George Lucas, the founder of Lucasfilm and creator ofStar Wars.
The Original Trilogy[]
Lucasfilm was founded as an independent production company byGeorge Lucas in1971 to maintain creative control over his films following his fraught experiences with Hollywood studios while producingTHX 1138. The company's first production wasAmerican Graffiti, which was distributed byUniversal Pictures and grossed US$55 million in rentals.[2][3]
During the production ofStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope, Lucasfilm established a special effects shop nearVan Nuys Airport inLos Angeles, which later became the Lucasfilm subsidiaryIndustrial Light & Magic (ILM).[3] The first Star Wars film was released onMay 25, 1977 and became a box office success, grossing US$307,263,857.[4][5] In addition, Lucasfilm entered into merchandising agreements with several companies, includingKenner Products, Image Factory, andMarvel Comics for Star Wars-related clothes, posters, toys, buttons, decals, and comics.[3] Using the money trickling from Lucasfilm's merchandising, Lucas established an office at aLankershim Boulevard property called called "The Egg Company", with the help of the company's first CEO Charlie Weber.[2][3]
20th Century Fox was the original copyright owner ofA New Hope[6] and the merchandising rights were split between them and Lucas 60/40. Lucasfilm gained all theStar Wars IP and licensing rights held by Fox, excludingA New Hope's copyright, onSeptember 1,1981.[7][8][9][10][11]A New Hope's copyright was eventually transferred to Lucasfilm onJanuary 18,1997.[12][13]
In late 1977, Lucas established a subsidiary called "The Chapter II Company" to oversee production and funding ofStar Wars: Episode VThe Empire Strikes Back. In addition, Lucas relocated ILM from Los Angeles toSan Francisco. Lucas later purchased a ranch inMarin County near San Francisco which becameSkywalker Ranch. While working onThe Empire Strikes Back, Lucasfilm also produced a Star Wars spinoff film calledThe Star Wars Holiday Special, which was distributed byCBS onNovember 17,1978.The Empire Strikes Back was released onMay 21,1980, becoming a box office success and grossing nearly US$210 million during its first run.[3]
Charlie Weber also served as the first CEO of Lucasfilm but left following the release ofThe Empire Strikes Back due to differences with Lucas. While Lucas wanted to focus on building Skywalker Ranch, makingStar Wars: Episode VIReturn of the Jedi, and creating a filmmaker's community, Weber wanted Lucasfilm to diversify into other businesses. Lucas dismissed Weber and promotedRobert Greber as Lucasfilm's new CEO. Following the release ofThe Empire Strikes Back, Lucasfilm closed down The Egg Company and relocated all its operations to Skywalker Ranch.[3]
Lucasfilm produced the third Star Wars filmReturn of the Jedi, which was released onMay 25,1983 and grossed US$250 million by the end of the year. BesidesReturn of the Jedi, Lucasfilm also producedRaiders of the Lost Ark and (1981) andIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), which were distributed byParamount Studios and also performed well at the box office.[3]
Expansion and diversification[]
Members of the Industrial Light & Magic team with an AT-ST walker model
During the 1980s, Lucas also opened ILM to producing special effects for non–Lucasfilm projects. The first of these non–Lucasfilm projects was the joint Paramount–Disney 1981 filmDragonslayer. Other notable films that ILM worked on includedStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,The Abyss (1989),Terminator, andJurassic Park. ILM became the preeminent special effects shop, winning theAcademy Awards for Best Visual Effects thirteen times.[3]
Using Star Wars merchandising revenue, Lucas continue to expand Skywalker Ranch. He envisioned Lucasfilm as a "one-stop, full service" company for other filmmakers. These services included providing writing retreats for screenwriters, editing equipment to film editors, and special effects services via ILM. During the 1980s, Lucas also invested in another Lucasfilm start-up calledTHX, which focused on improving cinema theatres' sound quality using Lucas'THX sound system.[3]
Lucas also established a computer game division at Lucasfilm and with the help ofEdwin Catmull recruitedPeter Langston to head that division. TheLucasfilm Games Group (which later becameLucasArts) cut a deal with the video game companyAtri to produce two non-Star Wars games calledBallblazer (1984) andRescue on Fractalus!. After Atari encountered financial troubles, Lucasfilm entered into an agreement with video game publisherEpyx to produce two games in 1985. In February 1986, Lucas sold Lucasfilm's computer graphics group and their Pixar computer toApple co-founderSteve Jobs, who turned the division into a profitable animated film studio calledPixar.[3]
Besides cinematic films, Lucasfilm also worked with Disney to developed a Star Wars–themed simulated ride at their Disney parks calledStar Tours and a 3-D movie featuring popstarMichael Jackson calledCaptain EO. During the 1990s, Lucas also worked withApple Inc.,National Geographic, theSmithsonian Institution, and theNational Audubon Society to produce several educational media includingGTV: A Geographic Perspective on American History,Life Story: The Race for the Double Helix, andMystery of the Disappearing Ducks.[3]
During the 1990s, Lucas expanded Skywalker Ranch to nearly 5,000 acres to accommodate more office space at the adjacent Big Rock Ranch. However, Lucasfilm was unable to relocate ILM fromSan Rafael due to opposition fromMarin County residents.[3]Hal Barwood also joined LucasArts in 1990. Under Barwood's leadership, the subsidiary produced several computer games includingIndiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis,Monkey Island, andGrim Fandango.[2]
The Expanded Universe[]
Lucas allowed various authors and creators to produced licensed Star Wars works including Timothy Zahn'sHeir to the Empire.
