George Lucas sold Star Wars primarily because he wanted to step away from the demands of filmmaking and focus on his personal life, including spending more time with his family. By 2012, at age 69, Lucas felt it was time to pass the franchise to a new generation of filmmakers who could continue its legacy. He also saw the film industry's transition with the rise of streaming services as a challenge he preferred not to navigate. Additionally, Lucas wanted the franchise to have a longer life under the stewardship of a company like Disney, which had the resources and expertise to expand the Star Wars universe with new movies, TV shows, and other content. The sale of Lucasfilm, including Star Wars, to Disney was valued at about $4 billion. While the decision was painful for Lucas, he has expressed support for how Disney has handled the franchise since then.