The Rebooted "Keep Hope Alive" (that the rights can revert back to Marvel) Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 23

[Iceman]

I hope Feige goes on stage at comic con 2019 and confirms that xmen and f4 are officially home.

CC 2019 will be post Avengers 4 so assuming the deal is 100% closed by then, which it should be, I’d be expecting the full slate of upcoming Marvel films. Which should include entries for both F4 (likely first) and X-Men.

 

[Darkprime]

I was more talking in a general sense. Like id be happy if he just confirmed the rights were back i would not expect any movie annoncements in 2019 outside of phase 4 which is probably locked in already the 2020 films will be entering pre production soon probably dr strange 2 black widow and Eternals.

 

[Saitou Hajime]

I hope Feige goes on stage at comic con 2019 and confirms that xmen and f4 are officially home.

I hope he pulls another AoU-style teaser just to cap off the 2019 presentation, but instead of Ultron's head, we get a big ass 4 and X.

 

[Dark Raven]

I hope he pulls another AoU-style teaser just to cap off the 2019 presentation, but instead of Ultron's head, we get a big ass 4 and X.

If he comes on stage drinking this but says nothing, then we'll know:

 

[DyfeddRex]

I hope Feige goes on stage at comic con 2019 and confirms that xmen and f4 are officially home.

Better if he does it sooner, just so I can gloat and break out a bottle I set aside for just such a day.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

I was more talking in a general sense. Like id be happy if he just confirmed the rights were back i would not expect any movie annoncements in 2019 outside of phase 4 which is probably locked in already the 2020 films will be entering pre production soon probably dr strange 2 black widow and Eternals.

Well we already know that for all practical purposes the rights are back and on the date of the official closing, we'll know that for sure, so just saying the rights are back won't give us any new information.

I'd be happy with something like: "We will be making Fantastic Four and X-Men films in the future, but I can't share details yet." but Ideally I'd like something more specific.

 

[Orba]

Ok...
Constantin have been a passenger in this deal since around 1995 when they, with Marvel's agreement, signed over full control to Fox, as they clearly could not make an FF film remotely worthy of a theatrical release at that time.

In 1999 it was Fox, NOT Constantin, who got an extension as Fox had been dragging their heels and the reversion deadline was looming (this is why the rights did not revert although there was 12 years between the Constantin Corman effort and Fox's Story flick).

The only thing Constantin kept was a co-producer credit and distribution rights in Germany and I think Austria. Fox financed and controlled the films in full. If Fox had let deadline run out the rights would have reverted back to Marvel and Constantin couldn't have done a damn thing about it.

So now with Marvel buying that Fox contract, the FF rights will be home. It is possible Constantin might still have a claim for an 'in association with' credit under the terms agreed with Fox & Marvel back in the 90's, and maybe limited European distribution rights as before (although the latter might have been more of a courtesy than a legal requirement). If that is the case Disney can either let them keep that token gesture, cut them a check to piss off, or if they saw fit simply wait until the deadline runs out in 2022 and be done with them for good.

Whatever happens, the deals closes, the FF are home.

An always useful link for when people bring up Constantin

1994: When a Troubled 'Fantastic Four' Film Was Just Shelved Entirely

The film was rushed into production five days before Neue's option ran out. Once it was completed, the German company had 90 days to buy out Corman's distribution rights, which, surprisingly, it did. "I went to lunch with Bernd, who told me he'd sold both the film and the rights to Fox, who was going to make a $60 million version and they didn't want this low-budget movie around," recalls Corman. "I was kind of disappointed because it would have been an interesting challenge to distribute, but I was sitting there with a pretty hefty check."

"Bernd" being Bernd Eichinger, the head of Constantin. And 'Neue' being short for Neue Constantin Film.

 

[Iceman]

CNBC: Disney has a “great deal of confidence” that it can obtain Chinese approval for its planned purchase of 21st-Century Fox assets

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

CNBC: Disney has a “great deal of confidence” that it can obtain Chinese approval for its planned purchase of 21st-Century Fox assets

We've gone from hanging on every word from Comcast to hanging on every word from China.

