Disney Is Buying my Childhood

Hello readers, long time no post :( Sorry about that

First the Muppets, then Marvel and now this.  

Disney Acquires Lucasfilm!!!  New Star Wars Movie by 2015.

Here is the official press release.

An exciting new future featuring the continuation of the Star Wars movie saga was announced on October 30, as the Walt Disney Company enters an agreement to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. from George Lucas. Backed by the global reach and brand stewardship strengths of Disney, the future of Star Wars is now under the direction of acclaimed film producer and studio executive Kathleen Kennedy, co-chairman of Lucasfilm. Kennedy and Disney plan a slate of new Star Wars feature films, beginning with the long-awaited Star Wars: Episode VII, targeted for release in 2015, followed by Episodes VIII and IX. Additional feature films are expected to continue the saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

"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. "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 strength gives Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

The acquisition has Lucasfilm and its creative works and operations enter into Disney's global portfolio of world-class brands that include Pixar and Marvel. "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 ability to leverage creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

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. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant.

The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, videogames, animation, visual effects, and audio postproduction. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. The present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

The acquisition has been agreed upon by the board of directors of both companies, and is undergoing customary regulatory review and should be complete in the next few months. For further developments on the continuation of the Star Wars saga, including Episode VII, continue checking StarWars.com.

I've eaten a little crow on this blog in the past so I'm reserving judgement.  Lets just say this Star Wars Geek is cautiously optimistic.

now off to watch the Avengers on Blu-Ray for the 18th time

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU

Geek out forthcoming

AVENGERS OPENS THIS FRIDAY!!!

So excited!!

Super Bowl Nerdgasm

So I was just watching the superbowl...minding my own business when THIS happened

Yeah....Can't wait for this summer..Between this, the Amazing Spider Man and the Dark Knight Rises... I'm going to be one busy Geek.  Finally after this past summer of kind of Meh movie releases, we're going to have a true blockbuster summer.

And on a side note..I think the Mark Ruffalo Hulk looks even better than the Ed Norton Hulk, much more true to the Comic book in my opinion.

*addition

Then early this morning..this happened

Yup...I'm officially Excited for this movie...Garfield is nailing it!!

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU

Why, Toronto Comic-Con, WHY?!?!

Ok...I'm about to go on and on again about something that's got my knickers in a knot so this is a warning to all of you.  .............Hey you're still here...excellent.  Warning #2...this post is picture-heavy. 

Here's my Beef of the Day...Why are the guests at the American Comic-cons so much more awesome than the Toronto Con

Looking at the Twitter feeds of a couple Celebrities I follow that were at the con and looking at the Wizard World website at some of the other Cons south of the border their guest list is somewhat more impressive than Toronto's.  For example the New Orleans Comic-Con that was just this past weekend posted such stars as

Stan Lee (Creater of like every Marvel Character since the early 60s)

James Marsters (Spike from Buffy and Angel)

Lou Ferrigno (TV's Hulk)

William Shatner

Twitter

Kevin Sorbo (TV's Hercules)

Twitter

Diora Baird (yum)

Twitter

Even a personal favourite of mine Josh "The Ponceman" Perry from a great YouTube Series called "The Retarded Police Man".  If you've never seen it, get your butt over to YouTube NOW and search it out.  You will not be disappointed...Comic gold..Oh heck..here's a sample...

Even the Philadelphia one that's coming up has such awesome names as

Bruce Campbell

Twitter

Charisma Carpenter (Buffy and Angel)

Shatner Again!!

Hayden Pannetiere

Kristy Swanson (the first Buffy the Vampire Slayer)












Now Look at the somewhat mediocre list for the Upcoming Toronto Comic Con;

Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap...ok show but really?  kind of meh, and we won't even mention Enterprise)

Jeri Ryan (Good looking, Talented  but Star Trek Voyager was so 10 years ago)
....
Those were the top 2...next is

Amy Acker (Dollhouse, Angel)










A couple of WWE guys who I don't really care about as I'm not a fan of Da Raaslin, then a few other actors from tv shows I don't really watch like the Vampire Diaries and Serenity.  Throw in a smattering of secondary Character Star Wars characters like Peter Mayhew and Jeremy Bulloch and your comic book artists and viola...TORONTO COMIC-CON!

Is it the fear of the Great White North keeping these stars away, perhaps the prohibitive cost of travel and accomodations while here? (Diora, I'm only a short drive from Toronto and I have a BYOBed that you're welcome to any time, my basement is super comfy and has a nice TV, plus my kids are super cute, you'd love them)  Perhaps they don't think they'll have the fans to justify their coming..Hogwash...there were so many people there last year that any of these big stars would be more than busy.  Last year's con had Ray Park, Billy Dee Williams, Julie Benz, few other big names as well.  I want more big stars to start coming...here is my Toronto Comic-Con Bucket List.

William Shatner - Obviously

Mark Hamil - Use your frequent flyer miles Luuuuke

Harrison Ford - I know this one is a 12 parsec long shot but come on!!  Indy and Han...Hell ya!

Felicia Day - Talent, beauty, smarts, funny, and a redhead to boot...aside from my beautiful wife, she IS the perfect woman!

Kevin Smith - I am a true believer that if I had grown up anywhere near this guy that we would be BFF's still to this day...can dudes use the term BFF?

Bruce Campbell - The guy is just pure awesome...

Please come to Toronto...bring your BOOMSTICK

Come on Toronto Wizard World Comic Con organizers.  Get us some Excellent guests this year and maybe, just maybe I'll reconsider skipping this year's Festivities

...end Bitching session

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU