Shocking! Disney Buys Marvel Entertainment!
Filed under: Deals, Executive shifts, Disney, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Politics, Comic/Superhero/Geek
It's a shocking deal no one saw coming in a million years. According to an official press release from the Walt Disney Company, Disney has bought Marvel Entertainment for the hefty price of $4 billion. Under the deal, Disney gains control of more than 5,000 Marvel characters, and Marvel gains their massive marketing infrastructure. "This transaction combines Marvel's strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney's creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories," said Robert A. Iger, President aof The Walt Disney Company. "Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."
So, there you have it. Marvel is now a Disney brand in all senses of the word. Obviously, this has just been announced, but the big question looms: What will this mean for all those upcoming Marvel movies? We've all marveled at the creative networking Marvel Entertainment has been doing, and the way Kevin Feige has been building little bridges of creative continuity throughout their cinematic universe. So far, they seemed to be doing everything right by fans, and creating movies that could draw in newcomers and hardcore geeks. What is it going to mean for the films when a behemoth like Disney takes control? Family friendly, mythology-be-damned, direct-to-DVD offerings? Or will it just mean a lot more Slurpee cups and action figures? Time will tell, but something tells me the future of the Marvel cinematic universe might have become a little less bright.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-31-2009 @ 9:58AM
Dyslexicon said...
I don't know... Nothing makes me more excited than to see a character, or a whole slew of characters, be taken over by a giant, soul-sucking corporation.
I always thought that Marvel just had too much life in it. This should be good for them.
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9-01-2009 @ 6:01PM
EricS said...
was Marvel going through financial problems that I wasn't aware of? why would they sell out of the f'n blue?
8-31-2009 @ 10:15AM
Batzarro said...
Ho, boy. Hey, on the bright side you could do a lot worse than Disney.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:18AM
Peter said...
What will this mean for all the Marvel rides at Universal Studios?
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8-31-2009 @ 10:18AM
Tucker said...
Great.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:20AM
Pixar Rocks said...
Pixar makes nothing but make great movies around well developed stories and characters. John Lassiter from Pixar is playing a bigger and bigger role in all things Disney. This could be a great move.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:39AM
cablebfg said...
I agree with Pixar Rocks. I feel confident that Disney will encourage Pixar and Marvel to interact and create something truly amazing. Pixar can do no wrong lately, so why not?
However, the sheer size of Disney and everything they own threatens the heart and soul of Marvel. I dont get the straight-to-dvd comment. Marvel has done a lot of those as well.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:41AM
techstar25 said...
Hopefully Disney won't do with the Marvel universe what they did when they bought the Muppets. As in, make people forget they exist by completely ignoring the franchise, thus ensuring an entire generation of children don't recognize Kermit the Frog.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:46AM
Sam said...
AW, F@#$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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8-31-2009 @ 10:52AM
Drewbacca said...
I can't wait to see The Avengers new team member! (A helium voiced cartoon mouse with a magical command of buckets and brooms)
In case the sarcasm wasn't obvious, I'm disappointed in Marvel. They finally start taking full command of the movies they're attached to, and now they just give up and sell out.
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8-31-2009 @ 10:55AM
Ataara said...
NOOOO!!! There is nothing good about this afair!!, Sorry to say this but R.I.P Spiderman, The hulk, Thor, Ironman, Wolverine and all the other chars that have ligthen up my childhood....
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8-31-2009 @ 10:58AM
olrayt said...
watch out for the hidden mickey's on iron man 2!
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8-31-2009 @ 11:17AM
Adam said...
In case you genuises didn't know Disney owns Miramax, the same company that released "Dogma" while under Disney's umbrella. Name one Marvel/Knights film anywhere near the level of controversy of "Dogma". If anything this may give Marvel MORE balls.
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8-31-2009 @ 11:31AM
roshow said...
I don't think this is a bad move by Disney or Marvel. However, you're wrong about Dogma. It was produced by Miramax but Disney did not want to distribute. The Weinsteins personally bought the rights and took it over to Lion's Gate, who did release it.
8-31-2009 @ 12:06PM
Adam said...
Actually I was wrong about Jay and Silent Bob. As you stated Miramax produced the movie, but once the religious shitstorm got started they wouldn't distribute it. But as someone on a sister site noted, Miramax did produce both "Pulp Fiction" and the "Kill/Bill" franchise. I know it's cool to get all reactionary to news like this, but the truth is this will help Marvel, not hurt it.
8-31-2009 @ 11:23AM
Adam said...
Also, go watch "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and explain to me how Disney would interfere with Marvel while they let that one go largely untouched.
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9-01-2009 @ 8:37AM
Stunbunny said...
When Michael Eisner was running Disney, one of the Weinsteins brought him the recently-acquired rights to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy in order that Miramax might produce it. Eisner passed on it, much to Weinstein's dismay. New Line/WB got it instead.
Granted, hindsight is 20/20. But If Disney had the power to make their subsidiary, Miramax, pass on what became one of the highest-grossing trilogies of all time, and Disney is holding the reins to all of Marvel, then they can definitely do some serious damage to Marvel.
8-31-2009 @ 11:36AM
wydok said...
Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park has several Marvel-character based rides. I wonder why they are going to react to the fact that those characters are now owned by their theme park rival.
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8-31-2009 @ 12:58PM
adam2 said...
Is there any real question that this is at the heart of the purchase? Once those licensing deals come up for renewal, Universal Studios Theme park will be completely screwed - You'll then be able to catch your favorite heroes over at Disney Studios Theme Park (formerly MGM). And if my cross marketing sensors are tingling, that means Star Wars Spidey?
8-31-2009 @ 12:02PM
Kelly said...
I don't see how Marvel being put int he hands of a corporation with a ton of money is a bad thing. I don't think Disney would try to "sterlize" the Marvel brand at all...
Someone on the TVSquad website made a good point:
"Well considering Disney owned companies have produced title such as Trainspotting, Pulp Fiction, The Others, 40 Days & 40 Nights, Kill Bill and countless others I don't think there is too much to worry about.
I presume its more of a 'let's buy this company and increase profits' kind of approach then 'let's cast the Jonas brothers as the new Spider-Man, Iron Man and Hulk'."
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