Following the release ofThe Return of the Jedi, Lucasfilm worked on several Star Wars– television productions including the 1984 television movieCaravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, the 1985 sequel filmEwoks: The Battle for Endor, and the cartoon seriesStar Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO andEwoks, which were distributed byABC Television. Produced byNelvana animation studio,Droids andEwoks were intended to generate a toy merchandising line. However, the two animated series did not perform well commercially withEwoks being canceled after two seasons andDroids after one season.[3]
In May 1987, Lucasfilm hosted the first Star Wars convention at a hotel near Los Angeles, which attracted 10,000 events. Lucas himself attended the event, accompanied by the Star Wars charactersR2-D2 andC-3PO andStar Trek creatorGene Roddenberry.[2] That same year, Lucasfilm launched a fan magazine called theLucasfilm Fan Club magazine.[3] In October 1987, Lucasfilm also licensed Star Wars role playing games to the start-upWest End Games, which helped expanded theStar Wars Expanded Universe by creating new alien species, ships, weapons, and droids. Until 1990, West End Games' Star Wars role playing games were the only Star Wars stories being produced.[2]
In 1988,Lou Aronica, the-then head of mass market publishing atBantam Books convinced Lucas and Lucas Licensing Vice President Howard Roffman to license a series of Star Wars novels set following the events ofReturn of the Jedi. The first of these novels wasTimothy Zahn'sHeir to the Empire (1991), which became a bestseller and spawnedtwosequels. The successfulThrawn Trilogy led to a line of Expanded Universe novels, which were produced under theBantam Spectra imprint.[2][3]
During the 1990s, Lucasfilm entered into a licensing agreement withDark Horse Comics, beginning with the 1991 comicStar Wars: Dark Empire. Beginning in 1993, the company also entered into licensing agreements withNintendo to produce Star Wars computer games, trading chards, and bendable figures. In 1995,Hasbro Inc. produced a new line of Star Wars toys under the imprint "The Power of the Force." In 1997, Lucasfilm released the commerciallyThe Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, which inserted digitally added characters and creatures into existing scenes.[3]
In 1998,Del Rey acquired the Lucasfilm publishing license from Bantam Spectra as part of a publishing deal connected to the upcomingPrequel trilogy. The following year, Del Rey launched a new line of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels known as theNew Jedi Order series, which introduced the extragalacticYuuzhan Vong as antagonists.[2]
By the early 21st century, the Expanded Universe had spawned numerous licensed novels, comics, and computer games including theTales of the Jedi comics,BioWare'sStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic computer game, and the online role playing gameStar Wars: The Old Republic. To maintain consistency between the various stories, Lucasfilm created an internal database known as theHolocron continuity database, which lists the various Star Wars characters, planets, ships, and concepts. This database is still maintained by Lucasfilm employeeLeland Chee.[2]
The Prequels and beyond[]
Lucasfilm's present headquarters, the Letterman Digital Arts Center
Following the release ofAttack of the Clones, Lucasfilm sold off its theatre sound division THX as a separate private company in which Lucas held a minority stake. Lucas also moved most of the company's divisions into Red Rock Ranch since they had outgrown the Skywalker Ranch premises. By that stage, ILM had grown to around 1,500 employees.[2]
In June 1999, Lucas won a bid to build anew digital complex on the site of the formerLetterman Army Medical Center at thePresidio in San Francisco. Lucas intended for this new complex to house ILM, THX, LucasArts, and the headquarters of Lucasfilm. The deal with the Presidio Trust was signed in August 2001, with construction beginning onFebruary 8,2003. In June2005, Lucasfilm's marketing, online, and licensing units moved into the new Letterman Digital Arts Center. The new Letterman complex also housed Lucasfilm's subsidiaries ILM, THX, LucasArts, and the George Lucas Educational Foundation.[3]
