Subscribe for FREE!
Receive our Daily Disney Newsletter.
Have the best in Disney News & Views Delivered to you!
Category Archives: Star Wars
Memorial Day Weekend at Walt Disney World
Photo via Disney Parks Blog
Spring has sprung—although a lot of areas across the U.S. aren’t exactly feeling it yet—and while Walt Disney World Resort is smack in the middle of the Spring Break craze, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next.
Memorial Day will fall on Monday, May 27, this year. It’s a great time of year to visit the Parks, with perfectly balanced spring/summer weather. Plus, many kids across the nation are still in school, so the crowd levels haven’t yet peaked. So what kinds of Memorial holiday happenings can you expect to unofficially kick off summer fun at the Disney Parks? Well, while there are no specific Memorial Day holiday observances at Walt Disney World, the Parks will offer extended weekend hours, and some Resort events will make the holiday extra memorable.
Disney Closes LucasArts Studio
Today, the Walt Disney Company laid off the staff of LucasArts and cancelled all of their current projects. Approximately one-hundred fifty staff members were informed of the decision this morning and lost their jobs. This decision also forces the company to cancel both of LucasArts current projects- Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313. The Walt Disney Company is keeping the LucasArts name to license games, but the studio will no longer exist.
Disney has reported that their current games could be licensed out to a different publisher or developer, but according to some sources, that’s unlikely. Rumor has it that Lucas has pursued the option for one or both of these games, but nothing came of it. It appears that these games will probably be gone forever.
“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games,” LucasArts parent company LucasFilm said in a statement. “As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles.”
LucasArts actually stopped all hiring last September and product announcements also ceased at this time. LucasFilm is still in business though and this decision should not affect any of the Star Wars movies in the makings.
What do you think will happen with the LucasArts projects? Do you think they will be licensed out to another publisher?
Related articles
- Star Wars Land at Disneyland? (chipandco.com)
- Disney, Dulling Lightsaber, Help Me Obi Wan Kenobi (jedimouseketeer.com)
First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I was delighted to see the logo for Star Wars Weekends 2013 as shared by author Gary Buchanan. He said the artwork gives a nod to the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.” I vividly recall seeing the film in theaters with my parents in May 1983. I was completely obsessed with Star Wars at the time, so I love this poster as it reminds me of my childhood. Disney Design Group artist Tyler Dumas said they had some different poster concepts, like Mickey Mouse in the Rancor pit, before selecting an iconic scene from the Battle of Endor.
Here is a look at some new items with this year’s logo coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 17, 2013.
“First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Including a Disney Pin, a Coffee Mug, a Photo Frame and More”First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Boba Fett Actors Unite at Star Wars Celebration Europe II
Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett, Dickey Beer and Daniel Logan. Photo by Entertainment Weekly.
Here’s the latest news regarding guests and events slated for the HUGE Star Wars Celebration Europe II convention July 26-28 in Messe Essen, Germany.
Four Fetts at Celebration for the First Time in Europe!
Boba Fett is one of the most popular characters of the Star Wars saga, and fans will have the chance to meet four actors who brought the iconic bounty hunter to life. This unprecedented collection of on-screen bad boys will be a first for Celebration Europe.
Over the course of Celebration Europe weekend, you can meet these actors in the Celebration Autograph Hall, run by Official Pix, and expect to see them on the Celebration Stage, too!
The four Fetts attending are:
Star Wars Invades Atlanta Braves Spring Training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
No, it’s not a galaxy far, far away. It’s Atlanta Braves spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Last weeks Braves-Mets game saw the first mash-up of Disney, Star Wars and Major League Baseball spring training at Walt Disney World Resort.
To catch all the fun, check out the photo gallery below.
Related articles
