He might have angered fans by selling the Force to Disney, but according to a spokesperson George Lucas has philanthropic thoughts. The Hollywood Reporter writes that George Lucas will donate the Disney deal billions, a whopping $4.05 billion.
Earlier this week, Star Wars fans saw their world crumble as George Lucas sold his company LucasFilm to Disney. The new owner of the Star Wars series has already announced a new movie for 2015 and everybody is wondering who will be the actors to play Han, Leia and Luke. In the meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter writes that George Lucas is planning to donate the money from the deal.
“George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors” a spokesperson for the filmmaker told The Hollywood Reporter.
The filmmaker himself hinted that some of the Disney deal money will be donated. “For 41 years, the majority of my time and money has been put into the company” George Lucas said earlier this week. “As I start a new chapter in my life, it is gratifying that I have the opportunity to devote more time and resources to philanthropy” he added.
George Lucas will get $2 billion in cash and about 40 million shares of Disney stock, according to the deal’s terms. Most of that money is estimated to be donated to the foundations George Lucas himself founded, such as Edutopia and the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Perhaps donating the money will get criticism to stop. Fans’ comments about selling the Force to Disney were numerous, diverse and some of them very blunt. The concern is that Disney’s vision is going to ruin the whole story, whereas other fans argue Star Wars ended where it was supposed to. Any additional episodes would again hurt the story.
But, the news there will be a Star Wars 7, 8 and 9 has a lot of people thrilled. Obviously, we’re talking George Lucas, Disney, producers and actors who have the chance to play as Han, Leia and Luke. A new report about Star Wars 7, via NBC, suggests that the new movie will be “nothing you’ve ever seen or read before from the Star Wars universe”.
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, Luke and Leia of the original films, knew about the new Star Wars trilogy months ago. “Last August, he asked Carrie and I to have lunch with him… So when he said, ‘We decided we’re going to do Episodes VII, VIII, and IX,’ I was just gobsmacked. ‘What? Are you nuts?!’” Mark Hamill said.
