George Lucas may have cut ties with Star Wars when he sold the franchise to Disney in October, but the infamous director now plans to tie another knot with his girlfriend turned fiancé, Mellody Hobson.
Lucas expressed, "As I start a new chapter in my life, it is gratifying that I have the opportunity to devote more time and resources to philanthropy," reports The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
Hobson is a successful businesswoman who serves as president of Ariel Investments, as well as chairwoman for DreamWorks animation and Ariel Mutual funds. The couple has reportedly been together for six years, and their engagement marks Lucas' second foray into the marital domain.
When Lucas announced his deal with Disney, he said: "It's now time for me to pass 'Star Wars' on to a new generation of film-makers." George was granted $4.05 billion and a 2.2 percent stake in Disney in exchange for the keys to the franchise, but a Lucasfilm spokesperson tells THR that "George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors."
The next Star Wars is slated for 2015, with rumors pointing to Matthew Vaughn as the director of Episode VII. Disney CEO Robert Iger plans to release a new installment of the series every two to three years. Plot details remain sparse, but as preproduction moves forward, more details will surely leak.
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