Disney has agreed to buy Lucasfilm - the makers of the Star Wars franchise - in a deal worth $US4.05 billion.
Lucasfilm's chairman and founder George Lucas said it is time for him to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of film-makers.
Disney plans to release a new Star Wars film, episode seven, in 2015. That will be followed by episodes eight and nine and then one new movie every two or three years, the BBC reports.
The last Star Wars film was Revenge of the Sith in 2005, and Disney says it believes there is substantial pent-up demand.
The company will pay about half in cash and half in stock, issuing 40 million Disney shares in the transaction.
The deal follows Disney's acquisitions of Pixar studios for $US7.4 billion in 2006 and Marvel comics for $US4.2 billion in 2009.
George Lucas launched Lucasfilm in 1971 and the first Star Wars film was released in 1977. He will continue as a creative consultant.
