Disney buys Marvel for $4B

[jerry557]

Do we know that is how the contract is being remunerated? Isn't a perpetual license a license where you pay a one time fee?

No. Unless you actually buy the exclusive rights which obviously Universal did not do because that's what Disney just did. Disney now owns the exclusive rights to all Marvel characters.

It would make no sense for Marvel to allow Universal to use their characters forever as well as keep all the profits to themselves forever. That would be a stupid business move.
Why would you allow another company to use your work and then profit off that work forever? Unless you have an agreement with that company that they will share the profit with you. Which is very likely what the deal is between Marvel and Universal.

 

[Metro West]

No. Unless you actually buy the exclusive rights which obviously Universal did not do because that's what Disney just did. Disney now owns the exclusive rights to all Marvel characters.

It would make no sense for Marvel to allow Universal to use their characters forever as well as keep all the profits to themselves forever. That would be a stupid business move.
Why would you allow another company to use your work and then profit off that work forever? Unless you have an agreement with that company that they will share the profit with you. Which is very likely what the deal is between Marvel and Universal.

OK...that doesn't sound quite right. If you are correct, Disney could use any of the Marvel characters anywhere and at anytime but most local sources are saying Universal has the exclusive rights for Spiderman, Hulk and Dr. Doom east of the Mississippi. Which would mean Disney could not use any likeness of those characters in their parks or advertisements for WDW. Also...they could not stop Universal from using them the way they do now. I guess we all need to wait to see what shakes out and when. I don't think this is going to the settled anytime soon.

 

[ElizabethB]

Companies pay fees to their competitors all the time, so long as the payor is also making money. I don't think Universal will mind paying a license fee to Disney, so long as it makes financial sense at Islands of Adventure for Universal to do it. I mean, what's the big deal? Phone companies pay each other to use their phone lines and mobile networks. It's just business.

When you think about it, Disney should be more worried than Universal. Disney no doubt will do a huge campaign fairly soon to bring the key Marvel characters into its fold and into its merchandising juggernaut. All the marketing of Spiderman can only help Islands of Adventure attract patrons since Islands has the Spiderman ride and Disney doesnt.

The interesting aspect of the licensing agreement is whether Universal Orlando has exclusivity or not. If they didn't think to put that in, Disney could build a competing Spiderman ride at DHS. We shall see.

Also, I don't know how you re-do Spiderman without spending a fortune -- more, probably, than it cost to create the attraction in the first place. Hulk is a different matter -- that could be re-themed fairly easily, but not Spiderman.

Also, I think it was smart of Disney from a marketing standpoint to buy the Marvel characters. Disney has the enormously popular Hannah Montana and Disney Princess franchises for girls. Disney is weak where boys are concerned. This will help their marketing to boys. I don't see an issue with Spiderman t-shirts joining Mickey t-shirts on souvenir shop shelves.

 

[keishashadow]

Also, I think it was smart of Disney from a marketing standpoint to buy the Marvel characters. Disney has the enormously popular Hannah Montana and Disney Princess franchises for girls. Disney is weak where boys are concerned. This will help their marketing to boys. I don't see an issue with Spiderman t-shirts joining Mickey t-shirts on souvenir shop shelves.

as stated in post #28 here

One point of the deal is to help Disney appeal to young men who have flocked to theaters to see Marvel superheroes such as Iron Man in recent years. That contrasts with Disney's recent successes among young women with such fare as "Hannah Montana" and the Jonas Brothers. Marvel television shows also already account for 20 hours per week of programming on Disney's recently rebranded, boy-focused cable network, Disney XD, and that looks likely to increase, Iger said. The shows are "right in the wheelhouse for boys,"

IMO - Marvel heros aren't the classic, run-of-the-mill good guys. They are flawed and different (sometimes indifferent, and ineffective) and that is precisely what makes them interesting. Disney is so PC, i'd hate to see the Marvel heros dumbed down & cleaned up .
Can u say Aloha like Stitch?
Stitch: Aloha!
Gantu: You are vile, you are flawed, you are foul.
Stitch: Also cute and fluffy!

cute & fluffy it isim willing to bet they plop the whole Marvel gang down in MGM, a theming mish mash already...could u imagine them winding up in AK and wearing pith helmets?

