The Star Wars franchise has been a cultural phenomenon since its inception in 1977. It has spawned countless sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise that have become an integral part of popular culture.
However, the ownership of Star Wars has undergone significant changes over the years. One such change was the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney in 2012. The question that arises is whether Star Wars is a Disney movie or not.
What happened when Disney acquired Lucasfilm?
In October 2012, The Walt Disney Company announced that it had acquired Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind the Star Wars franchise, for $4.05 billion. This meant that all rights and ownership of Star Wars now belonged to Disney.
Does this make Star Wars a Disney movie?
The answer to this question depends on how one defines a “Disney movie.” If we consider a Disney movie to be one that is produced by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures or any of its subsidiaries, then technically, only the movies released after the acquisition would qualify as Disney movies.
The first “Disney” Star Wars movie
The first Star Wars film released after the acquisition was “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in 2015. This was produced by Lucasfilm Ltd., Bad Robot Productions, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. So while it was not entirely produced by Disney, it can be considered as a collaboration between Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Other “Disney” Star Wars movies
Since then, several other films in the franchise have been released under the banner of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. These include “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Therefore, these movies can be considered as Disney movies.
What about the earlier Star Wars films?
The films released before the acquisition, including the original trilogy and prequel trilogy, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox. However, after the acquisition, the rights to these movies also transferred to Disney. Therefore, while they were not produced by Disney, they are now owned by Disney.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while not all Star Wars movies can be considered as “Disney” movies in terms of production, all of them are now owned by Disney. The franchise has become an integral part of the Walt Disney Company’s portfolio and will continue to be so for years to come.
