Film (re)maker George Lucas must have woken up one day and decided he was tired of destroying our childhoods by warping the Star Wars franchise, because this week he has sold his beloved *ahem* Empire to Disney for a whopping $US4.05 billion which he has said he will donate to charity and childhood education projects. Let the Nice Guy George Lucas memes begin!
It had been rumoured that Lucas would use his new-found fortune to fund the futures of youngsters since the news about the Disney acquisition broke, but now The Hollywood Reporter has it from a Lucasfilm spokesperson:
“George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors.”
It’s not clear where Lucas will inject his billions, but one thing is for sure: that George Lucas sure is a swell fellow. Star Wars delighted me as a youngster, and now, on top of three new films, Lucas is spearheading something else that will drive other youngsters forward to achieve: a great education.
George, if you’re reading this, you’re entitled to one giant hug from this guy the next time you’re in Australia. [THR]
Main photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images