Lucasfilm

Last updated

Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Formerly
  • Lucasfilm (1971–1977)
  • Lucasfilm Ltd. (1977–2012)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry
  • Film
  • Television
  • Animation
Founded1971;53 years ago (1971), in San Rafael, California, U.S.
Founder George Lucas
Headquarters Letterman Digital Arts Center, ,
U.S.
Number of locations
6
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Brands
Number of employees
2,000 (2015) [2]
Parent The Walt Disney Studios (2012–present)
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Website www.lucasfilm.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 in San Rafael, California, and later moved to San Francisco in 2005. [3] It has been a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios since 2012 and is best known for creating and producing the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, as well as its leadership in developing special effects, sound, and computer animation for films.

Contents

The company's films Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) are all among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, with The Force Awakens becoming the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada. On October 30, 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in the form of cash and in stock. [4] [5] [6] [7] Lucasfilm is currently one of five live-action film studios within the Walt Disney Studios, alongside Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.

History

Independent era (1971–2012)

Lucasfilm was founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 in San Rafael, California, [8] and was incorporated as Lucasfilm Ltd. on September 12, 1977. [9] In the mid-1970s, the company's offices were located on the Universal Studios Lot. [10] Lucas founded the Star Wars Corporation, Inc. as a subsidiary to control various legal and financial aspects of Star Wars (1977), [11] including copyright, and sequel and merchandising rights. It also produced the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special for 20th Century Fox Television. [12] That year, Lucas hired Los Angeles-based real-estate specialist Charles Weber to manage the company, telling him that he could keep the job as long as he made money. [13] Lucas wanted the focus of the company to be making independent films, but the company gradually became enlarged from five employees to almost 100, increasing in middle management and running up costs. In 1980, after Weber asked Lucas for fifty million dollars to invest in other companies and suggested that they sell Skywalker Ranch to do so, Lucas fired Weber and had to let half of the Los Angeles staff go. [13] By the same year, the corporate subsidiary had been discontinued and its business was absorbed into the various divisions of Lucasfilm. And of course, it was also the same year when the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back, was released in cinemas as an official sequel to the original 1977 film.

Between 1981 and 1989, three Indiana Jones films, stories by Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg, were released. While Return of the Jedi (1983) was in production, Lucas decided not to pursue further Star Wars films. [14] Despite the third film achieving similar classic status to its two predecessors, George was unhappy with the cinema presentation of Return of the Jedi, he created the company THX, which was unveiled on May 20, 1983. [15] Lucasfilm produced the John Korty-directed animated film Twice Upon a Time (1983). 1985 saw the release of Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters . The next year, Jim Henson's Labyrinth and an adaptation of Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck were released. Ron Howard directed the fantasy film Willow in 1988 (story by Lucas); the same year the children's animated film The Land Before Time was released. From 1992 to 1993, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (created by Lucas) television series was produced. In 1992, after viewing an early computer-generated imagery test created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for Jurassic Park , Lucas announced his intentions to produce a Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. [16] In 1994, the long-delayed Radioland Murders (story by Lucas) was released. In 1995, Lucas began production on the prequel trilogy. The trilogy took 10 years to make, ending with the release of the third prequel film Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in 2005 where all three prequels had received mixed to negative reviews. In addition to the prequels, Lucas released the Special Editions for the Star Wars Original Trilogy in 1997, 2004 and 2011, for VHS, DVD and Blu-ray, which were met with increasingly negative reception.

