Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[TM2-Megatron]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Never bought into the expanded universe.

Some of the EU was actually quite good; a great deal better and more coherently written than the prequels. I actually wouldn't mind some of the best EU material being adapted into live-action, or high-budget animated features. There's a lot of potentially great stuff to work with.

Originally Posted by Jumpman

The Star Wars story was and will forever be the story of Anakin Skywalker.

I always figured it was the story of an eccentric astromech droid and his lifelong companion.

[Blu Warrior]

To the people fearing things like Thor fighting Vader and such, you have to remember that George will be a creative consultant and would never go for any of that. Also with Kathleen Kennedy in charge and producing, she would never allow George's universe to become diluted.
The Thrawn trilogy will also not happen or anything else that has been published. Just wait and see what they come up with otherwise you fanboys are going to set yourselves up again to be dissapointed in 2015. Don't blow your expectations up.

I'm so excited about this news. Two of the biggest things in my life are coming together.

[Beast]

The Digital Bits has the most up-to-date round-up of information about this.

UPDATE – 3 PM: Here are new and updated details on this deal from the official Disney investors’ conference call this afternoon:

* Deal signed and announced earlier today – includes Star Wars franchise and all Lucasfilm operating businesses.

* Indiana Jones franchise rights ARE also included in this deal.

* Disney loves the Indiana Jones franchise, but it wasn't included in the studio’s Lucasfilm valuation due to its “encumbrances” (meaning existing financial/legal involvement of Paramount).

* First project under the joint under Disney/Lucas partnership will be Star Wars: Episode 7 in 2015, followed by Episode 8 and Episode 9.

* Disney purchased “extensive and detailed” treatment for Episodes 7-9 as part of this deal which they “feel very good about.”

* Disney long term plan is to release a new live-action Star Wars film every 2-3 years – films may eventually explore entire 20,000 year time-span of the franchise.

* It’s Lucas’ plan to stay retired, but he will serve as creative consultant on new Star Wars films. Kathleen Kennedy will executive produce. Both are now sitting down with writers to discuss stories.

* Fox retains certain distribution rights to the existing Star Wars films but not the new franchise films going forward.

* Kennedy will serve as Lucasfilm president, reporting to Bob Iger at Disney.

* Disney plans to expand Star Wars brand into many new product categories and internationally.

* Star Wars brand will also be expanded into Disney parks, games and TV businesses.

* Iger feels Disney XD would be a good TV home for the franchise going forward.

* Star Wars interactive strategy: Disney will focus more on social and mobile platforms, opportunistically on consoles.

* Deal was 50% cash and 50% stock – $4.05 billion

* Disney believes Lucasfilm value is comparable to value of Marvel, but valuation is only based on Star Wars alone – value of other Lucasfilm intellectual properties are in addition to this.

* Disney plans to let ILM continue operating as it currently does.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

It's not a discussion unless someone brings up the end of the world .


In my mind, that's complete poop - something started on the internet that has now become a commonplace worry, even with no real proof - but I hope that nothing does happen, not least because of this announcement!

The Mayans had internet capabilities? Gheeesh, they were more advanced than I thought!

[Flatnate]

I had a hard time getting to the end of the thread, every time I'd click "next page" there was two more pages!

As a Disney share holder, can't be more pleased (grandma bought me stock in third grade as a birthday gift... a cool gift for a third grader).

Anyway, I'm really hoping unaltered original trilogy now has a chance at hitting the shelves before my death.

The Episode seven news both shocks and scares me... I don't know what to make of it. But unlike 1999, my hopes and expectations are not in the stars.

[JamesKurtovich]

... Wow.

And a new Star Wars film? Jesus! Can't be worse than I, II, and III, so I'm in.

Just want to say, "Ha!" to those who claimed there would never be another trilogy.

Let's hope that Disney gives us the UOT. I'm quite confident they will.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Well, this thread sure went into hyperdrive while I was gone. You know, I read this Cracked article a couple of years on why Star Wars sequels would be worse than the prequels...but it mainly touches upon the extended universe, so take what you will of it.

http://www.cracked.com/article/167_5...than-prequels/

And I'm glad that ILM can continue as is. I'd hte to see them only do movies for the company it's owned by. Especially in ligt of Digital Domain's financial troubles.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by xXI GaMe IXx

Do you think we will get a Star Wars theme Park added to Disney world?

Haven't been to the Flordia Studios park around May and June, have you?

