The Walt Disney Company (DIS), Zynga Inc (ZNGA): Why Cancelling Star Wars 1313 Is Such a Good Thing

But I’d like to see Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) make an attempt at one of the smaller properties, like Full Throttle.  Many investors are ecstatic with Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA)’s new real money gambling endeavor, but I’m much less optimistic.  Online gambling already has many options.  And with the United States clamping down, it may be a dead end.  I see the real pathway for this company in social networking and smartphone apps.

Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) has attempted to up their presence in the smartphone world with the $200 million purchase of developer OMGPOP.  So, they have a big time developer now in their arsenal.  Time to put it to good use.  Licensing a known property from LucasArts and releasing a game for smartphones and tablets would make a lot of sense.

Episode Seven

More than anything, the move to shut down LucasArts underscores The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s current commitment to making a stellar Star Wars Episode 7.

*Source www.the-numbers.com

These movies practically sell themselves.  The Star Wars movies have some of the most committed fans, willing to camp out in parking lots dressed in a full Kit Fisto costume for weeks before opening night.  And let’s be honest, the most recent trilogy of films wasn’t thatgreat.  Yet, they made quite a bit of money at the box office.

Imagine what the potential would be if The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) nails episode seven.  Many analysts are already speculating the possibility.  Several are saying that Episode Seven is going to join the very prestigious $2 billion club.  With no distraction from LucasArts, I have confidence that The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is going to pool all their resources, all their experience, and all their best people to make this movie a screaming success.

Foolish bottom line

When The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) bought LucasFilm a couple months back, I thought it was a brilliant move.  But as time has gone on, things keep brightening.  Make no mistake about it, this deal has gigantic revenue potential for Disney.  Developments like this only highlight that we just don’t know how big this is going to be for Disney yet.

Jon Quast owns shares of Activision Blizzard. The Motley Fool recommends Activision Blizzard and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Activision Blizzard and Walt Disney.