Big news yesterday for all Star Wars fans (and who isn't really??) as George Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm Ltd., and the rights to 'Star Wars' to Disney. Yes, Disney. The Walt Disney Company announced that it was buying Lucasfilm from Lucas for $4.05 billion dollars. The real shocker, however, is that Disney has decided to make more original Star Wars movies, starting with "Episode 7" scheduled to be released in 2015. "Episode 7" is set to continue the original story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond "Return of the Jedi," the 1983 classic that is the last movie in the Star Wars timeline. Episodes 8 and 9 are scheduled to follow in what will be a new trilogy containing the original characters. Disney also plans to release a new Star Wars movie every two to three years after that.
While I'm as diehard a Star Wars fan as any, this news causes some trepidation. Honestly, I don't quite know how to feel about it. On one hand, more Star Wars movies! On the other, what if those movies end up turning Star Wars into a mockery, similar to all those terrible 'Batman' sequels made in the mid-90's?? Also, the originals were SO groundbreaking that they revolutionized the movie industry and changed millions of lives. With new Star Wars projects, I fear the originals will be forgotten. It's already started with "The Clone Wars" TV show...when the question is, "Who's the best bounty hunter?", the answer is Boba Fett...not some dude from "The Clone Wars!" I fear a future where some snot-nosed kid indignantly tells me he's never heard of Han Solo when I bring up my favorite character...then proceeds to tell me the best Star Wars character is some new thing who wouldn't even be worthy to shine Han's boots! That'll be a dark day indeed.
On the bright side, at least when they make the new ones George Lucas won't have anything to do with it, besides some slight consulting. After the horrid choices he made for the prequels (Jar Jar Binks) and the latest Indiana Jones sequel...I think we can all be glad that someone else will be making the Star Wars decisions from now on!
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