A Day Long Remembered: Superfans React to Disney\'s Acquisition of \'Star Wars\'

Looking forward to seeing what exciting new Star Wars adventures will be cooked up by the dream factory that brought us Mars Needs Moms!

- Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) 31 Oct 12

Like a ragtag band of Rebel pilots making their assault on the Death Star, the news that the Walt Disney Company was buying Lucasfilm - and with it, its valuable “Star Wars” film franchise - took lifelong fans of that George Lucas space-adventure series by surprise on Tuesday. While these devoted aficionados could have just used the Force to make peace with the acquisition, many of them preferred to register their opinions at that modern-day Creature Cantina known as the Internet.

On his Twitter account, the “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, who has used that Fox animated series to both send up and pay tribute to the “Star Wars” movies, indicated that his authorized satires would likely come to an end. Asked by a fan if the Disney deal would mean the demise of the “Family Guy” “Star Wars” parodies, Mr. MacFarlane wrote: “Alas, I'd bet money on it.” In another post Mr. MacFarlane acerbically added: “Looking forward to seeing what exciting new Star Wars adventures will be cooked up by the dream factory that brought us Mars Needs Moms!”

Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the “Star Wars” prequels, offered his good wishes to Mr. Lucas, writing on his Twitter account: “Congrats George and best of luck with whatever is next.” Speculating about what the contents of a seventh “Star Wars” movie might include, Mr. McGregor added: “Wonder if they will need any Obi-Wan Hologram action??!”

Simon Pegg, a star of “Shaun of the Dead” and a trusted bellwether of sci-fi culture, had more complicated feelings. In one Twitter post, he joked: “To be fair, I was saying Lucasfilm was a Mickey Mouse outfit back in 1999.” (That would be the inglor ious year that the first “Star Wars” prequel, “The Phantom Menace,” was released.) He added: “For the record, I have no problem with Disney, I am a huge fan and I'm sure it's actually good news for Star Wars fans. LLAP ” (The abbreviation is short for “Live Long and Prosper,” as Mr. Pegg, who stars in J. J. Abrams's rival “Star Trek” franchise, could surely tell you.)

And in another galaxy, far, far away, Carrie Fisher -Princess Leia herself - posted this video on her Facebook page.