When did Disney buy Star Wars?

Lucasfilm changed the face of science fiction in the ’70s with the space opera Star Wars. It was one of the most impactful films of the century. Star Wars added new words to the pop culture lexicon. It shook up the box office and broke records.

Most importantly, the movie created a community that has been around for decades. So, it makes sense that when George Lucas decided to sell his production company, Disney was the one to buy Lucasfilm and with it, the Star Wars universe.

Disney has been a household name and brand since the ’30s. To say the company has been successful would be an understatement. They are a dominant presence in the entertainment industry to the point that they seem to have a finger in nearly every pot.

When was Star Wars bought by Disney?

As huge as Star Wars is, as massive as the franchise’s following has been from the ’70s into the new millennium, it still doesn’t compare to Disney’s reach. But Disney purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012, and that’s when they truly extended their impact into a galaxy far, far away.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger saw potential in the franchise making waves on television, bringing the Star Wars universe off the silver screen to the small screen and not just as an animated version of the story or a made-for-TV film.

Disney ushered in a new age for Star Wars

At the time, he said, “We think Disney XD will be a great home for that,” but his vision has since expanded to the streaming arm of the company, Disney+.

Live-action Star Wars TV series are a reality due to this acquisition, and it has boomed into a coming smorgasbord of content for fans of the franchise starting with the success of The Mandalorian and continuing on to the planned Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka series.

We’re in exciting times with the Star Wars franchise growing in ways it hadn’t before Disney began leading the way.