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Lucasfilm is domicile to some of the biggest film property in the industry and has been a ethnical criterion for more than four decades , but there ’s still some confusion about how the studio apartment operates and its spot within the Disney empire . Even those who fervently follow every update about the variousStar Warsprojects in development have motion about the prominent machine and all its travel function .
George Lucas , who establish Lucasfilm right smart back in 1971 , helped shepherd a new era for Hollywood with his productions , nurse gazillion around the universe with his escapist phantasy stories . In the years since , Lucasfilm has only go forward to grow and is now in the business of producing yearly tentpoles similar to whatfellow Disney underling Marveldoes with their own cinematic universe . With everything happen at the studio , it ’s hard to keep racetrack of it all , but that ’s where we come in to aid . Allow us to explicate how Lucasfilm work .
Lucasfilm Before and After Disney (This Page)
Page 2: Lucasfilm Film Rights & The Story Group
Page 3:Lucasfilm Power Structure & Filmmaking Process
Lucasfilm Before Disney
The irony in Lucas eventually sell his baby to the Mouse House , of course , is that he was once a maverick movie maker look to buck the traditional system . He was fiercely protective of his whole caboodle and wanted ( for better or unfit ) to conserve creative control over them . This is what prompted him to mould Lucasfilm as an independent studio , meaning for every labor he need to develop , Lucas needed to happen a co - financier and/or distributor . That was n’t always easy to do , as evidenced by the difficultness he extend through gettingAmerican Graffitioff the ground . Several studio decease on the come - of - years tale before Lucas and Gary Kurtz hold up to Universal , who cede Lucas final cut . Graffitireceived far-flung critical acclaimand was profitable for Universal .
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studio refuse Lucas only to regret their decisions in retrospect was something of a custom during Lucasfilm ’s pre - Disney geological era . Universal turned downStar Wars(feeling the concept was somewhat strange ) , which paved the way for twentieth Century Fox to take a stakes on Lucas ' space opera . Even after the record - shattering success of the galaxy far , far aside , executive remain cautious of going into business with the filmmaker . Every major studio apartment in Hollywood infamously passed onRaiders of the fall behind Ark(citing budget concern ) before Paramount eventually accepted . Much likeStar Wars , Raiderslaunched a wildly popular film serial that still resonates to this twenty-four hour period .
Lucasfilm continue making picture show into the early twenty-first C ( most notably with theStar Warsprequels and a fourthIndiana Jonesinstallment ) , but their output essentially came to a halt after that wave of films . Their last pre - Disney film wasRed Tails , which was let go four years afterKingdom of the Crystal Skull . WithLucas looking towards retirement , he made one final decision that would change the entertainment industry forever .
How The Disney Deal Changed Lucasfilm
Possible discussions about Lucasfilm merging with Disney first took place between Lucas and Bob Iger in 2011 , but it was n’t untilOctober 2012 that a deal was formally announced . The Mouse House acquired Lucasfilm for the grand totality of $ 4 billion ( the same toll they pay for Marvel back in 2009 ) and immediately announced that newStar Warsfilms would enter growth . The term of the placement run across Disney gain ownership ofStar Wars , Indiana Jones(a 5th movie is planned for 2020 ) , and various other branch of Lucasfilm . This includes the invigoration section ( which produces shew likeRebels ) , consumer products , Industrial Light & Magic , and Skywalker Sound ( among others ) .
Related:How Lucasfilm Changed When George Lucas Left
Lucasfilm now operates as a subsidiary of Disney , and the last few years have see theStar Warsfranchise reach Modern high . In addition to a drawing string of highly - successful films ( which have mix to gross $ 4 billion at the worldwide box position ) , the beetleweed far , far away has a bearing across various mediums , admit television , novels , funnies , and video recording games . Disney also has plansto launch the Galaxy ’s Edge theme parkat their Florida and California locations in 2019.Star Warshas always been omnipresent in tonic culture , but many would consider this to be the Golden Age for the enfranchisement , and there ’s no singing where it ’d be right now if Disney never made the muckle . Under the Mouse House umbrella , Lucasfilm functions similar to fellow foot soldier Marvel Studios and Pixar , having the freedom to do what they need with limited ( if any ) interference .
Disney Doesn’t Have All of Lucasfilm Film Rights (Yet)
Star Wars & Indiana Jones Film Rights Under Disney
While everything in these two franchise released post - merger is without doubt Disney , things get a little muddy in regard to the picture that came before . ForStar Wars , 20th Century Fox ( distributor of the first six episode ) maintains their rights onThe Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi , and the prequel trilogy until May 2020 . They ’ll ownA New Hopein sempiternity since they were partners with Lucas on its production . Of course , this could all modify if Disney ’s imminent attainment of Fox is approved by Union regulators , but for now there ’s a clean-cut division .
Related:How Would A Disney/Fox Deal Impact Star Wars?
In the case ofIndiana Jones , Disney reached an agreement with Paramount ( the studio apartment behind the first four adventures ) in December 2013 to get the trade name ’s distribution and marketing right . Paramount maintains the rights forRaiders of the Lost Ark , Temple of Doom , Last Crusade , andKingdom of the Crystal Skull , while also receiving"financial participation"whenever a unexampled film starring Dr. Jones is made . This could partially explain why Lucasfilm has prioritizedStar Warsover their other Johnny Cash moo-cow . Besides the plethora of stories available to be told in the extragalactic nebula , Disney would n’t have to divvy up money with another studio .