 

[D. Crockett]

I do love what a previous poster threw out....Kong!

Thanks. Not that it would ever happen, or not that it ever wouldn't happen. But Kong needs to be back on Universal Orlando grounds somewhere (imo). If the deal with Marvel does happen to fold, (*big if), this could be a perfect opportunity to bring Skull Island to IOA. I was just saying that if worse comes to worst and Marvel does end up leaving Universal soil, there would definitely be something spectacular to fill its shoes. As Potter shows us, Universal is no stranger to coming up with creative themed lands. And it wouldn't be like losing Marvel would ultimately destroy IOA.

What made me think of an entire "island" themed around King Kong was the coaster idea coming to Universal Studios Dubailand, and how easy it would be to change Hulk into Kong if it had to.
Mind you, this concept art (see below) shows an inverted/flying coaster, which Hulk certainly is not. But still gives an idea to how the incredible theming of Peter Jackson's King Kong could nicely fit into the layout & design of what the Hulk is now. The power-launch at the beginning could easily symbolize Kong's rage, and you know the minds at Universal would have a field day with the line theming.

Now what about a Spiderman replacement? Remember folks, just being hypothetical, so roll with it. The details of the new Kong attraction coming to the backlot tour in Hollywood are as follows:
The tram pulls into a building. Passengers put on 3-D glasses. The presentation is from the scene where Kong battles the t-rex, and the passengers are stuck right in the middle of it. I know what you're thinking, IOA already has a dino theme in Jurassic Park. But it could still follow a similar concept, where Kong is fighting other creatures. This idea also allows IOA to use the exact same effects & layout which made Spiderman a hit in the first place, including a simulated "fall" at the end like Spidey has now.

Dr. Doom & Storm Force could easily be re-themed to fit Skull Island, while still remaining the same rides everyone knows & loves.

Sorry to waste everyone's time with a big "what-if". I just think USO needs Kong back on park grounds. The original Kongfrontation at USF was a staple attraction. True, the technology & thrill factor became outdated, and it's replacement--Mummy--is one of our all-time favorites. But I think a Skull Island would fit in nicely at IOA somewhere, and this new Disney acquisition of Marvel could open up some doors in the distant future.

 

[Metro West]

WOW...wouldn't that be something?

 

[caseybruna]

Thanks. Not that it would ever happen, or not that it ever wouldn't happen. But Kong needs to be back on Universal Orlando grounds somewhere (imo). If the deal with Marvel does happen to fold, (*big if), this could be a perfect opportunity to bring Skull Island to IOA. I was just saying that if worse comes to worst and Marvel does end up leaving Universal soil, there would definitely be something spectacular to fill its shoes. As Potter shows us, Universal is no stranger to coming up with creative themed lands. And it wouldn't be like losing Marvel would ultimately destroy IOA.

What made me think of an entire "island" themed around King Kong was the coaster idea coming to Universal Studios Dubailand, and how easy it would be to change Hulk into Kong if it had to.
Mind you, this concept art (see below) shows an inverted/flying coaster, which Hulk certainly is not. But still gives an idea to how the incredible theming of Peter Jackson's King Kong could nicely fit into the layout & design of what the Hulk is now. The power-launch at the beginning could easily symbolize Kong's rage, and you know the minds at Universal would have a field day with the line theming.

Now what about a Spiderman replacement? Remember folks, just being hypothetical, so roll with it. The details of the new Kong attraction coming to the backlot tour in Hollywood are as follows:
The tram pulls into a building. Passengers put on 3-D glasses. The presentation is from the scene where Kong battles the t-rex, and the passengers are stuck right in the middle of it. I know what you're thinking, IOA already has a dino theme in Jurassic Park. But it could still follow a similar concept, where Kong is fighting other creatures. This idea also allows IOA to use the exact same effects & layout which made Spiderman a hit in the first place, including a simulated "fall" at the end like Spidey has now.

