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 Disney Grabs Marvel: Can Mickey and Wolverine Get Along?Posted on Aug 31, 2009
Oh, what a tangled web Spider-Man weaves. Thanks largely to the multibillion-dollar success of Marvel’s characters on the big screen, Disney is buying the fabled comic book company for $4 billion in cash and stock. The Mouse House says Marvel characters will soon be appearing at its theme parks, but that isn’t the half of it. Marvel’s characters—and there are about 5,000 of them—will also be funneled into Disney’s film, television and merchandising businesses. It will be interesting to see how Disney wedges Marvel’s edgier content (compared with the likes of Goofy, anyway) into its ecosystem. Chain-smoking Marvel front man Stan Lee isn’t exactly Uncle Walt. The company may adapt its film strategy, where more adult titles are quarantined under the Touchstone and Miramax brands. If not, the conglomerate may decide to dull Wolverine’s claws, or go a different direction and make the world of Disney a little less wonderful. According to a report in The New York Times, Disney is going after the hearts and minds of little boys. That’s where Marvel comes in. Seems “Hannah Montana” wasn’t winning over that demographic. —PS
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By CBob, September 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Just so long as THE INCREDIBLE HULK does not become a gay rights advocate.
Report thisBy Hulk2008, September 1, 2009 at 1:26 pm Link to this comment
Marvel offers characters and themes that have already been proven in the trenches of the most fertile markets - youth up through the young 30’s. So Disney has latched on to a real money machine here.
Report thisCritics may say that Disney should be producing more erudite fare - maybe King Lear or La Boheme. But why not buy into proven media?
If Disney were to go after an older crowd, maybe they could launch a theme park and characters based on the 80’s music videos.
Money, money, money…..
By Chris Fretwell, September 1, 2009 at 12:17 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Wolverine may start a rock band and wear make up with Disney control. Not good
Report thisBy Rodger Lemonde, August 31, 2009 at 12:20 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Once upon a time a big company realized it no longer
Report thishad the imagination that made it a celebrated success.
So they took a lot of money and bought some one else’s
imagination. They will exploit that until it has lost
it’s charm and then they will seek another deal for
some one’s imagination. Disney can’t have a happily
ever after until they remember that paying talented
people well to tell engaging stories is more important
than being a mega corporation.
By Pete, August 31, 2009 at 11:06 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
In my head I can hear the voice of Comic Book Guy, from The Simpsons, uttering “Worst. Buyout. EVER.”
Report this