Lucas puts $2.02 billion worth of Disney shares up for possible sale

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Published time: February 07, 2013 11:43
Edited time: February 07, 2013 17:07

Filmmaker George Lucas' trust has registered its 2% stake in Walt Disney worth $2.02 billion for possible sale in a filing with US regulators. However, that does not mean a sale is imminent.

­The document allows for the potential sale of the 37.1 million Disney shares owned by the Lucas trust.

The company has not indicated how many shares it might sell, and the document said it could decide against selling any at all, AFP reports.

"The selling security holder has not informed us, and we do not know, when or in what amounts the selling security holder may offer for sale the shares of common stock pursuant to this offering," the trust added.

Lynne Hale, a Lucasfilm spokeswoman, said no sale is planned at the moment.

"George does not have any current intent to sell his stock," she said in an e-mail, Bloomberg reports.

The document allows for the potential sale of the 37.1 million Disney shares owned by the Lucas trust.

The Star Wars creator received the shares when Disney took over his LucasFilms company last year for $4.05 billion. The deal included the high-tech production companies, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, as well as rights to the "Indiana Jones'' franchise. Lucasfilm joins animated film producer Pixar, Marvel Studios, ESPN and ABC, all purchased by Disney in recent years.

The seventh part of the Star Wars saga, with a working title of “Episode 7,” is due to hit screens in 2015. It will be followed by Episodes 8 and 9. The trilogy will continue the story of Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo and Princess Leia beyond “Return of the Jedi”. George Lucas will serve as a creative consultant on the new movies. “

Lucas said in an interview posted on YouTube.