It was way back in 2012 that Disney announced it had acquired Lucasfilm for a whopping $4 billion. That saw the House of Mouse get its hands on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, and the studio has since done an impressive job of monetizing the former.
Star Wars is now a major part of Disney's theme parks and we've had five movies and countless TV shows, almost all of which have performed well (be it at the box office or in terms of increasing Disney+'s subscriber count).
Crucially, each of them has generated massive merchandise sales!
In a presentation which has now been made public by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission website, it's been confirmed that Disney has made $12 billion from the Star Wars franchise over the past 12 years. So, Disney has made back its $4 billion and then some.
Looking to the future, there are lots of other potentially very profitable Star Wars projects on the horizon. While Disney seems to be putting less of a focus on streaming, The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew are heading our way this year and several movies are in the works, including The Mandalorian & Grogu and a Daisy Ridley-led Rey project.
"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," Bob Iger said of the acquisition way back in 2012. "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 creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."
Star Wars creator and former Lucasfilm CEO, George Lucas, also shared a statement at the time. He'd initially been led to believe that the new Star Wars sequel trilogy would be based on his outlines; ultimately, the decision was made to head down a different route.
"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," he said. "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," Lucas continued. "Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."
Have you enjoyed the Disney-owned Star Wars era?