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Disney CEO Bob Iger has told the true account behind Disney ’s leverage ofStar war . Bob Iger took over as Disney CEO in 2005 , and he ’s led the House of Mouse through a period of dramatic ontogenesis and unprecedented winner . He ’s a born optimist , and a innate risk - taker .
Under Iger , Disney has become know for a serial of dramatic purchase . It began with the acquisition of Pixar in 2006 , continued with the Marvel pile in 2010 , on to Lucasfilm in 2012 , and most recently Disney buy the bulk of Fox ’s flick and television receiver conglomerate . In the case of Lucasfilm , the sight ’s had mixed resolution . Iger has accept they pushed theStar Warsfranchise too fast , and the fanbase has become bitingly part . Themovies have now formally been put on an indefinite hiatus , withStar Warsmoving to the small screen for the foreseeable future .
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Bob Iger ’s tell - all biography , The Ride of a Lifetime , shines a unique and unprecedented light behind the scenes . This increasingly tempestuous context makes his reflection all the more challenging - and deserving examining in detail .
How Bob Iger Persuaded George Lucas To Sell Star Wars
ThePixaracquisition in 2006 was the first step in Disney ’s maturation scheme . Walter Elias Disney execs drew up a list of further " learning targets " they believed could help the House of Mouse continue to grow , and two company were at the top of the list ; Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm . Theyinitially prioritise Marvel , in enceinte part because they believed it would be hard to convert George Lucas to relinquish ascendency of hisStar Warslegacy . In 2011 , Steve Jobs - who was in the tardy stages of cancer by then - decided to interfere and encourage Iger to give Lucas a call .
Iger was determined to handle negotiation in as venerating a manner as possible , so he did n’t labour the exit . An chance finally get in in May 2011 , when Disney reopen the Star Tours attractiveness in Disney World and Disneyland after a year long refurbishment . He arrange to have breakfast with Lucas , and enkindle the question to him straight . According to Iger , it went something like this :
" I do n’t want to be fatalist , George , and please stop me if you would rather not have this conversation , but I mean it ’s worth arrange this on the table . What happens down the road ? You do n’t have any heirs who are exit to melt down the companionship for you . They may control it , but they ’re not extend to be given it . Should n’t you determine who protects or carries on your bequest ? "
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Lucas agreed with the literary argument , and he noted that Disney was the only company he ’d consider sell to . It turned out he ’d beentalking to Steve Jobs , who ’d distinguish him all about the manner Disney handled Pixar . But that breakfast turned out to be just the beginning of a prospicient , take in - out physical process . Lucas was indecisive and run afoul about deal his party , and Iger refuse to push him . About seven months by and by , Lucas in the end arranged a lunch with Iger , and agreed to start out discussing the sales event .
George Lucas Over-Estimated The Importance Of Star Wars
There was just one problem ; Lucas wanted what he called " the Pixar muckle . " He believed in theStar Warsfranchise , and initially could n’t see why he should n’t get the same kind of money Disney tender for Pixar ; $ 7.4 billion . But , frankly , he was overestimating the value ofStar Wars . As Iger explains it :
" When we were pursuing Pixar , there were six movie already in varying stages of output , and a universal common sense of when they would be released . That meant they would generate revenue and profit quickly . Pixar also came with a big mathematical group of globe - class locomotive engineer , seasoned directors , artists and writers , and a real production infrastructure . Lucas had many talented employee , particularly on the tech side , but no directors other than George , and no film ontogenesis or product pipeline , as far as we recognize . "
Lucas permit Disney to take a confidential audited account of his company in ordering to forecast its true value . He seems to have taken Iger ’s reception to heart , because accounts from Lucasfilm have suggested thatLucas ' own Sequel Trilogysuddenly bug out up on the radar again ; Lucas himself began to work on scripts , presumably feel these would be a worthful part of the plenty . finally , though , Disney offered $ 4.05 billion , slightly over what they pay for Marvel , and Lucas accord .
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The Hiring of Kathleen Kennedy
The most difficult part of the talks involved figuring outGeorge Lucas ' creative participation with theStar Warsfranchisepost - acquisition . Star Warswas Lucas ' baby , and he cared turbulently about it , but Disney would n’t permit him to remain in charge . For several months , the discussion went back and away ; Lucas say he could n’t just hand over his bequest , Iger asking what the point of the purchase was if Disney could n’t control it . Twice talks broke down , but both party kept coming back to the table . It was an upcoming variety in capital gains laws that seal the hand .
