Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. • Hacker News Board

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#141

Post by tptacek » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:55 PM UTC

code_duck wrote: post #133

tptacek wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(a) Neither does Disney, (b) Google controls the Internet, which is scarier.

"Google controls the Internet"? I use a lot of non-Google owned web sites and services. Can you support this assertion?

Most users of the Internet are dependent on Google to find anything on the Internet.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#142

Post by MartinCron » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:56 PM UTC

eropple wrote: post #81

demione wrote: post #31

Wonder if they'll get a seasoned director for Star Wars 7, or if they'll go with a controllable newcomer like Sony did with Amazing Spider Man.

Joss Whedon has been known to take home from the Disney offices large sacks with big green dollar signs printed upon them.

I'm afraid to even let myself think that.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#143

Post by malandrew » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:57 PM UTC

macspoofing wrote: post #127

2mur wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope they are doing the Thrawn trilogy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrawn_trilogy

I have a feeling they will completely ignore the expanded universe.

I've been really disappointed that the expanded universe hasn't been explored more. There is so much more to Star Wars than just the stories surrounding Luke and Anakin as the protagonist.

I have fond memories of reading some of the expanded universe books as a kid and I'm disappointed that none of them have gotten attention as potential future movies.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#144

Post by lukejduncan » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:57 PM UTC

evolve2k wrote: post #106

tptacek wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Marvel, Pixar, LucasArts, ABC, ESPN, A+E, Disney Channel, and associated merchandising. I'm not sure how much "control" over our "public dialog" this really implies. I'm the parent of two very normal middle aged children and, while they're certainly exposed to some of this IP, I'd contest that it has much "influence" over them. Google has much more control over our public dialog than Disney does.

I was personally deeply shocked recently, when I sat with my children as they were watching the animated Iron Man series at their grandpas house. This was on Sunday morning TV. The episode was about other 'bad' characters stealing Iron Mans suit. I was alarmed when the dialog turned explicitly to talk of Patents and how evil it was that they were infringing Iron Mans designs. As I continued to watch it dawned on me t…

I think it's a fair observation and comment. Not sure why you're getting hated on so much.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#145

Post by MartinCron » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:58 PM UTC

leeskye wrote: post #128

brudgers wrote: post #67

For those fretting the future, it will be hard for Disney to fuck up the franchise more than Lucas did with The Phantom Menace. http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episo...

Hope they chose an awesome director for episode 7: http://www.businessinsider.com/five-directors-disney-should-...

That's a great list. Although I think that Brad Bird would be a natural choice as well.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#146

Post by stevewilhelm » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 9:59 PM UTC

A Donald and Howard buddy flick can now be finally realized. Well worth four billion ducks.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#147

Post by sev » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 10:00 PM UTC

bconway wrote: post #139

brc wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently visited the Disney Hollywood Studios in Florida. There they have a Indiana Jones live action show as well as a Star Wars exhibit of some kind, I saw little kids dressed in Padawan outfits and getting to fight Darth Vader with a lightsaber (yes, looked pretty cool). I was surprised at seeing Lucasfilm licensing these valuable properties to Disney for use in a theme park. I guess the two companies have been…

The "Star Tours" ride has existed since the late 80s when the section of the Florida park was called MGM Studios (and also existed at Disneyland). Interesting history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Tours

Star Tours still exists at Disneyland, and was recently remodeled.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#148

Post by philwelch » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 10:01 PM UTC

potatolicious wrote: post #47

mchanson wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't know there was an episode 7 in the works...

Supposedly Lucas himself at one time thought about eps 7-9 as another trilogy. There is also the extended universe (which has traditionally been recognized as canon) that is quite clear about what happened after Return of the Jedi, so there's plenty of material, assuming they don't toss away the entirety of the extended universe...

Lucasfilm is actually pretty cavalier about the extended universe. I went back to read some of those books after some of the prequels came out, and quickly learned two things. First, those books are, for the most part, terrible. Second, the EU actually established a backstory about the Death Star that was totally ignored when Lucas went to write his own backstory.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#149

Post by gwern » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

jwarzech wrote: post #72

brudgers wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Star Wars has long been envisioned as three trilogies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sequel_trilogy Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd. Please don't get me started on Star Trek.

Wasn't the lore of Lucas having the entire series 'practically written/envisioned' debunked after people saw how the 'new' trilogy turned out? (ex. metachlorian)

Yes. I recommend _The Secret History of Star Wars_ - as a longtime EU fanatic, I was shocked how many pieces fell into place reading it.

(Incidentally, the narrative of _The Secret History_ means that this sale is particularly interesting; we can see the sale as the definitive death of Lucas's youthful dream of a paradise for indie filmmakers like he was, who were going to revolutionize the staid Hollywood establishment of bloated corporate giants like Disney, the dream which motivated him to produce sequels to the standalone movie _Star Wars_ as cash cows.)

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#150

Post by malandrew » Tue, Oct 30, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

Steko wrote: post #117

joshAg wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That series would seem to have the highest probability of happening, but I hope they move away from numerical episode numbering and toward just movie Titles like "Star Wars Heir to the Empire" because titles like "Star Wars Episode 6.625 Wraith Squadron" are just silly.

I look forward to Plinkett's evisceration of the Thrawn trilogy's mothball fleet of 200 dreadnoughts all slaved to one ship that can be effectively operated by a skeleton crew. Sadly the best Star Wars books I know are Brian Daley's Han Solo Trilogy and the X-Wing books by Michael Stackpole. Both are light on Jedis and not likely to get made into films.

I know that the Hero with a 1000 Faces heavily influenced the first Trilogy, but I think some of the light on Jedi story lines have a lot to offer as well since they doesn't put so much focus on hero heavy mythology and can give more attention to the flaws of men (and women) (human, droid or otherwise) as the basis of a story. These stories have the potential to explore themes like those in Bladerunner, Alien(s), etc.