Disney announced Tuesday that it has acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion. The company will also bring out the new "Star Wars: Episode 7" movie in 2015.
Lucasfilm Ltd., previously owned by George Lucas, held the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises.
Disney aims to release more Star Wars movies, starting with "Star Wars: Episode 7", which is targeted for a 2015 release. The company has plans to "release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years," said Robert Iger, CEO.
Episode 8 and Episode 9 will follow "probably on a cadence of every other year and then go from there. . . . The (first) film is in early stage development right now," he added.
Kathleen Kennedy, former co-chairman of Lucasfilm and now president, and in charge of the Star Wars franchise, will henceforth report to Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.
"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and chief executive officer of Lucasfilm. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers."
"This is one of the great entertainment properties of all time, one of the best branded and one of the most valuable, and it's just fantastic for us to have the opportunity to both buy it, run it and grow it," said Iger, as reported by USA Today.
Disney also revealed plans for expanding the Star Wars theme parks. It hinted at bringing the Star Wars franchise to TV.
In related news, Lucasfilm is launching its co-branded "Angry Birds Star Wars" game with developer Rovio Nov. 8.