Marvel Shared Film Universe: MCU Theatrical & TV (discussion, crossovers, etc.)

[BathTub]

[Pastor of Muppets]

I can't comprehend the sheer cost of actors in that movie.

[Darth Geek]

I'm only bothered by Black Widow being blonde.

[anais.butterfly]

Chris Evans with a beard is the sexiest thing I have ever seen.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I went ahead and ordered all the movies on DVD.  Amazon refuses to sell Thor 2 or Captain America to non-Prime members, so I had to go get those from WalMart.  16 movies, about 10 bucks apiece.

[LucasM]

Update.  Yeah, that pic in the first post may get a whole lot simpler soon.

BREAKING: Disney and Fox Closing In On Deal; May Be Finalized Next Week

That elusive Fox-Disney deal that everyone has been talking about in the past few weeks made some huge strides this past couple of days when 2 big reports dropped regarding its status. One dropped last weekend, stating that the House of Mouse has re-entered talks to purchase several of the companies media assets after reports surfaced that the deal was off. Another dropped last night, stating that Fox has the hots for Disney more than any of the other companies interested in purchasing them, given how they're a more "strategic fit" and how they present "less regulatory hurdles". And just now, CNBC dropped a bombshell to top it all off: Disney and Fox are actually closing in on a deal and an announcement may be made next week.

    "Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox are closing in on a deal and it could come as soon as next week, according to sources familiar with the matter."

So holy shit. This might actually happen after all. We didn't think this would be possible in a billion years but here we are, closing in on what could be the biggest entertainment corporation deal in history. The trajectory of this whole Fox-Disney fiasco is a classic Hollywood play: Disney enters lukewarm talks with Fox but it goes nowhere. Fox makes the deal public by letting everyone know what was happening. A bunch of other companies quickly fall in line to negotiate. Suddenly, Disney realizes how important the deal is. Now we're here. 2017 is going to end on a Fantastic note.

[Johnny Unusual]

Like, in theory I should be worried about one company that has proved to have some questionable practices buying another big company to become even more ridiculously powerful... but I want a good Fantastic Four movie.

[LucasM]

Yes, I too, am a little leery of one company having such incredible dominance in entertainment [seriously: Disney characters, Jim Henson's legacy, Marvel, Star Wars, now everything Fox Studios may have going for it (e.g. the Avatar series)?]... but Damn: a good FF story?  Galactus as something other than a cloud?  A truly brooding, self-aware Silver Surfer?  Much less more accurate X-Men?  [I still think they could leave Deadpool 'as is'.]

And now to this:

REPORT: Disney and Fox May Have Closed the Deal

According to a report that surfaced late last night, Disney and Fox have closed the deal that would bring the X-Men, Fantastic Four and related characters into the MCU! The report is a bit fuzzy on whether or not it's reporting on CNBC's earlier report, or if it is citing it's own sources, so we are going to hold off on popping the champagne open until the official release, which is expected some time next week.

Click the title for the full article.

[LucasM]

TODAY'S NEWS:

The Fox-Disney Deal Has Been Finalized; Welcome Home, Fantastic Four & X-Men

A year ago it was purely fantasy; last spring the rhetoric began to change; today it's reality. Disney has officially announced a deal that, among many other non-MCU-related factors, will bring the live-action rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four to Marvel Studios.

Talks between Disney and Fox had been on again, off again over the past few months, as Fox explored its options and courted other suitors. With the recent news that Comcast, the last non-Disney player on the board, had left the game, it was only a matter of time before Bob Iger added to his already impressive legacy at Disney. In an official release...

Combining with Disney are 21st Century Fox's critically acclaimed film production businesses, including Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox 2000, which together offer diverse and compelling storytelling businesses and are the homes of Avatar, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool, as well as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hidden Figures, Gone Girl, The Shape of Water and The Martian—and its storied television creative units, Twentieth Century Fox Television, FX Productions and Fox21, which have brought The Americans, This Is Us, Modern Family, The Simpsons and so many more hit TV series to viewers across the globe. Disney will also acquire FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India and Fox's interests in Hulu, Sky plc, Tata Sky and Endemol Shine Group.

    The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We're honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we're excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world."

    We are extremely proud of all that we have built at 21st Century Fox, and I firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace in what is an exciting and dynamic industry," said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox. "Furthermore, I'm convinced that this combination, under Bob Iger's leadership, will be one of the greatest companies in the world. I'm grateful and encouraged that Bob has agreed to stay on, and is committed to succeeding with a combined team that is second to none.

    At the request of both 21st Century Fox and the Disney Board of Directors, Mr. Iger has agreed to continue as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company through the end of calendar year 2021.

    When considering this strategic acquisition, it was important to the Board that Bob remain as Chairman and CEO through 2021 to provide the vision and proven leadership required to successfully complete and integrate such a massive, complex undertaking," said Orin C. Smith, Lead Independent Director of the Disney Board. "We share the belief of our counterparts at 21st Century Fox that extending his tenure is in the best interests of our company and our shareholders, and will be critical to Disney's ability to effectively drive long-term value from this extraordinary acquisition.

And one more time, here's the key piece for all of us MCU fans:

The agreement also provides Disney with the opportunity to reunite the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool with the Marvel family under one roof and create richer, more complex worlds of inter-related characters and stories that audiences have shown they love.

