This is very interesting news. It would be speculative at this early stage to say what might happen with new soundtrack CDs of Lucasfilm properties. Needless to say, I’m sure Intrada would be first in the queue once the ink has dried and physical assets have been acquired by Disney.
Okay, I'll make a more serious post (well, two, this one initially). Here's a list of the composers on films (not counting TV or shorts) for Walt Disney Pictures (according to IMDb) from the last ten years:
Danny Elfman * Joel McNeely * (one documentary counted, which brings him to twice) Geoff Zanelli Patrick Doyle Vishal Dadlani, Dhruv Ghanekar, & Shekhar Ravjiani (Arjun: The Warrior Prince) Michael Giacchino * Christophe Beck * Hans Zimmer * Deborah Lurie Henry Jackman Suleiman Merchant Daft Punk Alan Menken * Anjan Ankit & Meet Bros Nick Glennie-Smith Trevor Rabin * Randy Newman * John Debney * Alan Silvestri * Rupert Gregson-Williams John Powell David Lawrence Thomas Newman Harry Gregson-Williams Edward Shearmur Nathan Wang Randy Edelman George S. Clinton Mark Isham * Bruce Broughton William Ross * Mark Mothersbaugh Stephen James Taylor Mark Mancina * Rolfe Kent Mark Watters James Newton Howard Christopher Young Carter Burwell
An asterix means they worked on more than one film.
Ed the interview with Lucas and Kathy (link in thread in non film score discussion) suggests they are and are talking to writers (seems Lucases part 7-9 may yet see the light of day)
Guys, when Bob Iger promises the shareholders a Star Wars film in 2015, you can be assured it will happen.
Today's announcement suggests that prep work has been quietly underway for some time already.
Agreed, Disney has Star Wars characters appearing in Disney Channel shows this Friday. The wheels have been secretly in motion for some time apparently.
Ed the interview with Lucas and Kathy (link in thread in non film score discussion) suggests they are and are talking to writers (seems Lucases part 7-9 may yet see the light of day)
Yeah, Iger says they've already got detailed treatments for the films, so this has been in the works for a while. Odds are the new films will be pretty good; they know what's at stake here.
FWIW, I'd nominate James Newton Howard for the score. Or Giacchino, as others have suggested. Alan Silvestri would be a great choice as well.
I'm definitely sure that Hans Zimmer will end up getting the job. Lucas's buddy Spielberg has had Zimmer score some of his produced projects (such as The Pacific) and the fact that he's got an immense fanbase would make him the obvious choice.
Disney and Lucasfilm huh? All-Star Wars theme park anyone? With different planets as the "lands"? And Williams' music playing throughout the park? A childhood dream of mine
Hey, does this mean Disney can/will release the original theatrical versions on blueray since Lucas refuses to??
I would guess this is pretty much inevitable but not in the short term. After all we have only just had the Star Wars films released on blu ray. My guess would be after 2015. Disney didn't dare release the original Tron straight away for fear of tarnishing Tron Legacy and I'm sure they will adopt a similar strategy with Star Wars. They won't want their shiny new, CGI 2015 baby associated with the effects in a a 70s sci-fi film.
I imagine Disney's priority will be hiring someone to direct the new STAR WARS film before they hire a composer! My choice: Brad Bird. He did a fantastic job with MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL. Of course, he'll probably then bring Giacchino along for the ride. Fine by me! (Though I would hope that the first choice of composer would be Williams, though he may decline to do it unless Spielberg is the director!)
I'm definitely sure that Hans Zimmer will end up getting the job. Lucas's buddy Spielberg has had Zimmer score some of his produced projects (such as The Pacific) and the fact that he's got an immense fanbase would make him the obvious choice.
If Spielberg's word were to matter, it would definitely be Giacchino - this is NOT "The Pacific"!...
So I lose power for a little while and Disney gets delusions of grandeur... This is the biggest disturbance in the force I've felt since since 1999.
That's OK I was done with LFL a long time ago; they can have it.
I foretell that the next film to have score and songs by Randy Newman. ILM will move in with Pixar and the Skywalker Ranch will open to the public. Intrada will release the complete score box sets in two flavors: Dark Side and Light Side. You'll need to buy both because the bonus disk will differ on one track. Next month Disney'll buy Google. There'll be human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! Then in December if the world doesn't come to an end, they'll purchase Virginia, level it, and build that theme park they always wanted to.
I'll believe in a Episode 7 when I see it. (Especially since Lucas seems to have never expressed an interest in letting others continue the series in film form. Books, comics, video games, etc., sure, but never films.)
Perhaps the Intrada/Disney partnership can now produce Star Wars and Indiana Jones soundtracks?
Was wondering who'd be the first to ask such a question...
It had just occurred to me as I walked to the store with the big news on my mind that very same thing. I sure hope this is the door that leads to new boxed sets of those scores with everything, and I mean everything included; that means the kitchen sink as well. Dreaming of that day!
With different planets as the "lands"? And Williams' music playing throughout the park? A childhood dream of mine 