Following the completion of the Prequel Trilogy, Lucas envisioned Lucasfilm as a "widget-driven" company. While it would continue producing books, video games, music, and special effects, film production would be scaled back apart from the nextIndiana Jones film. ILM, THX, and Skywalker Ranch were the most productive components of the company, generating most of their revenue from non-Star Wars projects. ILM worked on special effects for several successful film franchises includingIron Man,Harry Potter,Pirates of the Caribbean, andAvatar. Meanwhile,Skywalker Sound worked on the sound of nearly 40 films and television series.[3]
Inspired by the success of former Lucasfilm subsidiary Pixar, Lucas established a computer animation division calledLucasfilm Animation, which was based at Big Rock Ranch.[3] In 2005, Lucasfilm Animation established abranch inSingapore at the "Sandcrawler Building," giving the company an international presence.[14]
However, LucasArts was unprofitable since it had marketed its products at thePC game market and was unable to come up with its own original game concepts.[3] The division had also focused more on building software engines than on the games themselves. Following an internal audit in 2004, half of LucasArt's staff were laid off. In 2010, another third of the division's staff were laid off following the dismissal of the LucasArt's chiefJim Ward. Some of LucasArts' notable projects included the canceled computer gameStar Wars: 1313, the canceled live action TV showStar Wars: Underworld, theStar Wars Battlefront computer game series, and severalLEGO Star Wars computer games.[2]
Following the release ofRevenge of the Sith, Lucas and director, writer, and animatorDave Filoni produced a 3D computer animated series calledStar Wars: The Clone Wars. The series was distributed byCartoon Network, with the first episodes being combined into an animated movie calledThe Clone Wars. The first season of theClone Wars aired on Cartoon Network onOctober 3,2008. Due to its success, the series was renewed for another five seasons.[3]
Beside Star Wars, Lucasfilm also produced several non-Star Wars films includingIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls (2008), World War II filmRed Tails (2012), and animated fantasyStrange Magic (2015). These films received mixed reviews and did not perform well commercially. The critical response toRed Tails upset Lucas and let him to retire from filmmaking.[3]
Disney acquisition[]
George Lucas and Bob Iger finalizing the deal to sell Lucasfilm to Disney in October 2012.
Following Kennedy's promotion, lawyers and accountants scrutinized Lucasfilm's intellectual property in July and August 2012 to ensure that Lucas owned the rights to the characters of the Star Wars universe.[2] After negotiations between Lucas and Iger, Lucas agreed to sell Lucasfilm in return for Disney agreeing to use his story treatments for the Sequel Trilogy in future stories. According to Iger, this was done on the understanding that Disney would not be contractually obligated to adhere to Lucas' plot lines. In addition, Iger also agreed to give Lucasfilm the same kind of limited autonomy enjoyed by Disney's other subsidiaries Pixar and Marvel. OnOctober 30, 2012, Lucas and Iger signed an agreement selling Lucasfilm to Disney for for $4.05 billion in stock and cash.[3][2][16][17] OnDecember 21, 2012, The Walt Disney Company officially finalized its purchase of Lucasfilm.[18]
Sequel Trilogy and Star Wars Stories era[]
Films and TV shows[]
Following the Disney acquisition, Lucasfilm underwent some restructuring and reorientation. At Kathleen Kennedy's initiative, theLucasfilm Story Group was set up in 2012 under the leadership ofKiri Hart to coordinate the production of new Star Wars films and stories in the absence of Lucas.[2][19] In 2013, Lucasfilm canceledThe Clone Wars television series. Kennedy however retained the show's animation supervisor Filoni and his team, who produced a new animated television series calledStar Wars Rebels.[2] The series ran for four seasons between 2014 and 2018 and was nominated for fourEmmy Awards.[20][21]
In March 2014, Lucasfilm confirmed thatEpisode VII would be set 30 years after the events ofReturn of the Jedi. In addition to three new leads, Lucasfilm also confirmed that several Original Trilogy stars includingMark Hamill,Carrie Fisher,Harrison Ford,Anthony Daniels,Kenny Baker, andPeter Mayhew would reprise their roles.J.J. Abrams was recruited as director whileLawrence Kasdan replaced Arndt as screenwriter.[2]
In September 2018, Kennedy's contract as Lucasfilm President was extended until 2021.[37] In June 2019,Michelle Rejwan was appointed as the company's senior vice president of live-action development and production.[38]
Disney+ Era[]
Kathleen Kennedy unveiling new Star Wars projects at the 2020 Disney Investor Day.