At worst, I think China could delay things, but even lack of Chinese approval won't kill the deal. It would just force Disney to jump through some hoops and maybe segregate the Chinese business in a different company.

 

[Iceman]

We've gone from hanging on every word from Comcast to hanging on every word from China.

At worst, I think China could delay things, but even lack of Chinese approval won't kill the deal. It would just force Disney to jump through some hoops and maybe segregate the Chinese business in a different company.

Yep, exactly.

 

[Zarex]

CNBC: Disney has a “great deal of confidence” that it can obtain Chinese approval for its planned purchase of 21st-Century Fox assets

CNBC (Tomorrow): Disney to invest $5B in Xi Jinping Appreciation Park next door to Shanghai Disneyland.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Have a feeling they’ll get all the approval they need without any trouble

It’s looking good so far

 

[Iceman]

CNBC (Tomorrow): Disney to invest $5B in Xi Jinping Appreciation Park next door to Shanghai Disneyland.

 

[Detective Conan]

We've gone from hanging on every word from Comcast to hanging on every word from China.

At worst, I think China could delay things, but even lack of Chinese approval won't kill the deal. It would just force Disney to jump through some hoops and maybe segregate the Chinese business in a different company.

A lack of Chinese approval did kill this.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/qualcomms-44b-nxp-acquisition-dies-after-failing-to-get-regulatory-approval-from-china/

How will Disney be any different?

 

[Big Bang]

A lack of Chinese approval did kill this.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/qualcomms-44b-nxp-acquisition-dies-after-failing-to-get-regulatory-approval-from-china/

How will Disney be any different?

Core business vs. a subsidiary. The parts China has to approve could be sold off if they can't come to an agreement. Removing them from the equation.

 

[wobbly]

Huge difference in turnover there as well as I understand it. 2 thirds of Qualcomm's revenue (66%) generated in China Vs 2% of Fox's?

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

A lack of Chinese approval did kill this.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/qualcomms-44b-nxp-acquisition-dies-after-failing-to-get-regulatory-approval-from-china/

How will Disney be any different?

It's different because China is HUGE in the semi-conductor world. If you're making semi-conductors, you NEED to have free-flow in and out of China so you can get supplies from China, you can perform production in China and you can sell to China.

Entertainment is much different and much less dependent on China. Sure, Disney wants that market, but if the price of finalizing this deal is losing that market (not likely), they'll remove China from the equation before scuttling the deal.

 

[wobbly]

That's how I see it. Worse case scenario they remove Fox assets from China.

Qualcomm is utterly dependent on China.

 

[Marvel united]

Core business vs. a subsidiary. The parts China has to approve could be sold off if they can't come to an agreement. Removing them from the equation.

Does that mean Marvel won't be able release X-Men movies in China? Because that's a huge market

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Does that mean Marvel won't be able release X-Men movies in China? Because that's a huge market

They could arrange a deal with a distributor... like Constantin.

 

[Iceman]

I was more talking in a general sense. Like id be happy if he just confirmed the rights were back i would not expect any movie annoncements in 2019 outside of phase 4 which is probably locked in already the 2020 films will be entering pre production soon probably dr strange 2 black widow and Eternals.

Going by past form we will be due them by that stage. I think keeping the 2 Avengers films spoiler-free is the reason announcing a future slate has been delayed. Of course it will be great to hear them talking at some point in the future, even if its only to confirm they have the rights back and are working on things behind the scenes (or at least plan to start doing so).

 

[Iceman]

They could arrange a deal with a distributor... like Constantin.

Haha, Constantin is getting a lot of free publicity over this.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

And realistically, China probably doesn't have any big objections. They want Disney doing business in China, but there are probably also some concessions they'd like to get. So they may not make it easy and they may demand some things, but they won't be putting up a brick wall.

 

[Big Bang]

Does that mean Marvel won't be able release X-Men movies in China? Because that's a huge market

Assets in question primarily pertain to Star in China. I wouldn't get too hung up on China.

 

[Detective Conan]

Assets in question primarily pertain to Star in China. I wouldn't get too hung up on China.

If not China, what are the chances of the FCC approving the deal?