The Force will be with us...again.  In a shocking announcement, Star Wars creator George Lucas has announced that he's selling his company Lucasfilm to Disney in a $4.05 billion dollar deal, and part of that deal will include a new Star Wars Film, Episode 7, due in 2015. 

In a statement, Lucas said, "For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers"

He added, "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...having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come."

He added that "Disney's reach and experience" will give Lucasfilm the opportunity to "blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."  Lucas also said that he's not stopping at Episode 7...Episodes 8 and 9 are also in the works.

Since their initial releases, Lucas has continued to tinker with and re-issue different versions of all six Star Wars films, but he never indicated that he would be involved in making a seventh chapter of the saga.

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