20th Century Studios, alternatively Twentieth Century Studios and formerly named 20th Century Fox, is an American film production company that is located in southern California. The studio was involved in the development of the Star Wars Original trilogy and subsequently distributed the prequel trilogy. Located in the Century City area of Los Angeles, just west of Beverly Hills, the studio is currently a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.[1] In January, 2020, it was reported that Disney would be renaming the company 20th Century Studios to avoid confusion with Fox Corporation, which owns 21st Century Fox former news and sports assets.[2][3]
History[]
Relationship with Lucasfilm, 1977–2019[]
George Lucas' original deal with Fox gave the latter some merchandising rights and copyrights. Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope's copyright was originally owned by Fox[4] and the merchandising rights were split 60/40 between Fox and Lucas. Fox's Star Wars IP and licensing rights, except A New Hope's copyright, reverted to Lucasfilm on September 1, 1981.[5][6][7][8][9] Lucasfilm eventually gained A New Hope's copyright on January 18, 1997.[10][11]
Despite the The Walt Disney Company's 2012 purchase of Lucasfilm and the release rights to all future Star Wars films, Fox was to retain original distribution rights to A New Hope in perpetuity in all media worldwide. Fox was also to retain theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide for the franchise's five subsequent films, which Lucasfilm produced and financed independently, through May 2020, at which time ownership was to transfer to Disney. This complex relationship between Disney and Fox, particularly in regards to Fox's perpetual rights to Episode IV, was to create an obstacle for any future boxed set comprising all nine films.[12]
Disney acquisition, 2019–present[]
In December 2017, The Walt Disney Company entered into negotiations with 21st Century Fox to acquire its film and television assets including 20th Century Fox. Though Disney had initially intended to purchase Fox for US$52.4 billion, Comcast posted a competing bid in June 2018, prompting Disney to raise their bid to US$71.3 billion. Following protracted bidding, negotiations, and clearances from regulatory bodies, Disney purchased 21st Century Fox's film and television assets including 20th Century Fox on March 20, 2019. As part of the acquisition, Disney also acquired the rights to the Original trilogy and the Prequel trilogy. In addition, Disney also acquired the The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Wars, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avatar, Planet of the Apes, Ice Age, Rio, and Anastasia franchises. Fox's news and sports assets were spun into a separate company called the Fox Corporation.[13][14]
On January 17, 2020, it was reported that Disney would be renaming the company 20th Century Studios to avoid confusion with the Fox Corporation.[2][3]
Sources[]
- The Star Wars Album
- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Scrapbook
- Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle
- Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle, Updated Edition
- Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, Updated and Expanded Edition
Star Wars Bust Collection: Darth Vader Behind the Cameras: How the Death Star Was Created- Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, New Edition
- "Lucasfilm: 50 Years of Innovation" — Star Wars Insider 207 (reprinted in Special Edition 2023)
- SWCA 2022: 6 Things We Learned From the Light & Magic Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Disney to Lease Fox Lot for Seven Years (EXCLUSIVE) by Daniel Holloway & Brent Lang on Variety (December 14, 2017) (backup link archived on May 18, 2019)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Disney Drops Fox Name, Will Rebrand as 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures by Adam Vary on Variety (January 17, 2020) (backup link archived on January 30, 2020)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Disney Drops Fox From Names of Studios It Bought From Rupert Murdoch by Brooke Barnes on The New York Times (January 17, 2020) (backup link archived on February 4, 2020)
- ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries - Motion Pictures (January-June 1977), Third Series, Vol. 31, Pts. 12-13, N. 1, Copyright Office, Library of Congress, 1977. ISSN 0090-8371. (web archive)
- ↑ By George, He Can Thank His Lucky 'Stars' on Los Angeles Times (February 6, 1997): "Pollock negotiated for a 60-40 split of merchandising between Fox and Lucas to begin with; the percentage diminished over two years until all rights reverted to Lucas." (backup link archived on August 7, 2020)
- ↑ The Making of Return of the Jedi
- ↑ Star Wars brochure & 132 other titles. on Copyright Catalog (backup link archived on April 23, 2021)
- ↑ Trademark Assignment Details on U.S. Trademark Database (backup link archived on April 23, 2021)
- ↑ Trademark Assignment Details (Alderaan) on U.S. Trademark Database (backup link archived on April 23, 2021)
- ↑ Star Wars & 1 other title; By Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. on Copyright Catalog (backup link archived on April 23, 2021)
- ↑ Star wars / by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. (Renewal) on Copyright Catalog (backup link archived on April 23, 2021)
- ↑ Tangled Rights Could Tie Up Ultimate 'Star Wars' Box Set (Analysis) by Kim Masters on The Hollywood Reporter (October 30, 2012) (backup link archived on January 8, 2020)
- ↑ Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Fox Deal, Creating Global Content Powerhouse by George Szalai & Paul Bond on The Hollywood Reporter (March 19, 2019) (backup link archived on November 6, 2019)
- ↑ Disney's Deadpool? Netflix worries? What Disney's billion-dollar Fox deal means on Digital Trends (March 19, 2019) (backup link archived on December 21, 2019)
