In a shocking announcement this Tuesday, October 30^th, Disney has revealed plans to purchase LucasFilm and it’s subsidiaries, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, for a total of $4.05 billion; roughly half in cash, and the other half as 40 million shares in The Walt Disney Company (DIS).

About the deal, George Lucas, LucasFilm Chairman, founder, and sole owner, says “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. 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 under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come.”

Along with this came the announcement that Disney plans on making more films in the Star Wars series, starting with “Star Wars: Episode 7” in 2015, and including an entire new trilogy, with Episodes 8 and 9.

Kathleen Kennedy, currently Co-Chairman of LucasFilm, is to become President of LucasFilm after the transition. She will act as Executive Producer of future Star Wars films, with Lucas acting as a Creative Consultant. How this transition will affect Lucas’ position as the authority on all things Star Wars remains to be seen.

Something I’m personally curious about is the relatively low sum of the purchase. Disney previously acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion, and Marvel for $4.2 billion. This acquisition includes the most prolific, most prized, Visual Effects company in the world (ILM), a highly prized Sound Design company (Skywalker Sound), and the rights to two of the biggest franchises ever (Star Wars and Indiana Jones). So, why the low price?

Well, the answer is simple: the price of Disney’s shares will likely skyrocket following this announcement, and again upon the release of the next new Star Wars film since 2005’s Revenge of the Sith.

As a huge fan of the Star Wars universe, I’m anxious to see where they take these future films. But, I am, and I’m sure many Star Wars fans will be, wary of this decision, guided as it is by monetary gain. For most fans, 1999’s The Phantom Menace is a bit too fresh in our minds to accept these films with open arms. Will these new films alienate fans as Episode 1 did? Only time will tell.