The Walt Disney company this morning announced a deal to buy Marvel Entertainment. Disney says it will pay about $4 billion for the company that brought us Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk and Iron Man.
The official press release quote from Disney:
"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 and Chief Executive Officer of 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."
Under the deal, Disney will own all 5,000 or so Marvel characters, Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter will stay on to oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney's global lines of business to "build and further integrate Marvel's properties." The deal will be complete once it is approved by Marvel shareholders (but I'll bet they're pretty happy with this turn-of-events) and is pending approval by the government.
Obviously, this merger has huge implications in the worlds of video games, film, television and popular culture in general. We'll be bringing you updates throughout the day, as well as expert commentary and reaction, so keep checking back! For now, I'm just going to let this news sink in, and encourage you to respond in our comment section!
Comments
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Ben_Grimm
Picture this...due to the buyout...Thomas Jane will now return to play Frank Castle in the next Punisher...the Avengers will be made by Pixar and will be dubbed the Incredibles 2...Miley Cyrus will take over the role of Mary-Jane Watson in Spider-Man 4, while the Jonas Bros. make a lame cameo 30 minutes into the film...I'm just saying...Disney sugar coats EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH!
I want to see a Captain America, in the vane of Iron Man and the Dark Knight, but I'm afraid that may not happen now.
Blue22
I'm ok with it but only if Mickey Mouse kills like wolverine in his game or better yet Marvel VS Disney (instead of Capcom) other wise No-deal
Pikachukid
I'm worried that they might take out alot of things. I mean Tony Stark is a womanizer and he likes to drink alot. Wolverine is always stabbing and killing people that probably won't look good in the eyes of Disney and they might change Marvel for the worse. however Zero_Slayer01 is right Fighting alongside Ironman and the X-Men in Kingdom Hearts might actually be cool. (Maybe)
7up_1up
Whoa! This is huge for the stockholders. To settle down the hardcore Marvel fans, no worries. Iger is a true leader and understands other leaders too. (Compare to the last guy. What's his name again?) Iger understands the true character-creation, character-based themes, and more importantly, character history and the impact it has to the fans. Now to look at this in a bigger picture there are huge pieces to consider. Besides the list that our editor here at G4 mentioned, Disney and Marvel are venturing into new frontiers. These are a few things that came up in my head. Movies: Has anyone looked at the preview of Tron? Yeah, promising to see something go in story and graphics for the future Marvel flicks. If anyone has ever looked at the filming industry and deals within it conducted by Disney, know that the Disney Company won't put a movie on the big screen unless it makes big bucks. And I mean big screen, not straight to DVD (now blue-ray) because I know those suck. Comics: Disney is not really big in the comics department. This is where Marvel will shine with the true hammer of Thor. Marvel will show them at the house that 7 dwarf's built, (read up a bit of the company's history [good and bad]) and show the uninspired animators and storytellers at Disney how to really make a story pop! Now the last part that came up, I believe is the most interesting, Theme Parks: Disney is not new to the idea or concept for theme parks. Some can say they are the staple to it. Now I don t know if they would ever create a Marvel Theme Park, which would be the sickest, but the idea has been drawn up by the Universal Company. There are rides based on the Marvel super heroes. How does this look? What is to be to that attraction? Where will Marvel and Disney stand in this now and the future? Can t wait to see.
superelite777
i think its a bad idea , me and my family will be angry at this turn of events
if its happens its God's choice(btw God is real)
Silky08
Anyone else just wanna yell, NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO
urbanmana141
CRAP!!!!! now they r gonna try to make a stupid game that mixes marvel and kingdom hearts..... number 2 was great, number 3 is gonna be awesome.... anything after that will be a wreck
GameFreak398
sorry for the double post
GameFreak398
wow ppl u act like the world is ending. this isnt that bad a thing. its not like there gonna slap a mickey mouse into the comics or movies.
GameFreak398
wow ppl u act like the world is ending. this isnt that bad a thing. its not like there gonna slap a mickey mouse into the comics or movies.
Scalfer1
i agree with deatheart. disneys gonna censor too much stuff, and i think marvels gonna go downhill. well, as long as they dont mess up the thor, captain american, and avengers movies then idc rly i guess
Scalfer1
i agree with deatheart. disneys gonna censor too much stuff, and i think marvels gonna go downhill. well, as long as they dont mess up the thor, captain american, and avengers movies then idc rly i guess
yea
DISNEY YOU ARE FULL BAD THINGS!(cant say bad words)GOD HOPE MARVEL DOESNT ACCEPT THIS BAD DEAL!
Minimoose360
I agree. Everyone in here is bollocks.
Obviously Marvel will hold control over it's creative properties. Disney will just distrubte.
asudevil2
What is up with all the irrational hatred of Disney?
SkylerPatrick
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY NOOOOOOO!
How could they allow them to do this.
:' (
DemonJin
This just in thousands of reports of mass suicides as the news of DIsney buyout of Marvel spreads.
Hallowethe
This is the end of the world as we know it. I'm sure of it.
SG_17
Well it looks like DC is now the supreme comics company instead of an equal. Disney ruins everything. They need to unfreeze Walt.
purewitz
This some bad deja vu, its like when Disney bough The Muppets from The Henson Company a few years ago.
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