Business

Jedi knights move into Mouse House

Mickey Mouse is taking over the Death Star.

Disney is shelling out a whopping $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm, the studio behind “Star Wars,” from founder and special-effects maestro George Lucas.

With the purchase, Disney will get all six “Star Wars” films and the rights to make more. It’s already working on a seventh installment set for release in 2015, with new films coming out every two or three years after that. Lucas will be a consultant on the new projects.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said there’s still “substantial pent-up demand” for the films after the last installment, “Revenge of the Sith,” was released in 2005.

Disney also plans to exploit the “Star Wars” properties at its theme parks around the world.

In addition, the deal includes special effects shop Industrial Light & Magic, which has had a big hand in the “Harry Potter” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, as well as rights to the “Indiana Jones” franchise.

The deal adds to Disney’s substantial stable of movie assets, including Marvel Entertainment and Pixar. Disney paid $4 billion in 2009 Marvel, which released blockbuster “The Avengers” this year.

While the move came as a surprise, it is likely aimed at cementing Iger’s long-term legacy. He is expected to retire at the end of 2014.

Lucasfilm is fully owned by its founder, who had already stepped back from day-to-day operations. “It’s now time for me to pass ‘Star Wars’ on to a new generation of filmmakers,” the 68-year-old Lucas said in a statement.

Lucasfilm is run by Co-Chairman Kathleen Kennedy, who will become president of Lucasfilm and report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.

Disney will pay half the amount in cash and half in stock, issuing 40 million additional shares.