When George Lucas decided to sell Lucasfilm to Disney back in 2012 for over $4 billion, the sale became a landmark moment in cinematic history. While many fans and industry insiders speculated on the reasons, George recently shed light on one of the key factors driving his decision: the unstoppable rise of streaming services.
In an enlightening interview with Brut, George Lucas explained how the burgeoning world of streaming created seismic shifts in the entertainment landscape. Lucas noted, “Streaming is really powerful, and it’s great. It really upped the movie business.” He recognized early on the challenges facing traditional theatrical releases and saw the potential of streaming platforms, specifically mentioning how Netflix’s meteoric ascent helped cement his decision. Lucas admitted, “I don’t know what this is gonna be, there’s gonna be a giant transition in the business… and I sold the company, and I retired.” You can catch the full interview details over at ScreenRant.
Lucas’s sale handed over the reins of the beloved Star Wars universe to Disney, which inevitably came with its own set of growing pains. Lucas revealed that some of his original ideas for the saga “got lost” in the Disney shuffle. However, Disney soon ventured into streaming themselves, launching Disney+ in 2019. This streaming service has since flourished as the new home for Star Wars, rolling out series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka,” and “Andor,” with more exciting projects like “The Acolyte” and “Skeleton Crew” on the horizon.
Despite distress over how his vision was interpreted post-sale, Lucas holds no regret about his decision. Reflecting on the move, he described it as painful but acknowledged it was the right step for both his personal life and Lucasfilm’s future under Disney’s stewardship. The continued expansion of the Star Wars galaxy with upcoming films from creators like Jon Favreau, James Mangold, and Dave Filoni proves this monumental handover continues to thrive.
What’s your take on Disney’s stewardship of Lucasfilm? Do you think Lucas should have stayed involved longer, or was selling the company the best choice for the franchise’s evolution? Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk Star Wars! For more details, you can also check the original story on ScreenRant.
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