In April 2023, Kennedy confirmed atCelebration Europe that the studio was working on three live-action films directed byJames Mangold, Dave Filoni, andSharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Mangold's film will explore the dawn of the Jedi Order while Filoni's film will be set in the New Republic era and connect several Disney+ shows includingThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andAhsoka. Obaid-Chinoy's film will be set after the events ofThe Rise of Skywalker withDaisy Ridley reprising her role asRey Skywalker.[44] In addition, Lucasfilm confirmed the release dates forAhsoka andThe Acolyte in August 2023 and 2024 respectively.[45]
Licensed literature and media[]
The High Republic multimedia publishing project
In February 2013, the LucasArts division was dissolved, leading to the layoff of 200 employees. Ten employees remained to coordinate the production of licensed Star Wars computer games.[46]
In January 2014, Lucasfilm grantedMarvel Comics the exclusive rights to produce new Star Wars comics from 2015.[52] OnApril 25, 2014, the Lucasfilm Story Group clarified that only Lucas' six Star Wars films andThe Clone Wars television series wereCanon. The Expanded Universe was reclassified asStar Wars Legends and would be used as resources for future stories. All subsequent Star Wars literature and media would be part of a single, cohesive continuity.[2][53] Shortly after Lucasfilm's Canon reboot, Disney Publishing Worldwide announced that Del Rey would be publishing a new line of Canon Star Wars novels on a bi-monthly schedule, commencing withJohn Jackson Miller's 2014 novelA New Dawn.[54]
In January 2021, Lucasfilm revealed a newvideo game division calledLucasfilm Games to provide support to the company's licensed publishers and developers.[58] That same month, Lucasfilm Games entered into partnerships with publishersUbisoft andBethesda Softworks to produce new Star Wars andIndian Jones computer games.[59] In February 2021, Lucasfilm Games confirmed that it was working with games developerZynga to produce a competitive arena combat game calledStar Wars: Hunters.[60]
In November 2021, Dark Horse Comics announced that it would be collaborating with Lucasfilm and Disney Publishing Worldwide to produce a new line of all-age comics and graphic novels stretching from theHigh Republic to theFirst Order era.[61]
Organizational structure[]
Lucasfilm was reorganized to consolidate all the companies to be under Lucasfilm. Today, Lucasfilm is made up of six divisions:
Lucasfilm – film and television production and promotion
Lucasfilm Games is a division of Lucasfilm dedicated to providing support to partnersvideo game publishers and developers.
Lucas Licensing – licensing and merchandising forStar Wars,Indiana Jones, and other Lucasfilm projects
Lucas Learning – producing technology-based educational materials for K–12. Its official site now leads to the nonprofit George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia.
LucasBooks – the publishing arm of Lucasfilm and a part of Lucas Licensing
Lucas Online – online destination for entertainment, reference, education, and e-commerce for Lucasfilm projects
Former divisions[]
A few other companies started out under the Lucasfilm umbrella:
LucasArts – developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company was eventually reorganized in a licensing model following the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Lucasfilm.
Black Falcon – handled merchandising for Lucasfilm briefly before fully merging into Lucasfilm in December 1979
Pixar – computer animation film-production company (sold toSteve Jobs in 1986)
THX – theater sound system (spun off from Lucasfilm in 2002)
Star Wars Corporation – started separately in 1973 and absorbed into Lucasfilm by 1980
Main page onLucasfilm'sofficial website(backup link)
