October 30, 2012, the American entertainment giant, Disney,
has officially announced it just bought for 4.05 billion dollars Lucasfilm, the
production company founded by George Lucas, the “Star Wars” movie creator.
Star Wars and the Disney movies are among the most
famous and important figures in the entertainment world. For decades, both of them have succeeded in creating icons and models for several
generations, though their respective “universes” are totally different.
A
thriving business
Despite the fact that the last Star Wars movie was
released in theaters in 2005, its universe is still one of the bases of the
modern sci-fi universe. It has kept an important place in the fans' hearts as a
model and a reference. The entire industry around Star Wars generates millions
of dollars each year thanks to tie-in products ranging from video games
and toys such as light sabers.
November 8, a new version of the world’s famous video
game for smartphones and tablets Angry Birds called “Angry Birds Star Wars” was
released. This up to date version includes references to the Star Wars universe
and although there is no real change in the game itself, the creators use the
fame of the saga to sell even more.
The Angry Birds Star Wars trailer was posted on Youtube and parodies the
famous Mos Eisley Cantina scene from the first movie of the original trilogy. The video is
available on the link below:
A buying strategy
Lucasfilm is not the first company to be bought by
Disney. In 2009, Marvel was also sold for 4 billion dollars. Marvel is a comic
company which is also very popular and influential in the entertainment world
since it created characters such as Spiderman or the Xmen.
Several Marvel movies have been released over the last decade and are very profitable since they have generated over 4 billion dollars in
this industry especially thanks to the latest Marvel movie released this year “The
Avengers”, third highest-grossing movie of all time.
Once
more
After buying Lucasfilm, Disney announced a seventh
Star Wars movie will be released in 2015 starting a new trilogy. The fans are afraid of the destruction of a myth and see this only as a means to make money. The
second trilogy (Episode I, II and III) which was released between 1998 and 2005
was also very criticized by the original fans for the same reasons.
The movie will for sure have a substantial budget. However,
money does not always go with success. Disney’s movie “John Carter” released
earlier this year lost them 200 million dollars following an
international flop.
So is it “a new hope”?
Thierry H.
I also heard about this piece of news and opinions over this are quite mixed. Some are really curious of what Disney will be able to do with this project while others are clearly disappointed and against it (seeing it as just a business project that will generate money). I also read somewhere that Disney bought Lucasfilm because they wanted to attract little boys since Peter Pan and others do not really awake huge enthusiasm among boys unlike princesses for little girls. So do you think that it only is an economic decision or that there still is an artistic intention with a real project behind this ?
ReplyDeleteNathalie
I did not know about Peter Pan and the little boys but this is understable. I think there is an economic decision behind this but Disney is an experienced company, and even though there is no real need for a new trilogy, they can do something great especially if they use the extended universe of the Star Wars books. I 've personally never understood people against the second trilogy, i've always thought these are good movies.
DeleteThierry H.
I feel the same way, I'm kind of stress about the damage Disney could make and break the myth...but I'm also pretty exciting to watch the next trilogy ! And if it's a big failure the oly one to blame would be Georges Lucas for having sold its films ! ^^"
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Disney have also big fans in their studios of SW in addition of the economic benefit they will get from it so it's might not be such a failure in the end !
I'm also aware the strategy Disney has to bought movie sucess but if it wasn't DIsney it could be someone else so instead of reminding Disney flop people should be reminding its success that prove DIsney can manage to do something good as well. If a total stranger had bought it that would be worst I think.
Plus I liked John Carter film !
ELodie
I think the one to blame would not be George Lucas but Disney because they will shoot the new trilogy, not George.
ReplyDeleteI just hope it won't be like the latest Indiana Jones, this movie was so bad. In my opinion, this is the example of the destruction of a myth.
Thierry