In 1987, the company, which at that time, was expanding from three to five films a year on its own, decided to increase making its Northern California production facilities available to other filmmakers. [17] In 1989, Lucasfilm launched a new subsidiary Lucasfilm Entertainment Group (later LucasArts Entertainment Company) to consolidate all four units, which are Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm Commercial Productions, Lucasfilm Games, and Sprocket Systems. [18]

In 2005, Lucasfilm opened a new studio in Singapore. [19] That same year, Lucasfilm Animation commenced production of a 3D animated Star Wars television series called Star Wars: The Clone Wars , with key production team members including executive producer Catherine Winder, supervising director Dave Filoni, Head of Lucasfilm Animation Singapore Chris Kubsch, and Henry Gilroy. [20] Primary production took place at Lucasfilm Animation's Singapore studio. [21] Airing on Cartoon Network between 2008 and 2013, [22] The Clone Wars was well received by fans and was nominated for several film awards including the Daytime Emmy Awards and the Annie Awards. [23] [24]

Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic Foyer (Presidio Complex) Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic Foyer (Presidio Complex).jpg
Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic Foyer (Presidio Complex)

In January 2012, Lucas announced his retirement from producing large-scale blockbuster films and instead re-focusing his career on smaller, independently budgeted features. [25] [26] In June 2012, it was announced that Kathleen Kennedy, a long-term collaborator with Steven Spielberg and a producer of the Indiana Jones films, had been appointed as co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd. It was reported that Kennedy would work alongside Lucas, who would remain chief executive and serve as co-chairman for at least one year, after which she would succeed him as the company's chairperson, which she did in June 2013. [27]

On July 8, 2012, Lucasfilm's marketing, online, and licensing units moved into the new Letterman Digital Arts Center located in the Presidio in San Francisco. It shares the complex with Industrial Light & Magic. Lucasfilm had planned an expansion at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California, but shelved the plan in 2012 due to opposition from neighbors. However, it still plans to expand elsewhere. [28] Skywalker Sound remains the only Lucasfilm division based at Skywalker Ranch. [29]

On September 5, 2012, Micheline Chau, who served as president and COO of Lucasfilm for two decades, announced that she was retiring. With her departure, senior executives for each of the Lucasfilm divisions would report directly to Kathleen Kennedy. Chau was credited with keeping the Lucasfilm and Star Wars brands strong, especially through animation spin-offs and licensing initiatives. [30]

Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios (2012–present)

Acquisition process

Discussions relating to the possibility of The Walt Disney Company signing a distribution deal with Lucasfilm officially began in May 2011, after a meeting that George Lucas had with Disney CEO Bob Iger during the inauguration of the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction. [31] Lucas told Iger he was considering retirement and planned to sell the company, as well as the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. [32] On October 30, 2012, Disney announced a deal to acquire Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, [33] with approximately half in cash and half in shares of Disney stock. [4] Lucasfilm had previously collaborated with the company's Walt Disney Imagineering division to create theme park attractions centered on Star Wars and Indiana Jones for various Walt Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. [34]

Kathleen Kennedy, co-chairwoman of Lucasfilm, became president of Lucasfilm, reporting to the Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally, she serves as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Kennedy serves as producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas originally announced as serving as a creative consultant. [35] The company also announced the future release of new Star Wars films, starting with Episode VII: The Force Awakens in 2015. [34]

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. [36] Disney also acquired Lucasfilm's portfolio of entertainment technologies. The intent was for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations. [37] Star Wars merchandising would begin under Disney in the fiscal year 2014. [38] Starting with Star Wars Rebels , certain products will be co-branded with the Disney name, [39] [40] akin to what Disney has done with Pixar. [41] On December 4, 2012, the Disney-Lucasfilm merger was approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), allowing the acquisition to be finalized without dealing with antitrust problems. [42] On December 18, 2012, Lucasfilm Ltd. converted from a corporation to a limited liability company (LLC), changing its name to Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC in the process. [43] On December 21, 2012, Disney completed the acquisition and Lucasfilm became a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney. [6] [7]

At the time of Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, the original distributor of the first six Star Wars films, were to retain the physical and theatrical distribution rights to both the prequel trilogy and Episodes V and VI of the original trilogy until May 2020, along with full distribution rights for the original 1977 film in perpetuity. [44] Lucasfilm retained the television and digital distribution rights to Star Wars Episodes I through VI with exception to Episode IV. [45] On March 20, 2019, Disney officially acquired 20th Century Fox after acquiring its owner, 21st Century Fox, thus consolidating all the distribution and ownership rights to all the films under its umbrella. [7] In December 2013, Walt Disney Studios purchased the distribution and marketing rights to future Indiana Jones films from Paramount Pictures, although the latter studio would retain the distribution rights to the first four films and would receive "financial participation" from any additional films. [46] [47] This would make the fifth installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , become the first film in the franchise and Lucasfilm's first film overall to be co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures. [48]