The Role of the Lucasfilm Story Group
One of the more controversial actions in the earliest days of Lucasfilm ’s Disney epoch was the determination torebrand a absolute majority of antecedently - published works as " Legends . “The only survivors of the purge were the six movies , theClone Warsanimated video series and motion picture , and the Darth Maul comic arcSon of Dathomir(which was based on unusedClone Warsscripts ) . This upset many fans who followed the expand Universe , but it was necessary to wipe the ticket light , giving creatives the necessary leeway to craft their narratives . set out in 2014 ( with the bookA New Dawn ) , all of theStar Warsfilms , novel , comics , and even TV games would be part of a rum , cohesive canyon . It ’s the account radical ’s job to maintain the canon and collaborate with directors , authors , and writer .
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The story radical estimation stem from Kathleen Kennedy and Kiri Hart ( the grouping ’s developmental lead ) and presently consist of 11 member . Despite how it look on - newspaper , their objective is not to dictate the instruction of the franchise and force floor beats on the like of J.J. Abrams , Rian Johnson , and others . Lucasfilm grants the creative squad behind each project freedom to order theStar Warsstories they desire to enjoin , with the story mathematical group dissemble more as a sounding board to ensure there are no clamant contradictions with early materials ( i.e. someone ca n’t pen a book coiffure afterForce Awakenswhere Han Solo is alive ) . Lucasfilm is n’t immune to modest skid - ups , but it ’s great they have multiple set of heart overseeing everything that comes out .
Page 3:How Lucasfilm Makes a Movie
Lucasfilm’s Power Structure
When Lucas sold the caller , Kathleen Kennedy became Lucasfilm ’s president andStar Warsbrand manager . Kennedy is one of the most realised producers in Hollywood chronicle , best known for her whole works alongside Steven Spielberg . Several of Kennedy ’s pic are critically - acclaimed box office hits , which made her the idealistic choice . Lucas was so confident in Kennedy ’s qualifications , he handpicked her himself to ply Lucasfilm . Kennedy report to Disney Chairman Alan Horn , though as producer of all the newStar Warsmovies , she wee the calls in that realm - including the tough ones ( Lord & Miller ) .
Related:Lucasfilm Planning Next 10 Years of Star Wars
However , Kennedy is not the only person in a position of ability at the studio . Most notably , Dave Filoni was promoted in 2016 to manage Lucasfilm Animation and is the creative force behind the likes ofClone Wars , Rebels , Forces of Destiny , and eventuallyResistance . to boot , the aforementioned Kiri Hart suffice as Vice President of Development and is track of the story group . She ’s so involved withStar Warsprojects , she was a producer onRebelsand conscientious objector - producedRogue Onewith Kennedy . While Lucasfilm does guide things mostly autonomously , they will run for some things by Disney ( like killing Han Solo ) before strike ahead .
How Lucasfilm Makes Movies
Lucasfilm wasted no time in confirming plans for a bevy of new film after the Disney accomplishment . In addition to the long - look sequel trilogy put in the Skywalker saga , the studio announced they require to further amplify their cinematic creation with spinoff anthology films that recite dissimilar tale . Prior to the sale , George Lucas had actually spend a class developing a handling for more pic , but Lucasfilm later toss out his estimation to go off in a unlike commission . To be clean , they did keep some of Lucas ' concepts , but there were some notable differences .
Related:Everything We Know About George Lucas' Sequel Trilogy
When working on a plastic film , the studio ’s first order of business sector seems to be hiring a director and/or writer ( sometimes they ’re one and the same ) . WhileKennedy earn an notorious reputationfor public split with Phil Lord & Chris Miller and Colin Trevorrow in 2017 , she is uncoerced to ( mostly ) give the filmmakers creative mastery . Rian Johnson express several time in the make - up toThe Last Jedithere was no mapped out arc for the continuation trilogy , and all he had to do was followThe Force Awakenshow he ascertain fit . Lucasfilm has various departments that cover the pre - production responsibilities , create costume , airscrew , and hardening for the movies . Initially , Kennedy prove to give young parvenu a fortune at playing in theStar Warssandbox , but legion failures has led herto lean more on build handsfor the time being .
Since each movie present new characters to the traditional knowledge , there ’s always extensive searches for talent to fulfill the needed roles . In classicStar Warsfashion , newcomers are frequently picked for headliner , but the studio is n’t against wreak in well - known names . For instance , Solo’sensemble admit A - listers like Woody Harrelson , Emilia Clarke , and Donald Glover . As evidenced bythe 2,500 actor who try out for untested Han Solo , Lucasfilm does n’t take casting responsibilities lightly and always looks for the best selection for the part .
Obviously , the three episodes of the subsequence trilogy are all part of the same narrative , but there ’s no requirement for the spinoffs to be overtly tied to the saga motion picture . There are of course references and Easter eggs to be found , butStar Warsis unlike from Marvel in the sense that it does n’t all have to be connected . That have the anthologies appeal for filmmakers , since they can come in and do something unequalled that is n’t burdened by four decades of storytelling .
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Lucasfilm has change considerably over its days of existence , and while Kennedy receive some growing bother during her tenure , she seems to haveStar Warsin a place where it can thrive for years to come . The raw movies continuously run down in box office hard currency and score positive review , meaning demand for more projects is high . Star Warsis one of the most dominant franchise in the industriousness for a reason , and it should stay that way .
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