While we are all feeling like kids on Christmas morning with our shiny new toys, it's probably going to be a while before we get any sort of concrete plan for how Kevin Feige and his crew plan to introduce mutants into the MCU. Feige has been clear that Avengers 4 is the end of a 22-film run, so it's hard to imagine any of the new characters playing too much of a role in that film. However, beginning in 2020, the sky is the limit!

We'll have much more for you on this story as it develops, but for now celebrate with your friends. The floodgates are open and the MCU will never be the same!!

[LucasM]

Supplemental good news:

Disney CEO Bob Iger Sees An "Opportunity" For R-Rated Marvel Studios Films Down the Line

Today's Disney/Fox deal is a dream come true for us here at the MCU Exchange and appears to be the gift that will keep on giving. While many fans were certain that Deadpool, one of Fox's most successful Marvel properties, would not continue under a Marvel Studios banner (despite Kevin Feige saying it was distinct possibility), Disney boss Bob Iger sees things a little differently:

Ben Fritz  [Twitter]
Iger specifically calls out "Deadpool," wants to keep making sequels. "There may be an opportunity for an R-rated Marvel brand as long as we let audiences know what's coming."

While many pundits are going to be shocked that "family friendly" Disney would consider an R-rated film, those pundits may not entirely familiar with the types of films that Disney has produced in the past and continues to produce now. This deal, like any other business deal, comes down to money. Bob Iger will walk away from Disney with a very impressive legacy because he knows HOW to make money and he knows Deadpool sequels will make money. Interestingly enough, bringing Deadpool into Marvel Studios could also help open the door for other comic book characters who may be better served in R-rated films as well, so there's plenty to think about here. Of course Deadpool could also pop up just about anywhere now, just like he does in the comics, and can be used to his full intended effect.

[BathTub]

They should make the X-Men a separate universe and then just do cross-overs rather than fully same universe.

[Johnny Unusual]

I was thinking something similar.  Maybe for shits and giggles they can cameo in each others movies but keeping those continuities separate is fine.  Until, lets say, 10 more years, when they decide to reboot both franchises, then they can consolidate.

Just give me my Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer movies.  And Doctor Doom.  Shit, I got to start dream casting Dr. Doom.

[LucasM]

Before writing more, I'll say that there are VERY few X-Men films that I think stand up to the quality of the MCU ones ('The Wolverine' and 'Days of Future Past' being a bit better than the weakest MCU films, with 'Logan' being better than over 1/2 the MCU films, [Deadpool is 'sort-of' an X-Men film, so it also fits here, as it is at least as enjoyable and well done as most MCU films]).  So my personal hope is that they will simply finish all the already-planned X-Men films that were already in production, then reboot the series within the MCU.

That is with the exception of Deadpool, who will happily stay 'as is' (apparently, according to Iger, and implied by Feige), but hopefully will make brief guest appearances in the occasional PG-13 MCU film.  Though he never interacted with any of the mainstream X-Men or appeared in any mainstream X-Men film, he could at least be making reference to his being oddly suddenly PG-13 when in a standard MCU film, and as goflyblind commented making snarky remarks about actor differences (as he did with the Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy confusion in his first film).

BUT, with the MCU now containing mutants and the FF, I would personally like to see - beyond Avengers 4 - there being two 'streams' of films.  One, the cosmic ones that Feige/Gunn have already been planning and working on [Guardians, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, hopefully Adam Warlock, etc.], and the second being terrestrial films (such as X-Men, Spider-Man, any remaining-living Avengers, etc.)  These streams would alternate at the theater, with no more than two months going by at any given time without a Marvel entry there.   An alternative might be: a PG-13 strain of films, and an R strain (possibly in a 4:2 ratio)... bringing us more Deadpool, Moon Knight, etc.  [A 'Marvel Knights MAX' film series, as it were.]  Or some combination of the two (i.e. combining the celestial/terrestraial with the PG-13/R in various ways).

Since Marvel now has all the 20th C Fox film-making resources, that should not be an issue in the production side of things.  Each studio would continue putting out the number of films they'd planned, they'd just be coordinated with one-another better.  It will, however, be a BIG increase in what Feige would be doing, unless he delegates more than what he's already done with first Whedon (for phase 2), then the Russos (for phase 3), and Gunn (for phase 4).  [Or am I 'out of phase' there?]

I do see the FF as easily fitting in to the cosmic era of the MCU - Galactus and the Silver Surfer done correctly comes immediately to mind - because the FF are, at their core, science fiction.  Possibly one of the 2021 or 2022 MCU films will be the FF.  Or has Feige been playing this very close to the vest and had insider info on the return and already planned for their return?  (An admittedly weak possibility contributing to why there are no titles beyond 2019.)

In the cosmic realm, I'd love to see Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men done in film (beyond the animated comics version).  A GOOD Dark Phoenix story is unlikely, as there is already one well into production (due out this year?), but the X-Men's link to things like the Shi'ar can have them in the cosmic MCU as well.

[Johnny Unusual]

It occurs to me I had what I think is a fun idea: film versions of Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One.   The catch would be each film would be a short double bill team-up movie: that way, all of the characters who survive Infinity War can do a short return if they want.

Still want a Black Widow movie, too, and I actually have great ideas for the premise and villains.

[Darth Geek]

Just give me my Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer movies.  And Doctor Doom.  Shit, I got to start dream casting Dr. Doom.

Dr. Doom is like Judge Dredd, we should never see his face. Just get an actor that has a recognizable voice and doesn't mind being in the suit the whole time.