Behind Closed Doors: The Jaw-Dropping Secrets of George Lucas' Ultra-Secret Star Wars Sale

Summary

The sale of Lucasfilm to Disney was shrouded in secrecy by George Lucas, who only entrusted knowledge of the deal to five individuals within Lucasfilm. The unexpected revelation sent shockwaves through the industry and led to the abrupt termination of various ongoing Star Wars endeavors.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars came to an unexpected halt with Disney's takeover, despite initial plans for eight seasons. The cancellation left the cast and crew heartbroken, ultimately resulting in a condensed final season in 2020.

Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, had prior knowledge of the sale due to her earlier involvement with the company. Following George Lucas' retirement, Kennedy was appointed as the company's leader, taking direction from Disney CEO Bob Iger.

George Lucas shocked the world with his sale of Star Wars, but the news was kept tightly under wraps within his own company. On October 30, 2012, Disney officially acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, marking the end of the Lucas era for Star Wars and the beginning of a new generation of storytellers. This acquisition immediately led to the announcement of a sequel trilogy and various spin-off movies. However, the changing of the guard had a ripple effect on the Star Wars projects that were already in development. During a panel at Florida Supercon 2023, actress Ashley Eckstein revealed that only five individuals working for Lucasfilm were aware of Lucas' plans to sell the company.

Following Disney's acquisition of Star Wars, the revelation came as a shock to the entire industry. Surprisingly, only a handful of individuals within Lucasfilm were aware of this monumental deal. The news reverberated throughout the galaxy, leaving the cancellation of the show in its wake. This unforeseen turn of events was never part of our original plan. Prior to the sale, Lucasfilm's employees were simply going about their usual business. The most devastating consequence of Disney taking over the franchise was the abrupt end of the beloved series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Despite originally intending to produce eight full seasons, the cast and crew had to settle for a truncated final run in 2020 following the initial cancellation.

Who Knew That Lucasfilm Was Being Sold To Disney?

The sale of Lucasfilm to Disney was a surprising development for fans and employees alike. Even now-Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who had recently joined the company as vice president, was aware of the plan. After the sale, George Lucas stepped down from his position and appointed Kennedy as the new head of the company, reporting directly to Disney CEO Bob Iger. Only those directly involved in the process were informed of the change.

It is likely that The Clone Wars showrunner Dave Filoni was not fully aware of the extent of the sale. While it is improbable that Lucas would withhold such information from his protégé, revealing the sale would have hindered Filoni's creative process. If Filoni had known about Disney taking over Lucasfilm, plans would have been made to conclude The Clone Wars in a more natural manner, avoiding its abrupt cancellation. While the Disney Star Wars era has had mixed results, Filoni's animation division has continued to thrive.

Source: The Popverse