George Lucas Reveals Destination of Disney Dollars

George Lucas has revealed what he plans to do with the many billions of dollars that he’ll make from the $4.05 billion sale of Lucasfilm to Disney.

Speaking to the The Hollywood Reporter, a studio representative explained “George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavours.”

It’s not yet clear where he will direct the money, be it to a new foundation, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, or one of the many charities and causes he has previously supported.

Lucas also released a statement himself, saying “For 41 years, the majority of my time and money has been put into the company. As I start a new chapter in my life, it is gratifying to devote more time and resources to philanthropy.”

Chris Tilly is Entertainment Editor for IGN and wouldn't mind a couple of those Disney dollars. His idle chat can be found on both Twitter and MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Hobbit's Andy Serkis to Direct Animal Farm

Actor-turned-director Andy Serkis is making the leap from J.R.R. Tolkien to George Orwell.

The Hollywood Reporter says the Lord of the Rings and Rise of the Planet of the Apes actor will direct a feature film adaptation of Orwell's literary classic Animal Farm. Serkis' company The Imaginarium will produce the film, which recounts Orwell's allegorical tale about an animal society rebelling against oppression only to find their quest for justice and progress has led to a different kind of totalitarianism.

Serkis may also play a role in the movie, but for now he's concentrating on developing the project as its director.

Serkis -- the leader in performance-capture acting best known for his roles as Gollum, King Kong, and Apes' Caesar -- stepped behind the camera to direct second unit photography on The Hobbit.

“I think we found a rather fresh way of looking at it,” Serkis told THR. “It is definitely using performance capture but we are using an amalgamation of filming styles to create the environments.... We are in proof of concept stage at the moment, designing characters and experimenting on our stage with the designs."

Serkis added, “We’re keeping it fable-istic and [aimed at] a family audience. We are not going to handle the politics in a heavy-handed fashion. It is going to be emotionally centered in a way that I don’t think has been seen before. The point of view that we take will be slightly different to how it is normally portrayed and the characters—we are examining this in a new light.”

Source : ign[dot]com

Report: Layoffs Hit PopCap, International Studios Shuttered

New reports suggest that layoffs have hit PopCap Games. According to information originating from the Twitter account of 3D Realms founder George Broussard, approximately 50 employees have been let go from PopCap’s Seattle headquarters, and its international offices in Dublin and Shanghai have been shut down.

The report has been corroborated by VG247, who writes that an anonymous source familiar with the matter says PopCap has been “very quietly” laying off staff for “several months.”

PopCap was acquired by publisher Electronic Arts for $750 million in July 2011. The studio is best known for the release of Peggle, Plants Vs. Zombies and Bejeweled, among others. Just yesterday, PopCap announced that a Plants Vs. Zombies sequel will be released in 2013.

We’ve reached out to both EA and PopCap for confirmation of the layoffs and will update with any comment we receive. IGN wishes the best of luck to anyone affected by the news.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com