Dr. Doom & Storm Force could easily be re-themed to fit Skull Island, while still remaining the same rides everyone knows & loves.

Sorry to waste everyone's time with a big "what-if". I just think USO needs Kong back on park grounds. The original Kongfrontation at USF was a staple attraction. True, the technology & thrill factor became outdated, and it's replacement--Mummy--is one of our all-time favorites. But I think a Skull Island would fit in nicely at IOA somewhere, and this new Disney acquisition of Marvel could open up some doors in the distant future.

Very cool stuff

 

[Mad Hattered]

Thanks. Not that it would ever happen, or not that it ever wouldn't happen. But Kong needs to be back on Universal Orlando grounds somewhere (imo). If the deal with Marvel does happen to fold, (*big if), this could be a perfect opportunity to bring Skull Island to IOA. I was just saying that if worse comes to worst and Marvel does end up leaving Universal soil, there would definitely be something spectacular to fill its shoes. As Potter shows us, Universal is no stranger to coming up with creative themed lands. And it wouldn't be like losing Marvel would ultimately destroy IOA.

What made me think of an entire "island" themed around King Kong was the coaster idea coming to Universal Studios Dubailand, and how easy it would be to change Hulk into Kong if it had to.
Mind you, this concept art (see below) shows an inverted/flying coaster, which Hulk certainly is not. But still gives an idea to how the incredible theming of Peter Jackson's King Kong could nicely fit into the layout & design of what the Hulk is now. The power-launch at the beginning could easily symbolize Kong's rage, and you know the minds at Universal would have a field day with the line theming.

Now what about a Spiderman replacement? Remember folks, just being hypothetical, so roll with it. The details of the new Kong attraction coming to the backlot tour in Hollywood are as follows:
The tram pulls into a building. Passengers put on 3-D glasses. The presentation is from the scene where Kong battles the t-rex, and the passengers are stuck right in the middle of it. I know what you're thinking, IOA already has a dino theme in Jurassic Park. But it could still follow a similar concept, where Kong is fighting other creatures. This idea also allows IOA to use the exact same effects & layout which made Spiderman a hit in the first place, including a simulated "fall" at the end like Spidey has now.

Dr. Doom & Storm Force could easily be re-themed to fit Skull Island, while still remaining the same rides everyone knows & loves.

Sorry to waste everyone's time with a big "what-if". I just think USO needs Kong back on park grounds. The original Kongfrontation at USF was a staple attraction. True, the technology & thrill factor became outdated, and it's replacement--Mummy--is one of our all-time favorites. But I think a Skull Island would fit in nicely at IOA somewhere, and this new Disney acquisition of Marvel could open up some doors in the distant future.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!! Great ideas!!! It is good to dream though.

 

[phamton]

That isnt the point. The point is that Universal is paying royalties to Marvel. Now that Disney owns Marvel, it means Universal is paying money to its biggest competitor. In other words, every ticket sale, a slice goes to Mickey Mouse.

Universal will not be able to stomach this for very long. A shrewd move by Disney and a punch in the gut to Universal.

Why would Universal care who they pay a royalty to? Do you remember that commercial that ran almost 2 years by Disney. it showed a mom figuring out how much a trip to Disney would cost. She is on her computer. Meanwhile the 2 kids are looking out the window and seeing the Cinderella coach driving up. The music playing in that is from the Universal Studios movie Peter Pan ( not the Disney movie of Peter Pan). The music is called "Flying" and in case you forgot the music, you can listen to it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029QKABW/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk2/183-6407670-0424207
So Disney chose to pay a royalty fee to use Universal Studios' music rather than some music that they already owned. It happens all the time.

 

[2BigKIdz]

I checked out a Marvel forum this morning and no, they definitely were not a happy bunch.

My husband is a huge marvel fan and was very upset by the purchase, he thinks Disney will make the super heroes into wimps Disney does a lot more than just children's movies with all of their different production companies, I am sure the future Marvel movies will be just fine and as violent as ever.

