Singapore’s Lucasfilm Disney ‘Star Wars’ studio to close for ‘economic’ reasons
- The Singapore studio, founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, was involved in Hollywood productions including Iron Man and Star Wars films
- Parent firm Disney said in February it was cutting 7,000 jobs worldwide, amid erosion of its traditional TV business and fewer streaming subscribers
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Lucasfilm’s visual effects and animation studio in Singapore will close down in the coming months after almost two decades due to economic reasons, parent firm Disney said on Tuesday.
The Singapore studio was set up in the 2000s by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), which was founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas and is a division of Lucasfilm.
For years, its home in Singapore was the striking Sandcrawler building, named after the Star Wars transport that inspired its design. Lucasfilm sold the building in 2021.
“Over the next several months, ILM will be consolidating its global footprint and winding down its Singapore studio due to economic factors affecting the industry,” Disney said in a statement.
It did not say how many employees will be affected in Singapore.
ILM has 340 employees in Singapore, Channel News Asia reported, citing an employee who told the outlet that staff would continue working at the studio until the end of the year.
Disney said in February it was cutting 7,000 jobs worldwide, part of a cost-cutting reorganisation as its traditional television business erodes and in the face of stiff competition and eroding subscriber numbers for its streaming service, Disney+.
“Lucasfilm’s decision to wind down its Singapore operations is in response to changes in the industry and business conditions,” Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a joint statement.
“The global media industry is facing disruption from rapid technological advancements, while studios are coping with challenges relating to talent and profitability.”
Lucasfilm and relevant government agencies are helping affected employees to find roles in other companies, the two government agencies said.
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The Singapore studio was involved in high-profile Hollywood productions including Iron Man, The Avengers and Star Wars films, according to the EDB’s website.
Lucasfilm Singapore began its operations in 2004 as an animation studio.
“By having a base here in Singapore, we can create something new in animation, a style that will blend East and West and offer something not seen before,” Lucas said in 2004, according to the LA Times.
Lucasfilm and Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Additional reporting by Business Insider
