It not only helped take Disney stock to an all-time high Thursday but helped add a quick $7.3 billion to the value of the Mouse House.
The stock also got a boost from CEO Bob Iger’s announcement at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting that “Star Wars: Episode VIII” will be released on May 26, 2017.
After touching a record high of $107.33 per share in intraday trading, Disney stock closed at $107.17 — up 4.2 percent.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” already scheduled for a Dec. 18 release, will be Disney’s first contribution to the space-opera franchise since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion.
Disney previously announced plans to complete the franchise’s third trilogy, which has already commanded $4.3 billion at the box office, with the release of “Episode IX” in 2019.
Statistic Brain, a research institute of self-styled “passionate number people,” puts the total value of “Star Wars Episode I through VI” — including books, home entertainment, merchandise and video games – at $27 billion.
And that’s before Disney works its magic on the franchise with either a new episode or a “Star Wars” spinoff for years to come.
“Frozen,” meanwhile, is off to a “Stars Wars”-worthy start that plays primarily to girls.
Since the original’s release in November 2013, it has taken in $1.3 billion at the global box office and moved more than $1 billion in merchandise.
Investors cheered when Disney Animation chief creative officer John Lasseter revealed at the shareholders meeting that “we’re going back to Arendelle” — “Frozen’s” Nordic setting — but they weren’t the only ones.
Ellen DeGeneres quickly took to Twitter with the message “So excited for #Frozen2. This is gonna be big.”
So excited for #Frozen2. This is gonna be big. pic.twitter.com/ejgl5REQ9O
— The Ellen Show (@EllenDeGeneres) March 12, 2015