Spiderman is my favorite ride, but I don't think I would be too upset with it being updated to Transformers or something else as long as it is as awesome as Spiderman is now!

Cruella's fear fall good one

 

[2BigKIdz]

The Kong stuff sounds really cool. I'm sure Universal would find something spectacular to replace Marvel Island if/when the need arises.

 

[Planogirl]

Kong does sound cool but it wouldn't it be too similar to Jurassic Park? I like the ideas though.

I'm a little worried about the potential dumbing down of the Marvel characters too. They are already a bit on the nice side particularly Wolverine. I don't see how Disney can present them properly next to Pixar characters, Muppets and robots.

I've seen mention of four Marvel characters staying put in Universal for sure. I suppose that the fourth one would be Storm.

 

[chalee94]

IMO - Marvel heros aren't the classic, run-of-the-mill good guys. They are flawed and different (sometimes indifferent, and ineffective) and that is precisely what makes them interesting. Disney is so PC, i'd hate to see the Marvel heros dumbed down & cleaned up .

i heard disney was planning to make a "fluffy" movie or 3 using some dirty old pirates as the "good guys." how did that turn out?

 

[Coach81]

If the Orlando Sentinel is correct, the license arrangement giving Universal-Orlando the right to use and exploit Spider Man and the Hulk for their ride attractions is virtually perpetual -- the license lasts as long as the theme park lasts

A smart poster on the first page speculated that the license likely is perpetual, and apparently it is. Good call!

Since Universal was smart enough to negotiate a perpetual license, they no doubt were also smart enough to negotiate a manageable license fee for the foreseeable future with little, or most probably no, leeway for a subsequent party in a change of control (i.e., Disney in this case) to raise the price above the already negotiated fees and periodic lockstep increases.

So, based on the Sentinel article, nothing to worry about at Islands of Adventure for a very, very long time. Many if not most of us will be dead before this is ever an issue.

The only thing for Universal is that they shouldn't start planning a West Coast Islands of Adventure -- unless they plan to build it without any license for the Marvel characters!

Thank goodness! I like Marval Island the way it is!

 

[Jonny_Duck]

My husband is a huge marvel fan and was very upset by the purchase, he thinks Disney will make the super heroes into wimps Disney does a lot more than just children's movies with all of their different production companies, I am sure the future Marvel movies will be just fine and as violent as ever.

Spiderman is my favorite ride, but I don't think I would be too upset with it being updated to Transformers or something else as long as it is as awesome as Spiderman is now!

Cruella's fear fall good one

If he enjoys the movies he may have something to fear. Its just speculation but one analyst mentioned how Thor may be shelved since Disney may not want to pump out 150 mill on a hero that is not widely known. Who knows if they will ever make the Avengers or not. I doubt the comics will change much but they may change movies into lighter versions but idk how that will work, imo they already light versions.

I personally enjoy the movies but don't read the comics.

Why would Universal care who they pay a royalty to?

I agree they probably won't care. But it depends on what the terms are of the agreement. Disney may try to pull a power struggle somehow to get the sales in their parks of the merchandise. I doubt anything will change anytime soon though.

 

[Slacking]

I'm wondering how the Marvel fanatics are taking this. Not well I imagine.

I'm a big Marvel fan, and am actually fairly intrigued (in a positive way) by this development.

I think the Marvel characters will be a great way for Disney to attract a tween/teen boy audience that will not be swayed by the Princess/Hannah Montana/HSM stuff. Also, if you turn to DisneyXD, they have been playing many Marvel cartoons (X-men Evolution, 90's X-men, Spider-man, etc.) for awhile now. And those properties are a hot business right now (Movies, Videogames, Cartoons), so while Dfisney may not reap the benefits right away due to existing contracts, I think it was a smart move.

And, I don't think we'll see much change in the theme parks for awhile. I expect IOA to stay the way it is (for the near future), and don't expect to see much change at WDW except for maybe some merchandise and Meet and Greets at Hollywood Studios (which may depend on the Universal contract).

As for the publishing aspect, I don't expect a whole lot to change, but think that Marvel will eventually start a Disney Imprint (again, when current contracts run up).

