And it definitely has a possible impact on this game since there's a 2+ year planned release arc for the products…

It seems the rat is acquiring LFL.

-WJL

“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."

Ep 7 slated for 2015. 

I can only see this as a good thing (for the films). After Ep1-3, it's only up from here.

At first - I didn't know how to feel about this.  It's DISNEY, for yoda's sake.

BUT… they did acquire both Pixar and Marvel in recent years.  And they've held the IP torches of those companies very high - and been very successful with them. 

Maybe this ain't such a bad thing.  And… oh yeah - EPISODE 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GM Chris said:

This. I was extremely worried when Marvel was acquired by Disney, but the big D has let Marvel do some REALLY phenomenal stuff! Here's hoping SW gets the same treatment.

Does this mean FFG can revise the contract to get PDF rights?

-EF

Now we're back to where Star Wars was in the 80s… no GL directing or writing scripts (alone)… this might actually be mediocre stuff, I LIKE IT!

 Interesting.

 I was actually just down in Disney last week… 

.. if the Star Wars ride is any indication of how they'll do with the movies, I'm happy.  :)

I hope Disney will release restored original version of the original trilogy. Let Han shoot first again!

Curious what impact this will have on FFG though. Probably none, other than giving them more material to tap into. Hopefully when the license is up, FFG can renew it and make even more cool games. I can't think of a game company that I'd rather see holding the Star Wars license.

Apologies for the double post

Venthrac said:

Umm Han was the only one who shot. Just saying.

EngageEight said:

Yep, very glad I got dvd copies of the theatrical releases - which they aren't but at least they're pre-1997 mess up. But its nice to see old school fxs and only models, no modern (even 90s) cgi.

Venthrac said:

As nice as it might seem, I wouldn't get your hopes up.  Other than a lack of direct Lucas involvement, I get a feeling that Disney is going to take a similar approach to how they handled things when they purchased Pixar and Marvel.  In short, let them keeping doing what they are doing, so long as it's successful.  It's an approach that worked pretty darn well in regards to Pixar, and Avengers has pretty much become the measuring stick for successful superhero action movie (I'd contend that Dark Knight is less a superhero movie and more of a character-driven psuedo-noir piece).

Since the Blu-Rays are the "definitive vision" of the property's creator, I doubt Disney is going to release the theatrical versions.  Heck, there may even be a clause in the purchase contract that prohibits going back and undoing the changes.

I also doubt there's going to be any short-term changes for FFG, as the details of their contract with Lucasfilm were set and signed off on for well over a year now.  Maybe some things might change when it comes time to renew/renegotiate the contract, but that's likely to be several years off in the distance.

Initial thoughts:

What will an Episode 7 do to EU? I'm not an EU fan myself and so hope Ep 7's plot isn't restrained by the EU. But for those who do love the EU, this could throw things all into chaos.

I don't think Disney + Star Wars is necessarily a bad thing. I don't think Disney is so stupid to have a plot such as Young Princess Skywalker and the 7 Ewoks. I don't think it will be G Star Wars, hopefully PG-13.

What does this do for FFG? Good or bad? PDF's will become available? Did someone at FFG already have an inkling this was coming? The 2015 could fit nicely into FFG's schedule, for example. Three Core books released around the settings of Ep 4-6 in time for new releases for Ep. 7.

 There is, I believe, an official Marvel branded superhero roleplaying game out there at the moment, so it would seem Disney owned companies are not impossible for RPG makers to work with.

Er, Marvel are a Disney owned company these days aren't they?

 I see some remakes.  IMO, they'll get all new casts and start at Epsiode IV.  You can't make any movies with the old cast.  Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher very much look their ages, so you'd have to set Episode VII waaaaaay out past the Vong Invasion and I am not so sure that would work.  Not to mention the fact that I am pretty sure at this stage in their lives stuffing Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker back into their costumes would be really hard on them physically.  Also, new actors cost less.  Episodes I, II and III have been rendered radioactive so I doubt they'll be touched.

You know what would be intriguing though?  A brand new story, with brand new characters.  Set anywhere, anytime, free of the baggage of expectations and entitled fans.  Just take it and run with it.  I bet they haven't the stones for it though.  Sad really.

 I'd actually be fairly happy if they got in J.J. Abrams to do to Star Wars what he did to Star Trek. That movie was a lot of fun. About the only things I didn't like were the links to the old continuity and the, er, plot.