Kathleen Kennedy era (2012–present)

In early 2013, Disney CEO Bob Iger disclosed Lucasfilm's plans to release standalone Star Wars films alongside the Sequel Trilogy over a six-year period. [49] This strategy aimed to expand the Star Wars universe beyond the main saga. The first of these standalone films, Rogue One , premiered in 2016, followed by Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018. [50] [51]

On May 6, 2013, LucasArts, the video game development division of Lucasfilm, underwent closure, resulting in layoffs for most of its staff. [52] Despite this, LucasArts maintained a small team to handle video game licensing. Disney subsequently entered an exclusive agreement with Electronic Arts (EA) to produce Star Wars games for the core gaming market for a decade. LucasArts retained licensing rights, while Disney Interactive Studios focused on casual gaming. [53] [54] EA's exclusivity deal ended in January 2021. [55] [56]

In January 2014, it was announced that Dark Horse Comics would be losing its license for Star Wars comics to Marvel Comics, another Disney subsidiary, in 2015. [57] That April, Lucasfilm announced that the Star Wars Expanded Universe content would be rebranded as Star Wars Legends, with only selected works, including the six episodic films and The Clone Wars, deemed canon. Additionally, a new line of canon Star Wars books began publication under the Lucasfilm story group. [58]

Lucasfilm continued its expansion globally, opening its regional headquarters in Singapore in 2014. [19] This facility housed staff from Lucasfilm, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia and ESPN Asia Pacific. [19] Meanwhile, between 2015 and 2018, Lucasfilm released several cinematic films, including critical and commercial successes like Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Rogue One, alongside the less successful Solo. [59] [50] [51]

After the mixed performance of Solo at the box office, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed a slow down in release of new Star Wars films. [60] Lucasfilm moved its focus on developing content for Disney+ by launching several programs including the successful series The Mandalorian series on Disney+. [61]

In November 2023, Dave Filoni revealed that he was promoted to be the chief creative officer at the studio and would be directly involved in the planning of future Star Wars films and Star Wars in other series. [62]

Company structure

Former divisions

Former subsidiaries of Lucasfilm are:

NameDescriptionCurrent StatusDetails
Pixar Animation Studios Computer animation studio that was sold to Steve Jobs in 1986.ActiveIt became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, six years prior to Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in December 2012.
THX Theater sound system (spun off from Lucasfilm in 2002) [69] Creative Technology owned 60% of THX, [70] and then sold to Razer Inc. in 2016.
Kerner Optical Practical effects division (model shop) and 3-D development team (spun off from Industrial Light & Magic in 2006)ClosedSubsequently, went bankrupt in 2011 [71]
Lucas Learning A spinoff of LucasArts for the development of educational software.In 2001, Lucas Learning decided to leave the market and shut down this division. [72]
Lucas OnlineIn house web development company that built and maintained the websites of the other Lucasfilm Ltd. companies and properties.

Filmography

Franchises

YearTitleFilmsTV Seasons
1973–1979 American Graffiti 20
1977–present Star Wars 1228
1981–present Indiana Jones 53
1988–2023 Willow 11