But Lucas still want to pick out his heir apparent , andhe picked Kathleen Kennedy , rent her as manufacturer to melt Lucasfilm . The appointment came as a surprise to Disney , but they understood that Kennedy was an realised filmmaker , with an telling catalogue of films behind her including the like ofE.T.and theJurassic Parkfranchise . Kennedy , in turn , was surprised to learn that she ’d been hired just before the company was sell off , but she settled down cursorily . As Iger reflects , " This was one last way for George to put someone in whom he trusted to be the steward of his bequest . "
The First Star Wars Mistakes
Unfortunately , the relationship between Lucas and Disney became quite a laboured one . Disney had buy Lucas ' Sequel Trilogy scripts as a target of respectfulness , and the contracts had been somewhat clear that they did n’t designate to follow through on them . But Lucas had n’t grasped that , and he thought buying the account treatments was a understood consignment . That conduct to what seems to have been a very hard meeting , in which Kathleen Kennedy , J.J. Abrams , and Michael Arndt pose their plan for the Sequel Trilogy to Lucas . " George immediately stupefy upsetas they start to account the plot , " Iger observes , " and it dawned on him that we were n’t using one of the stories he submit during the dialogue . " Iger is astonishingly heart-to-heart in his book , admitting that he viewshis handling of Lucas as a topic of some ruefulness .
Matters only got worse whenStar Wars : The Force Awakenswas released . Lucasfilm put on a special covering for the humanity behindStar Wars , butLucas walked aside frustrated . " There ’s nothing Modern , " he said . " There were n’t enough visual or expert leaps forward . " Lucas did an interview with Charlie Rose , and he spontaneously talked about his frustrations , going so far as to say he feel like he ’d sold his minor to " white slavers . " He seems to have straight off realize he ’d run low too far , and he fleetly adjoin Iger with an apologia . " I was out of line , " he said . " I should n’t have said it like that . I was trying to explicate how hard it is to permit this thing go . " While Lucas had signed up to a non - disparagement article , that did n’t trouble Iger at all . He understood Lucas as a person , and get that it was hard for him to let go .
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Has Star Wars Been A Success For Disney?
Iger may be candid about his own determination inThe Ride of a Lifetime , but he ’s silent as to whether he weigh Disney’sStar Warsto have been a success . He defendsStar war : The Force Awakensagainst Lucas ' criticism , assert that J.J. Abrams did a self-coloured task . " bet back with the perspective of several old age and a few more Star Wars films , " he note , " I believe J.J. achieved the nearly - impossible , create a perfect bridge between what was and what was to come . " But it ’s interesting to note that the chapter onStar Warsends withThe Force Awakens , and that Iger avoids any word of the last couple of years ' worth of controversy . There ’s no cite ofStar war : The Last Jedi , which was a loge office success but seems to have createdlasting damage to the fanbase , and the disastrousSolo : A Star Wars Storyisn’t discuss either .
What ’s more , there ’s an interesting demarcation between how Bob Iger discusses Lucasfilm and Marvel . With Marvel , he rhapsodizes about their succeeder , and he pile congratulations upon Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feige . With Lucasfilm , while he honour Kennedy for her skills and allegiance , his praise seems much more deliberate and far less burbly . The contrast is even more outstanding when you weigh that the chapter on Marvel moves on to discuss 2018’sBlack Pantherand 2019’sAvengers : Endgame , albeit in a cursory way for the latter . These reference unintentionally do to underline Iger ’s secrecy onStar Warsfilms released after 2015 .
It ’s knockout not to close that , of all Disney ’s acquisitions , Star Warshas been the most unsatisfying for the House of Mouse . Iger has admitted that they made mistakes ; in an interview withThe New York Times , he confessed that " we might ’ve put a slight bittoo much in the marketplacetoo fast . " For all that ’s the case , though , Iger is an expert at restoring a company or franchise ’s chance ; he did that with Disney Animation through Pixar , and there can be no question that he has design to helpStar Warsget back on its feet as well .
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