Hollywod Studios in FL which used to be Journey to Endor

Either way, they've had the ability for years to "brand" rides as star wars, now they're just paying a lot more

this.

And of course, make sure that the normally horrid decision makers at Disney are booted out of the production proess and they get some solid sci-fi writers to take over the process

yay

yes yes yes!

Picked up by Disney, huh?

Any chance this isn't just a watered down kid's film?

Tangled is great and did well in theaters, in the traveling Disney on Ice, and in merchandising

Disney said they plan to release a new Star Wars going forward every 2-3 years...they want to make it the next Bond

Disney is going to break even and more just from the sales of non-Special Edition blu-rays.

with overseas numbers John Carter came close to breaking even...

in about 20-30 years this is going to look like michael jackson buying the beatles catalog. the price will seem ridiculously small in restrospect.

I have to say $4 billion seems low. They can also reboot Indiana Jones if they want and you can be sure a massive Star Wars land is coming to a Disney park near you.

Meh, just because Disney has the ability to leverage the **** out of LF, it doesn't mean it's worth more than that before the takeover.

Right I know. I just think this is a great deal for Disney is all.

This is fantastic news.

Yesterday, as far as anyone knew, there were no more SW movies coming and Lucas controlled everything. Now that's changed, and though Lucas will be a "consultant," there's a real chance that some top-shelf talent might actually take this franchise over.

Spielberg and Disney get along well and he begged Lucas to get in on some of the latest trilogy, and was refused, just as an example. This announcement is--at least potentially--a very good thing. I doubt anything will live up to the originals but there's still a lot of room for good Star Wars movies to be made. Plus it gives Disney something better than "John Carter" to work with. I'm extremely hopeful. A good day for sure.

Also, and obviously some people will disagree with me here:

**** the idea of using books, comics, prequel-prequels, Skywalker sequels, and no remakes. I don't care to see an Even Younger Yoda and don't want to meet Han & Leia's kids. I understand they're popular with some fans but this franchise desperately needs a fresh start.

while its good to hear lucas cant **** these up anymore, I still predict this will be a terrible thing. I wish they would just let it die

as opposed to the rest of them?

Can't say I'm overly excited or surprised because it's common knowledge that episodes 7 - 9 are written so they were going to be released one way or another eventually. But of course they probably won't be as good as the original trilogy. They'll still make a ton of money and I'll be one of the people paying to see them.

I agree with those who say a reboot of the series would be nice though. Take the same concepts of the Force, the good and the dark side, a galaxy far far away, etc. and give us a whole new story with new characters. Maybe even come up with something beyond a galaxy far far away as the ideas of space travel, high tech weapons, etc. is much more realistic today than it was in the 70s. Don't know what that would be though.

I know we don't know the actual story line..

But is there a consensus group of books that came after Episode 6 that most people look to as the continuation of the story?

Posted on reddit, if Tarantino directed the new movie

Opening scene, 4 stormtroopers sitting around a table with their helmets off as the ship is in autopilot.
ST1: "Wait, you're saying you'd F*** that rebel scum?"
ST2: "That's F***ed up, man."
ST3: "I'm not saying I want to marry the chick, I'm just saying she's F***ing hot."
ST2: "Not cool, man, that's just F***ed up."
ST4: "You know how many people F***in' died in the death star? F*** man, Junebug got killed. That N***** didn't deserve that S***."
ST3: "I know that, man, I was closer to Junebug than you were, but that bitch is F***in' hot."
ST1: "Somethings seriously F***ing wrong with you."
ST3: "She's a F***in' princess, man, you tellin' me you don't want to F*** a hot princess?"
ST2: "Princess of what, exactly? That S***ty backwater piece of crap planet that's now just F***in' dust? She ain't no princess, she's just a rebel piece of crap. F***in' princess of dust."
[pause while everyone takes a drink and a drag on their cigarette]
ST4: "I heard from Tyrone that her dad is that F***ed up dude with the mask n' S***."
ST2: "Vader?"
ST4: "Ya, Vader."
ST1: Wasn't he the N***** that blew up her planet?"
ST2: "Yup."
ST4: "N*****'s hardcore."
[Everyone grunt's and nods in agreement]
[Quiet beeping alarm starts, ST1 leans back in his chair and flips a switch, the beeping stop]
ST1: "Proximity alarm. Go check it out rebel-lover"
[Everyone chuckles as ST3 grabs his helmet and heads to the cockpit]
Queen of pain by the Cramps starts playing
ST3: "F*** y'all. You F***ers are just in denial, you know you'd F*** her."
[Title sequence begins as the guitar starts]
EDIT: reworked on further reflection

I don't. I read maybe 3, two from the Zahn series which I guess is the spiritual successor, and the Shadows of the Empire one which was I think was pre-ROTJ. I can see why people might appreciate them but I don't think Star Wars works well in other media. The original movies were brilliant because of the visuals and an excellent score, and a very simple story.

Thrawn series is probably the best place to start with the EU. That said I doubt they use it as canon. They might borrow some, but it would be way too cumbersome try and shoehorn movies into that universe.

Ditto, although Mickey Mouse as a jedi seems likely and somewhat amusing.

"he he, hey Pluto looks like we got droids in our tree!"