May The Mouse Be With You or To Disney And Beyond

Disney has purchased Lucasfilm for over $4 billion.  There was a time Lucas thought he'd be making edgy, independent films, but I guess there are other things in life.  Or is he finally going to start that phase of his life?

This is a huge deal because it means they're going to take Star Wars out of carbonite and get it going again.  In fact, Star Wars VII will be out in 2015.  Star Wars is, of course, as lucrative a film franchise as exists, but the last three, while huge moneymakers, haven't exactly burnished the brand.  Still, I'm an optimist.  You've got a whole galaxy to work with, and a willing audience. (Well, willing enough--I mean no matter what the film will make more than John Carter.)

What I hope (but probably won't happen) is they'll move the story into the future--the era of the final trilogy that Lucas used to talk about but never really planned to make.  It's after the rebels have defeated the empire ("hey, they just blew up the latest Death Star along with the Emperor, we've still got millions of ships and people" "Nope, they won, it's over") and have to deal with new problems.  Much better than the past, where we know how things have to turn out--that was one of the drags on I, II and III.

I wouldn't mind completely new characters taking over.  On the other hand, I wonder if they can pull a Star Trek and use the characters we know and love--Luke, Han, Leia--and have them played by new actors.

Whatever they do, the key is still story (and not special effects, George).  Hey, Pixar is part of the Disney world.  Have them work on it.  Just no Buzz Lightyear.