Disney’s Acquisition Of 21st Century Fox
As you may have heard, in December of 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to acquire 21st Century Fox for just over $52 billion.
There are many pieces included in this but what got my blood moving was the fact that Disney would be acquiring 20th Century Fox and its film properties, notably the rights to Star Wars Episode IV, as well as the X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four characters.
Growing The Family Tree
On October 18, 2018, Disney announced several additions to its organizational structure, all of them aimed at keeping Fox senior executives on board.
Foremost among them is Emma Watts, President of Production at 20th Century Fox, who will now report directly to Disney Chairman Alan Horn. Watts will be joining such luminaries as Pete Docter (Chief Creative Officer of Pixar), Kevin Feige (President of Marvel Studios) and Kathleen Kennedy (President of Lucasfilm).
According to my man Wolves, we may already be at DEFCON 4.
Phase No More
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now near the end of its third and final planned phase. There are two movies set to release that will conclude phase three: Captain Marvel on March 8th and the untitled follow-up to Avengers: Infinity War on May 3rd.
Feige is hesitant to call anything else “phase four” though there are two movies that will immediately follow phase three: Spider-Man: Far From Home on July 5th, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is TBA at this time.
After these, according to Feige, the MCU has story treatments and ideas for movies that could potentially carry the MCU for another decade.
We know for certain that one of those movies will be a follow-up to the most culturally significant movie of all time.
Marvel Studios has secured three release dates each in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, though Feige cautions us of the MCU:
“…it’s gonna be very, very different.”
There are those, myself included, that have a sneaking suspicion that the social justice politics that have plagued Star Wars will infiltrate the MCU.
Feige’s words do not comfort me.
Let The Games Begin
My mind is spinning, wondering what Disney has planned for the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. The idea of possibly seeing Galactus on screen is very exciting.
Also, who will be handling the duties? Marvel Studios seems like the surest bet, but what of the Fox executives? It’s all very interesting.
At the suggestion of my homie Harvey Manfredjensenden, I’ll be taking a look at Ka-Zar and the Savage Land. If you’re into comic books, you know what’s up. If you’re like me, this is going to be a learning experience. Stay tuned!
Adiós amigos y amiguitas!
HTR