Highest-grossing films

Highest-grossing films in North America
RankTitleYearBox office gross
1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015$936,662,225
2 Star Wars: The Last Jedi 2017$620,181,382
3 Rogue One 2016$533,539,991
4 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 2019$515,202,542
5 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 1999$487,576,624
6 Star Wars 1977$460,998,507
7 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith 2005$380,270,577
8 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008$317,101,119
9 Return of the Jedi 1983$316,566,101
10 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones 2002$310,676,740
11 The Empire Strikes Back 1980$292,753,960
12 Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981$248,159,971
13 Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018$213,767,512
14 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989$197,171,806
15 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984$179,870,271
16 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023$174,480,468
17 American Graffiti 1973$115,000,000
Highest-grossing films worldwide
RankTitleYearBox office gross
1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015$2,071,310,218
2 Star Wars: The Last Jedi 2017$1,334,407,706
3 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 2019$1,077,022,372
4 Rogue One 2016$1,058,684,742
5 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 1999$1,046,515,409
6 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith 2005$868,390,560
7 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008$786,635,413
8 Star Wars 1977$775,398,507
9 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones 2002$656,695,615
10 The Empire Strikes Back 1980$549,001,086
11 Return of the Jedi 1983$482,365,284
12 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989$474,171,806
13 Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018$393,151,347
14 Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981$389,925,971
15 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023$383,963,057
16 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984$333,107,271
17 American Graffiti 1973$140,557,835

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Lucas</span> American filmmaker (born 1944)

George Walton Lucas Jr. is an American filmmaker and philanthropist. He created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and founded Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairman of Lucasfilm before selling it to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Nominated for four Academy Awards, he is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 20th-century New Hollywood movement, and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster. Despite this, he has remained an independent filmmaker away from Hollywood for most of his career.

Lucasfilm Games is an American video game licensor and a subsidiary of Lucasfilm. It was founded in May 1982 by George Lucas as a video game development group alongside his film company; as part of a larger 1990 reorganization of the Lucasfilm divisions, the video game development division was grouped and rebranded as part of LucasArts. LucasArts became known for its line of adventure games based on its SCUMM engine in the 1990s, including Maniac Mansion, the Monkey Island series, and several Indiana Jones titles. A number of influential game developers were alumni of LucasArts from this period, including Brian Moriarty, Tim Schafer, Ron Gilbert, and Dave Grossman. Later, as Lucasfilm regained control over its licensing over the Star Wars franchise, LucasArts produced numerous action-based Star Wars titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while dropping adventure game development due to waning interest in the genre.

<i>Star Wars</i> American epic space opera media franchise

Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pixar</span> American computer animation studio (founded 1986)

Pixar Animation Studios, known simply as Pixar, is an American animation studio based in Emeryville, California, known for its critically and commercially successful computer-animated feature films. Pixar is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, a segment of The Walt Disney Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney Pictures</span> American film studio and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company. The studio is the flagship producer of live-action feature films and animation within the Walt Disney Studios unit, and is based at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Animated films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios are also released under the studio banner. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributes and markets the films produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects, computer animation and stereo conversion digital studio that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began production on the original Star Wars, now the fourth episode of the Skywalker Saga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Kennedy (producer)</span> American film producer (born 1953)

Kathleen Kennedy is an American film producer who has been president of Lucasfilm since 2012.

The Walt Disney Studios is a major division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of The Walt Disney Company best known for housing its multifaceted film studio divisions. Founded on October 16, 1923, and based mainly at the namesake studio lot in Burbank, California, it is the seventh-oldest global film studio and the fifth-oldest in the United States, a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and one of the "Big Five" major film studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Iger</span> American business executive (born 1951)

Robert Alan Iger is an American media executive who is chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company. He previously was the president of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) between 1994 and 1995 and president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC, from 1995 until its acquisition by Disney in 1996. Iger was named president of Disney in 2000 and succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005, until his contract expired in 2020. He then was executive chairman until his formal retirement from the company on December 31, 2021. After his exit from the company, Iger continued as an advisor to his successor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucasfilm Animation</span> American animation company

Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. LLC is an American animation studio and subsidiary of Lucasfilm, originally established in 2003. Its first major productions were the feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and its associated television series, both of which debuted in 2008 and Strange Magic, which premiered in 2015. In September 2016, Dave Filoni, known for his contributions to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, accepted a promotion to oversee the development of all future Lucasfilm Animation projects.