One more thing, Marvel themselves have been trying to fluff up some of their characters for awhile now. The superhero squad of action figures (and soon to be video game AND cartoon) takes Marvel characters and makes them "cuter" and kid friendlier.

I'm optimistic about this, and think that there won't be too many noticeable changes for the time being.

 

[Figment22]

Also, if you turn to DisneyXD, they have been playing many Marvel cartoons (X-men Evolution, 90's X-men, Spider-man, etc.) for awhile now. And those properties are a hot business right now (Movies, Videogames, Cartoons), so while Dfisney may not reap the benefits right away due to existing contracts, I think it was a smart move.

'Spectacular Spider-Man' TV Series: Disney/Marvel Deal's First Victim?

Much of the comic book industry is taking a "wait and see" approach to Disney's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, but we could already be seeing our first casualty of the recent merger.

When IGN spoke with "The Spectacular Spider-Man" supervising producer Greg Weisman about the show's future, the veteran producer dropped the bombshell that Sony will not continue producing the series, which currently airs on Disney XD and is waiting for the go-ahead on a third season.

According to Weisman, Sony relinquished all television rights to the Spider-Man character in exchange for "some concession vis-a-vis the live action 'Spider-Man' features" from Disney/Marvel.

The news offers a clear indication that the House of Mouse is already doing everything in its power to put the Marvel brand under one roof, or as much of it as possible. While it doesn't sound like Disney/Marvel is any closer to securing Spidey's film rights from Sony, it might just be a matter of time.

As for "The Spectacular Spider-Man" itself, Weisman offered interesting insight into the potential fate of the beloved cartoon series, which already has two successful seasons behind it, in light of Disney's recent acquisition.

"If Disney XD decides they don't want any episodes, it's no longer likely that we'd shop the series around to XD's competitors," warned Weisman. "So any decision [about future episodes of 'Spectacular'] begins at XD, I would think. And before you ask, no, nobody at Disney has talked to me about the series."

In other words, "The Spectacular Spider-Man" is hanging by a thin web—a web held firmly in the gloved palm of Mickey Mouse.

 

[h20jag]

I'm a big Marvel fan, and am actually fairly intrigued (in a positive way) by this development.

I think the Marvel characters will be a great way for Disney to attract a tween/teen boy audience that will not be swayed by the Princess/Hannah Montana/HSM stuff. Also, if you turn to DisneyXD, they have been playing many Marvel cartoons (X-men Evolution, 90's X-men, Spider-man, etc.) for awhile now. And those properties are a hot business right now (Movies, Videogames, Cartoons), so while Dfisney may not reap the benefits right away due to existing contracts, I think it was a smart move.

And, I don't think we'll see much change in the theme parks for awhile. I expect IOA to stay the way it is (for the near future), and don't expect to see much change at WDW except for maybe some merchandise and Meet and Greets at Hollywood Studios (which may depend on the Universal contract).

As for the publishing aspect, I don't expect a whole lot to change, but think that Marvel will eventually start a Disney Imprint (again, when current contracts run up).

One more thing, Marvel themselves have been trying to fluff up some of their characters for awhile now. The superhero squad of action figures (and soon to be video game AND cartoon) takes Marvel characters and makes them "cuter" and kid friendlier.

I'm optimistic about this, and think that there won't be too many noticeable changes for the time being.

Cutesy picture.
I'm at a loss here.

 

[keishashadow]

i heard disney was planning to make a "fluffy" movie or 3 using some dirty old pirates as the "good guys." how did that turn out?

turned out to be one of our favs actually

disney was one of the 1st to have unsavory charactars, ie 'dirty old pirates' featured in POC ride, unfortunately it's been sanitized over the years...still charming, yet not the same.

my point is when a park decides to aim every attraction @ level of 7 - 8 year old child, you're going to lose % of fan base; which is why Universal so close to WDW is a great option for those of us who like a little extra zing/sugar in our tea.I'd hate to see the parks become near clones of each other.

 

[ChrisFL]

what's Twilight? Isn't it that the franchise just for teen girls or something?