Did Disney pick up Lucas Arts for ILM? Nope.
I'm still thinking Disney sees and knows buying huge(Star Wars) story concepts are the way of the future. Many of the big studios are making huge 200 million and above films hoping they clean up at the box office. Most of these are rehashes of older stories that are remade with todays technology.They will then buy smaller movies hoping for a huge payout base on production costs. Many of these smaller movies are targeted at the older demographic. The huge tent pole VFX movies are targeted at the younger generation.
Bases covered? Maybe.
Have a look at whats happening with World War Z and R.I.P.D. Even comedy productions are having the same trouble as the big VFX movies.
A birdie tells me that an up coming comedy is in reshoots and is struggling with the VFX shots that are already on the books. These are not game changing shots these are the regular car comps and production fixes that are more and more becoming part of the film process. The schedules have become so compressed and the films release dates decided even before production starts. No time to move that production van. The scary thing is most of the people working on these films have experience. This is not there first BBQ.
Visual effects is slowly becoming as big a part of making a movie as editing or set design. I would argue sometimes more important than talent. There is a reason ILM gets a title card all to itself. There are saying we are very important.
It's not a mistake Disney just picked up one of the best companies at doing this. John Knoll talked more at last years VFX bake off about how difficult the rig removals were in the last "Mission Impossible" than than anything else. I remember a question "how did you do that". " oh we shot that practically". The shots weren't about amazement but getting that BMW back on the road. Get the story told.
I am hoping Disney sees that you need a good visual effects house to tell the stories they want to make. Along with franchises, you also need people who can execute. Lucas Arts has proven they can.
I hope others take notice.
I wonder what they are going to do with the Indiana Jones Franchise?