The Star Wars sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main Star Wars franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas. It is produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The trilogy consists of episodes VII through IX, chronologically following the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy, serving as the final act of the "Skywalker Saga". Lucas had planned a sequel trilogy as early as 1976, but canceled it by 1981. He produced only the first six episodes, and for a time described these as comprising the complete story. The sequel trilogy concept was revived when the Walt Disney Company entered negotiations to acquire Lucasfilm in 2011. Lucas produced new story treatments, but these were largely discarded. Both the acquisition and plans to produce the trilogy were announced in late 2012.

Indiana Jones is an American media franchise consisting of five films and a prequel television series, along with games, comics, and tie-in novels, that depicts the adventures of Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones Jr., a fictional professor of archaeology.

<i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> 2015 film by J. J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a 2015 American space opera epic film co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983), it is chronologically the seventh film in the "Skywalker Saga". Set thirty years after Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens follows Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Han Solo's search for Luke Skywalker and their fight in the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa and veterans of the Rebel Alliance, against Kylo Ren and the First Order, a successor to the Galactic Empire. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D23 (Disney)</span> Official Disney fan club

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also known as Disney D23 or simply D23, is the official fan club for The Walt Disney Company. Founded in 2009, the organization is known mainly for its biennial exposition event, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The name D23 refers to D for Disney and 23 for 1923, which is the year Walt Disney founded the company.

<i>Star Wars</i>: Galaxys Edge Themed area at Disney parks

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a themed area inspired by the Star Wars franchise in Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It encompasses 14 acres (5.7 ha) at each park, and is set in the village of Black Spire Outpost, on the remote frontier planet of Batuu, featuring attractions, shops, restaurants and entertainment.

<i>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</i> 2023 film directed by James Mangold

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a 2023 American action adventure film directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote it with David Koepp and the writing team of Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. It is the fifth and final installment in the Indiana Jones film series and the sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). It stars Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, and Karen Allen reprising their roles as Indiana Jones, Sallah, and Marion Ravenwood, respectively, while new cast members include Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen. Set in 1969, the film follows Jones and his estranged goddaughter, Helena, who are trying to locate a powerful artifact before Dr. Jürgen Voller, a Nazi-turned-NASA scientist, who plans to use it to alter the outcome of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Chapek</span> American businessman (born 1959)

Robert Alan Chapek is an American businessman and former media executive who was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. He joined Masimo's board of directors in 2024.

