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I just heard of the news. Apparently, the deal for stocks and cash is worth an estimated $4B, and it will include rights to the Star Wars franchise. From Disney's own press release: Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas. Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments. “Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value.” “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. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.” Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and “evergreen” Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainmenttechnologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations. Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve 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. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future. The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm’s legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world’s top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney’s strategic priorities for continued long-term growth. The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney’s very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney’s portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company’s ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world’s highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders. The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm. Note: Additional information and comments from Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, and Jay Rasulo, senior executive vice president and CFO, The Walt Disney Company, regarding Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, are attached. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=96524 Hmm... first Marvel and now Lucasfilm. Disney is on a roll this year...

The subject was doubtless already approached here, but I find that it is not well enough documented on the web. I've learned some time ago that the version of the "Finale/End Titles" found on the SE ESB CD, is not the movie version. As a matter of fact, this version, the same that was previously issued on the Polydor CD, always was a "montage" of re-recorded versions done specially for the 1980 album. To find the movie version of the "Finale" (It's the movie version or an alternate take I'm not shure), you have to check on the the CD2 of the Anthology Box Set... Unfortunately, this version is (not so well) mixed with the re-recorded "End Titles". So it's an "hybrid" version... And to find the movie version of the "End Title", you have to check on the CD 4 of the Anthology Box Set. Then again, it's an "hybrid" version, because they strangely (certainly by lack of space) mixed it with the Original ROTJ finale... This "End Titles" version was supposely never put on an album before, because of some distortion problems. So, If I'm not wrong, the only way to hear the original movie "montage" of the "Finale/End Titles" is on the DVD or Blu-Ray. It can't be found on an album. Strange destiny for such a legendary piece, no?

Hi, Did anyone manage to make it to the YMF Debut concert last night? Nice to report Maestro looked great and was in top form. No signs of slowing down I’m happy to say. He did make this one tantalizing comment before playing the Star Wars theme: “We’re about to play Star Wars [audience interrupts with cheers] and each time we play it, I’m reminded of the first time we played it decades ago. Neither I, nor George, nor anyone else involved thought this would go far or in a few years there would be a sequel and I’d have to revisit the themes…and years later another trilogy. Now we’re hearing of a new set of movies coming in 2015, 2016…so I need to make sure I’m still ready to go in a few years for what I hope would be continued work with George…[more cheers].” It seems from the comment he made, he has stated interest in scoring the new films (assuming his stamina and health continues (fingers crossed)). And second, he might not realize the new films are not directly controlled by Lucas but now in the hands of JJ Abrams. Do we need to start a letter writing campaign to vocally have JJ Abrams at least give right of first refusal to Williams? I think it might make a nice passing of the “baton” if JW did the first with Giacchino as understudy to boost some of his skills and really take the place as the heir to JW. Something Giacchino seems willing but untrained to do. It is like that whole padawan/master thing in Star Wars. The sold out concert program was: The Cowboys Overture Close Encounters suite Harry Potter Suite * Hedwig's Theme * Nimbus 2000 * Harry's Wondrous World ET "Adventures on Earth" - Intermission - Hollywood Movie Tribute Hook selections * The Face of Pan * Flight to Neverland Violin suites with Bing Wang, soloist * Fiddler on the Roof * Schindler's List Tintin "The Duel" Lincoln "With Malice Toward None" Star Wars Main Title Encores: Elegy for cello and strings Raiders of the Lost Ark Imperial March ~~~~ March 30th, 2013 update: Michael Giacchino says "I'm a huge Star Wars Fan, but one of the things that excites me most about it coming back is the chance to hear new John Williams music, not new Michael Giacchino music based on John Williams music. I'm excited to hear what he would do, so however it shakes out, it would be great." Jump to this point in the thread: click ~~~ April 13th, 2013 update: Michael Giacchino makes similar comments at a Star Trek concert in Switzerland Jump to this point in the thread: click ~~~ April 19th, 2013 update: JJ Abrams says at a Star Trek premiere that John Williams will score Episode 7 Jump to that point in the thread (Includes video a page or two later): click ~~~ May 20th, 2013 update: Kaya Savas interviewed John Williams at BMI Film/TV Awards, and he stated "I certainly plan to, and fully expect I'll be there and to be able to do it." Jump to that point in the thread (includes video!): click ~~~ June 10th, 2013 update: John Williams confirms at Boston concerts that he will be scoring Episode 7 Jump to that point in the thread: click ~~~ July 27th, 2013 update: At Star Wars Celebration VI, the announcement is officially made that John Williams was formally asked to score all 3 new Star Wars films (Episodes 7, 8, and 9). And an official video was uploaded to youtube featuring John talking about working with JJ and Kathleen Kennedy on the new films Jump to that point in the thread: click

Star Wars actor Richard LeParmentier dies aged 66... 35 years after he was choked by Darth Vader http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2310111/Star-Wars-actor-Richard-LeParmentier-dies-aged-66--35-years-choked-Darth-Vader.html Fun facts: He was born in Pittsburgh in 1946, moved to the UK in 1974, and was married to Sarah Douglas (Ursa) from 1981 to 1984. He had a cameo as a reporter in what the article claims as being Superman II. He was also in Octopussy. RIP. Thanks for the iconic scene!

Given the conversion in some of the other threads, I thought I would start a poll asking whether you want JW to score episode VII, whether or not he is asked and/or is interested. Given this website, one might think the answer is obvious. However, given some of the conversation, I am not so sure. So, here it is.

This story has just started circulating: http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/09/28/the-star-wars-saga-in-3d-hits-theaters-starting-in-2012/

Describe the moment between the theater lights dimming and the fanfare blast for you. What was going through your head? I can't imagine what it must have been like. I try to think about what I would be thinking in that moment. Honestly I would probably wonder if the music for the titles would be different. If there would be a title crawl. If the text color would be different for that crawl. If the text might crawl right to left? I mean...at that point, it could have gone in any direction.

Now that I finally got to hear the OST - the score Shore intended for The Hobbit - I feel it was fairly disrespectful to replace much of this masterful and profound production with music pretty much copy and posted from the original LOTR soundtracks. The soundtrack is simply great and I wish it would have been preserved in the film. Then I wonder about The Phantom Menace. We all know how Williams' score was chopped up and butchered for the final act. But what if Lucas had taken a similar route Jackson took and had actually placed familiair music from ESB or ROTJ in TPM instead of Williams' newly written score...? What if Darth Maul's appearance would suddenly be put to The Imperial March, completely ignoring Williams' new material for the scene...? Would that be something like the Nazgul music supporting an important scene involving Thorin in The Hobbit? Well, at least The Hobbit got a proper official release. So which score do you feel got the most disrespect in the editing room...?

Just posted on my blog about what I believe is a bit of Battlestar in The Phantom Menace soundtrack. I was listening to the expanded edition of TPM the other day and came across the part on the track entitled "Anakin Is Free." There is a definite similarity between the two. I've put the two vids on my post but will post here if you want. Not sure if its been noticed before or even if its just me. what do you think? http://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2012/12/does-john-williams-pay-homage-to.html Rob

http://www.slashfilm...85minute-movie/ Sounds very interesting, I'd love to see it

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all