Darth... Disney?

The News:

Yesterday, October 30th will be a day which will go down in geek history. We will not remember Hurricane Sandy, or the Presidential race, we will not even remember it as the day where we were just a week away from Halo 4.

Yesterday was the day Disney bought Star Wars.

The Reaction:
The shocking news came to me through a series of text messages in between me and my father:

Wayne;"Take a look at fox news today. Disney bought lucasfilm for 4.05 billion. Now you can get one job and technically work two of your dream jobs."

My dad, ever observant of my future career choice, broke the news in the job sense, not aware how my nerd sense would be affected. The nerd sense felt as if "a million voices suddenly cried out and then silenced." Then the cynic in me thought it was a belated April Fools, so my response text was....

Jacob;"Really?"

Wayne;"Yes really. they plan on making an episode 7, 8, and 9"

I was shocked to my core. I like many fans had buried all thought of more films with the rolling credits of Revenge of the Sith. Although the theatrical release of The Clone Wars defied this I wrote it of as animation, a one time experiment.  Now the sequel trilogy was a reality.

Jacob;"?"

I then loaded the Google search page on my phone, only to see a New York Times web page repeating the news.

Jacob;"Oh gosh. You're right! So I guess this means we can officially welcome Star Wars and Indy to the Disney family. But I am surprised George would give up so much control, unless he was secretly planning to retire soon anyway."

I would soon learn my hunch was right, George Lucas was planning on retirement.

Basically the conversation turned into my shock, some choice swears, and joking speculation that Rush would score the new trilogy (this is my dad and I, we always find a way to make a Rush reference).

Once the shock settled I soon made a mental list of all the good and ill which can come of this:
Good:
1. Disney is the best inheritor to Star Wars if Lucas is retiring. No other person or company seems to fit.
2. Disney has had a long history of working with Star Wars. Their Star Tours rides are better than the entire Prequel Trilogy.
3. Lucasfilm will remain its own branch, similar to Pixar and Marvel; with the added protection of Disney.
4. Star Wars will make a better "Potter Killer" at Walt Disney World than the much delayed and loathed 'Avatarland.' See here: http://micechat.com/15047-disney-lucasfilm/
5. Star Wars in the hands of the same people who helped make The Avengers, awesome!
6. Disney could shut down the inane Star Wars: Detours project.
7. Disney could give LucasArts the freedom they give the developers of Epic Mickey, helping LucasArts to become a great game company again.
8. Lucas not in direct control is a good thing, meaning we will see less Jar Jar, Asohka, childhood Skywalker, and will instead see more "awsum stuf ".
9. More original Star Wars Lego sets incoming.

Evil:
1. Star Wars in the hands of the same people who made, John Carter, National Treasure, The Prince of Persia, The Sorcerers Apprentice, and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 through 4; oh crud.
2. Would Disney object to more mature projects such as Star Wars 1313, a video game in production aiming for an M rating?
3. Would Disney cancel Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network just so they can start their own Star Wars show on competing Disney XD?
4. What if the Sequel Trilogy is worse than the Prequels and kills the franchise?
5. Disney could be as constricting on LucasArts as they are with the majority of Disney Interactive, ruining any chance of LucasArts becoming a great game company again.
6. Would Lucas Animation be stuck to Disney Channel projects, while ILM never be allowed to animate a feature film again, ruining chances for another enjoyable bizarre artsy film such as Rango?
7. Will Disney treat the Star Wars Canon as loose as they did with Star Tours? Will Disney rewrite the Expanded Universe to better suit their story (mind you Lucas did this himself multiple times)?
8. Lucas not in direct control is a bad thing,  we will see less characters like Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Darth Maul.
9. No more 20th Century Fox Fanfare to start the film. :-(

Conclusion:
I cannot predict where Star Wars will go under Disney's care. Uncharted space is ahead, and to borrow a line from another sci-fi franchise, we must "Boldly Go." All I know is this; make sure to fasten all safety restraints in a proper manner, stow all carry on luggage in the provided compartment. Put on your 3D glasses. And remember to not ride if you are pregnant or suffer heart issues. No eating or smoking in the cabin. Please, no flash photography. And remember, thank you for flying with Star Tours...