References

  1. Cohen, David (June 5, 2014). "Industrial Light & Magic President Brennan Promoted to General Manager of Lucasfilm Exec". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  2. Lev-Ram, Michal (September 10, 2015). "How Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy went from secretary to boss". Fortune . Time. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  3. "Industrial Light & Film". Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Walt Disney Company, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Oct 30, 2012". secdatabase.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  5. "Walt Disney Company, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date May 7, 2013". secdatabase.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Schou, Solvej (December 21, 2012). "Mickey + 'Star Wars' = Disney completes Lucasfilm acquisition". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Lakritz, Talia (January 28, 2020). "14 companies you didn't realize Disney owns". Insider. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  8. Moss, Stuart (2009). The Entertainment Industry. Wallingford, UK: cab international. p. 89. ISBN   9781845935511.
  9. "Business Search - Business Entities – Business Programs – California Secretary of State". businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  10. Thomas, Roy (2015). Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years – Volume 1. Marvel. p. 4. ISBN   9780785191063.
  11. Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (Documentary film). Prometheus Entertainment/Fox Television Studios/Lucasfilm. 2004. 17:30 minutes in.
  12. Digiacomo, Frank (December 2008). "The Han Solo Comedy Hour!". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  13. 1 2 Pollock, Dale (June 1983). "A Man and His Empire: The Private Life of 'Star Wars' Creator George Lucas". Life. pp. 94, 96.
  14. Kaminski, Michael (2008) [2007]. The Secret History of Star Wars. Legacy Books Press. p. 494. ISBN   978-0-9784652-3-0.
  15. "Star Wars, George Lucas & A Disappearing Cello: The Story of THX Cinema Certification". February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  16. Kaminski, Michael (2008) [2007]. The Secret History of Star Wars. Kingston, Ontario: Legacy Books Press. pp. 311–12. ISBN   978-0-9784652-3-0.
  17. "Multiple Divisions Jell In Bid To Become Ultimate Post-Prod Setup". Variety . June 3, 1987. p. 35.
  18. "Lucasfilm forms group; consolidates four units (not pics)". Variety . May 17, 1989. p. 18.
  19. 1 2 3 Weizhen, Tan (January 15, 2014). "PM Lee opens Lucasfilm's Sandcrawler building". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  20. "StarWars.com at Comic-Con 2005". Star Wars: Community. July 12, 2005. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  21. "Lucas on the Star Wars TV Projects". ComingSoon.net. August 2, 2005. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  22. Franich, Darren (March 11, 2013). "Star Wars TV: Clone Wars canceled, Detours postponed". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  23. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars Wins Two Daytime Emmy Awards". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. June 17, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  24. "38th Annie Awards". Annie Awards. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  25. Fischer, Russ (January 17, 2012). "George Lucas Ready to Retire From Blockbuster Filmmaking". /Film . Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  26. Yamato, Jen (January 17, 2012). "George Lucas Promises Retirement (From Blockbusters... Not Counting Indiana Jones 5)". Movie Line. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  27. Richard Verrier and Ben Fritz, "Kathleen Kennedy to helm Lucasfilm as George Lucas phases out" Archived October 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  28. Onishi, Norimitsu (May 21, 2012). "Lucas and Rich Neighbors Agree to Disagree: Part II". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  29. Lev-Ram, Michal (November 1, 2015). "Behind the scenes at Lucasfilm's Skywalker Sound". Fortune. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  30. Kilday, Gregg (September 5, 2012). "Longtime Lucasfilm President and COO Micheline Chau Retiring". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  31. Leonard, David (March 7, 2013). "How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for 'Star Wars'". Bloomberg Businessweek. p. 3. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  32. "Never mind about Star Wars 7. Who is going to be Bob Iger's No. 2?". Jim Hill Media. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  33. Burr, Ty (November 3, 2012). "What to expect when Disney buys 'Star Wars'". The Boston Globe . Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  34. 1 2 "Disney purchases Lucasfilm, announces new Star Wars". 3 News. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  35. "New Star Wars Movies announced as Disney enters agreement to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd". starwars.com. Lucasfilm. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  36. Oldham, Stuart (October 30, 2012). "READ: Disney chief Bob Iger's internal memo to staff: 'Lucasfilm fits perfectly with Disney's strategic priorities'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  37. Smith, Ethan (October 30, 2012). "Mickey, Darth Vader Join Forces in $4.05 Billion Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  38. "Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Financial Report and Shareholder Letter" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company . February 3, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  39. "Walt Disney Confirms J.J. Abrams Will Direct New 'Star Wars'". The Wall Street Journal. January 26, 2013. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  40. Sampson, Mike (October 15, 2015). "There Will Be No Disney Logo Before 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'". ScreenCrush. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  41. Acuna, Kirsten (November 9, 2012). "Here's What Disney CEO Bob Iger Says He Wants To Do With 'Star Wars'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  42. Patten, Dominic (December 4, 2012). "Disney-Lucasfilm Deal Cleared By Feds". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  43. "Business Search – Business Entities – Business Programs – California Secretary of State". businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  44. Masters, Kim (October 30, 2012). "Tangled Rights Could Tie Up Ultimate 'Star Wars' Box Set (Analysis)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  45. "The Walt Disney Company FY 2013 SEC Form 10-K Filing" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company. November 20, 2013. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 27, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2015. Prior to the Company's acquisition, Lucasfilm produced six Star Wars films (Episodes 1 through 6). Lucasfilm retained the rights to consumer products related to all of the films and the rights related to television and electronic distribution formats for all of the films, except for the rights for Episode 4, which are owned by a third-party studio. All of the films are distributed by a third-party studio in the theatrical and home video markets. The theatrical and home video distribution rights for these films revert to Lucasfilm in May 2020 except for Episode 4, for which these distribution rights are retained in perpetuity by the third-party studio.
  46. Kroll, Justin (December 6, 2013). "Disney Takes Over Rights to 'Indiana Jones' Franchise". Variety. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  47. Faughnder, Ryan (December 6, 2013). "Disney acquires control of future 'Indiana Jones' movies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  48. Mazique, Brian (April 8, 2023). "The Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny Trailer Is Viral". Forbes . Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  49. Zakarin, Jordan (February 5, 2013). "It's Official: 'Star Wars' Stand-Alone Films From Lawrence Kasdan, Simon Kinberg in Development". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  50. 1 2 Hughes, Mark (January 7, 2017). "How Disney And Dolby Brought 'Rogue One' To Historic Pantages". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  51. 1 2 McClintock, Pamela (May 3, 2018). "'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Tracking for Record $160M-Plus Memorial Day Bow". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  52. Shaw, Lucas (April 3, 2013). "LucasArts to Cease Making Games, Will Lay Off Most of Staff". The Wrap. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  53. "EA takes helm from LucasArts, will exclusively develop future 'Star Wars' games". The Verge . May 6, 2013. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  54. "We're probably all about EA". The International House of Mojo. May 6, 2013. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  55. Dornbush, Jonathon (January 13, 2021). "How Star Wars Games Can Flourish Now That EA Lost Exclusivity". IGN . Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  56. Ravenscraft, Eric (January 13, 2021). "Lucasfilm Games' New Partnerships Mean the Galaxy's the Limit". Wired . ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  57. Clark, Noelene; Blake Hennon (January 3, 2014). "'Star Wars' comics leaving Dark Horse, returning to Marvel in 2015". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  58. McMillan, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for 'Star Wars' Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2014. While Lucasfilm always strived to keep the stories created for the EU consistent with our film and television content as well as internally consistent, [Franchise creator George Lucas] always made it clear that he was not beholden to the EU,
  59. McNary, Dave (April 17, 2013). "Star Wars Movies Coming in 2015, 2017 and 2019". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  60. Belloni, Matthew (September 20, 2018). "Bob Iger Talks Disney's Streaming Service, 'Roseanne,' James Gunn and a Coming 'Star Wars' "Slowdown"". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  61. Chitwood, Adam (July 12, 2019). "Exclusive: Jon Favreau Says He's Already Writing and Pre-Shooting 'The Mandalorian' Season 2". Collider . Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  62. Moreau, Jordan (November 21, 2023). "Dave Filoni Is Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, Will Be 'Planning the Future' of 'Star Wars' Films and Shows". Variety . Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  63. Bilbao, Richard (September 12, 2018). "Disney to bring Wreck-It Ralph to its virtual reality attractions". Orlando Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  64. "Games". Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on February 5, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  65. Droege, DB (January 4, 2013). "The future of Star Wars comics under Disney". TG Daily. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  66. McMillan, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Disney, Del Rey to Launch New 'Star Wars' Book Line". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  67. DiLeo, Adam (January 7, 2014). "Lucasfilm Ltd. / 7 Jan 2014 Lucasfilm Story Group to Ensure Star Wars Continuity Across All Platforms". IGN. Ziff Daviis. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  68. Siegel, Tatiana (December 9, 2015). "Inside the 'Star Wars' Writers Room: Meet the 5 Architects of the Franchise". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  69. Crabtree, Sheigh (June 12, 2002). "Lucas' THX stakes out new galaxy". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on August 11, 2002. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  70. Hoppel, Adrian (March 20, 2013). "Law & Apple: iFone Defeats iPhone, THX Targets Apple". MacLife . Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  71. Shelby Hill, Steven Gaydos (September 30, 2011). "Accusations fly in Kerner bankruptcy". Variety . Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  72. Macworld Staff (June 20, 2001). "Lucas Learning axes Mac game, exits consumer market". Macworld. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2017.