The surprise announcement on Tuesday that Disney has acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in cash and stock and -- to add to the "wow"-factor -- that a seventh Star Wars film is in the works has managed to supplant Hurricane Sandy as the hot topic of the moment on Twitter and other social media.
Is George Lucas' surrender of his lifelong vision to the studio a good thing? A bad thing? A marriage made in Chaos -- i.e. the closest thing the Star Wars mythology has to a Hell?
Beyond the initial shock, opinion seems to be divided between those who feel the arrangement will improve the deeply dysfunctional relationship between Lucas and legions of Star Wars fans -- a fraught topic explored in the 2010 documentary The People vs. George Lucas -- and those who feel that Disney will exploit the relatively insulated Star Wars universe, to its detriment.
But mainly, there are jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. Here then is a sampling of some of the best, categorized by topic.
Jokes About Corporate Monoliths Joining "Forces"
This is just like that scene in Star Wars when the Empire gets bought out by an even bigger Empire. #DisneyStarWars
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 30, 2012
Thanks Lucasfilm, nothing says evil empire better than being owned by Disney.
— Darth Vader (@DepressedDarth) October 30, 2012
Jokes About Star Wars Episode 7
Episode 7 said to include cast, crew, writers, director of Lucky Number Slevin. Is just Lucky Number Slevin with "SPACE" written under it
— GORY VIOLENT (@leducviolet) October 30, 2012
with the threat of the Galactic Empire gone, Episode 7 will be a sitcom about Luke and Leia trying to balance work and relationships
— abbok (@ABigBagOfKeys) October 30, 2012
Jokes About Odd Bedfellows
Somewhere, right now, someone is thinking of a way to get Jar Jar Binks into Song of the South. #DisneyStarWars
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 30, 2012
UPDATE: In the next Star Wars movie, Darth Vader will be played by some random Jonas brother.
— Disalmanac (@Disalmanac) October 30, 2012
#disneystarwars They could remake Old Yeller with Jar Jar Binks and give it a happy ending.
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) October 30, 2012
Jokes That Reference Obscure Lucas and Disney Lore
Disney owns Marvel. Disney owns LucasFilm. Prepare, mortals, for the long-awaited return of HOWARD THE DUCK. #LucasFilmDisney
— Ken Plume (@KenPlume) October 30, 2012
With Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm, I can't wait to see the new hit Disney Channel series, "That's So Revan"!
— Scott Frerichs (@KaiserNeko) October 30, 2012
Jokes About Twitter's Obsession with Star Wars
Great, just what people on the internet needed, another excuse to talk about Star Wars. God help us if Disney ever acquires bacon.
— Vince Mancini (@Filmdrunk) October 30, 2012
Not saying Twitter's in a nerd frenzy about the Disney/Lucasfilm STAR WARS VII news, but I tried to post earlier & got my arm ripped off.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 30, 2012
Jokes That Play on Words
When you wish upon a Death Star. #disneystarwars
— Melody Kramer (@mkramer) October 30, 2012
Song of the Sith #disneystarwars
— Michael Roston (@michaelroston) October 30, 2012
Beauty and the Hutt #disneystarwars
— NickBaumann (@NickBaumann) October 30, 2012