[xXI GaMe IXx]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Haven't been to the Flordia Studios park around May and June, have you?

Yea but thats minimal to what they can actually do. I mean they can have a park dedicated to Marvel / Star wars

[xXI GaMe IXx]

Does this mean princess leia is considered one of the disney princess?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

The Episode seven news both shocks and scares me... I don't know what to make of it. But unlike 1999, my hopes and expectations are not in the stars.

I'm assuming it'll be spun off from tangientally-related ideas for the live-action TV series he was mulling over and probably has abandoned--
Sort of a live-action Clone Wars after the War, with an entire new cast of spinoff characters, and maybe a cameo reference or two.
He certainly painted himself into a corner by ending everything with the Ep. 6 SE, although he had once considered a 7-9 when he made the original.

Do I expect a trilogy? Like Indy IV, I'm sure Lucas thought there would be more than one...

Originally Posted by xXI GaMe IXx

Yea but thats minimal to what they can actually do. I mean they can have a park dedicated to Marvel / Star wars

Can they have a park dedicated to Marvel, no--Universal's still got those rights agreed upon, although Disney has marketing rights and anything Universal didn't already think up (like a Spiderman ride or a Hulk coaster).
As for Star Wars, their Weekend is already a cottage industry for them, they only consider the deal "validating" it.

Originally Posted by xXI GaMe IXx

Does this mean princess leia is considered one of the disney princess?

Well, her mother is dead...

[Beast]

Originally Posted by xXI GaMe IXx

Does this mean princess leia is considered one of the disney princess?

Yes. Yes she is. And that gives a major boost to the number of bad ass Disney Princesses.

[Ryan0503]

I'm actually REALLY excited about this ... maybe we can get a truly amazing new Star Wars trilogy (better than the prequels which I like but felt like it was a missed opportunity) ... and (fingers crossed) and unaltered original trilogy!!!!


PS ... I'd love to see Mark Hamill come back and play Luke but instead of being the hero he'd be in the Yoda role as the wise Jedi master to a new hero

[Apinamakina]

I personally don't think this is neither good nor bad change.

In my opinion Star Wars has been total crap ever since prequels anyway so I don't care that much. But even though there has come some fine movies from Disney like Pirates of the Caribbean, something tells me that Star Wars is turning even more into a childish cartoon crap now.

As I said in other topic, maybe this change should have happened before the prequels so they could have gotten rid of George Lucas.

[RudyC]

i'm happy about this... more movies and possible OT on blu-ray...
i hope the movies are good

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Can they have a park dedicated to Marvel, no--Universal's still got those rights agreed upon, although Disney has marketing rights and anything Universal didn't already think up (like a Spiderman ride or a Hulk coaster).

Only Disney World can't, all the other Disney resorts in the world can.

As for Disney using Star Wars further in the theme parks I can definitely see them building a huge Star Wars expansion in the next few years since the Avatar-Land in Disney World has been supposedly cancelled.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Ryan0503

PS ... I'd love to see Mark Hamill come back and play Luke but instead of being the hero he'd be in the Yoda role as the wise Jedi master to a new hero

As I noted elsewhere in the thread... since they're using Lucas' original treatments this will likely happen.

Since Episode 7-8-9 were supposed to be set 30+ years later. And Luke would have the Obi-Wan role.

I don't see anyone else returning. Except of course for R2-D2 and C-3PO playing their usual roles.

[MileHigh AI]

Considering I am a big fan of the EU...............I'm eager to see what storylines they choose and what actors/actresses play characters like:

Thrawn, Corran Horn, Jaina/Jacen/Anakin Solo, and etc.

[MCT]

Originally Posted by Groge511

"I cant beleive what I'm hearing"
How can you be so happy about GL not directing/writing? He created the universe. Without him Star Wars would not be.

this is true...but Lucas had become disinterested and detached from what made SW so great in the first place, as evidenced by the horrific shitquels. Hes a dinosaur. Fresh new blood was badly needed. A new vision, a new perspective, fresh ideas, the whole nine. Things can only get better from here.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by MCT

this is true...but Lucas had become disinterested and detached from what made SW so great in the first place, as evidenced by the horrific shitquels. Hes a dinosaur. Fresh new blood was badly needed. A new vision, a new perspective, fresh ideas, the whole nine. Things can only get better from here.

Considering the fanbase's attitude toward him for just utter nonsense, can't blame the guy for saying "**** it, I'm out."