News

"Star Wars" sold to Disney

By Sun-Times Wire

“Star Wars” is headed to a new galaxy.

Walt Disney Co. has agreed to pay more than $4 billion to acquire the company that controls the blockbuster “Star Wars” franchise — allowing Disney to exploit the brand through film, television, consumer products and theme parks.

Disney plans to churn out new “Star Wars” movies every two or three years beginning in 2015 with “Star Wars Episode 7,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in conference call with analysts.

The acquisition surprised rival studios, especially 20th Century Fox, which has released all of the live-action “Star Wars” movies since the 1977 original. Executives at Fox and other studios said they weren’t even offered a chance to bid for Lucasfilm, the San Francisco company founded and owned by filmmaker George Lucas.

Read more here.

Next Up In News

Netflix looks to curb password sharing, considers ads

Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center

Joliet farmers wrangle cows thrown from semitrailer after crash on Interstate 80

1 killed, 3 wounded in shootings Tuesday in Chicago

Obama relatives sue Milwaukee school alleging racial bias

Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports

Latest Stories

The Latest

A cicada on a flower.

Environment

Get ready -- 17-year cicadas preparing to emerge in northern Illinois

Cicada nymphs have recently been seen at the ground’s surface, meaning the mass arrival of the periodical cicadas is a few weeks away.

By Kade Heather

Bowl of sauerkraut in close up on wooden table

Eat Well

Sauerkraut has plenty to offer, from tangy flavor to some health benefits

Although sauerkraut is perhaps the best-known national dish of Germany, and has been a staple of the German diet since the 1600s, it didn’t originate in Germany.

By Environmental Nutrition

Pursued by both Art (Mike Faist, left) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor), Tashi (Zendaya) lures both into a makeout session in "Challengers."

Movies and TV

'Challengers' as sexy as a tennis movie can be

In beautiful and brutal sports drama, Zendaya portrays a coach playing sophisticated games with her two charismatic suitors.

By Richard Roeper

Education

CPS’ selective, magnet schools appear to take hit under new equity funding formula

Local School Councils at several specialty elementary schools say they are facing budget cuts — a claim backed up by a WBEZ/Sun-Times analysis.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ and Nader Issa

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Wednesday, April 24, 2024

By Georgia Nicols