The Rebooted "Keep Hope Alive" (that the rights can revert back to Marvel) Thread - Part 7

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Of course they will.

Why wouldn't Rupert Murdoch's swallow another $80 million plus loss and watch his stock plummet? It's all starting to make perfect sense to me!


You really think Supergirl is a bigger brand than X-Men?

Yep.

I feel like you are ignoring the fact the reason they can't keep the billions themselves is a legal boundary. They can't do anything X-Men TV related without Fox getting involved, as the previous deal stated. They tried that, and they started a lawsuit over Mutant X that lasted three years. I've said this several times. The reason they can't just keep it all themselves is because there is a legal conflict presented by them making their own X-Men themed TV series. They can't do it on their own. So the idea that Marvel has complete control over X-Men TV rights basically is in and of itself a fallacy. Marvel clearly tried to test that ownership with Mutant X and failed.

And here's where you appear to be struggling. You are under the assumption that Marvel under Disney is the same company that they were as an independent entity. And that they have the same incentive to invest in the X-Men that they did back in 2001. That, of course, is patently false. Disney/Marvel had no interest in the X-Men. Zero. That changed last year. We don't yet know why. But we will eventually find out.


Actually no they couldn't have. They could never have made money all along on a show on their own without running the risk of upsetting Fox. Hence Marvel going into making their own Mutant X show WITHOUT Fox after Fox already produced and released their own X-Men movie, and Fox was NOT happy.

Actually yes. So long as they don't say "mutant" or "X-Men" Marvel can put shows on the air with all sorts of powered up folks. And in case you didn't notice, Marvel put away their shine box. The relationship changed a smidge since the Mutant X days and upsetting FOX is no longer a concern. You think FOX is going to push around the Mouse? Please.
 
Maybe Disney should allow FOX to make that grand Xmen/FF crossover so they can get a small cut of the profits since they are being so generous to FOX these days.
 
Sorry, I should have said movie merch (Fox gets a cut from that). Last Fox film to get significant tie in merch was Origins. There's been no FF or X-Men animation that I know of outside of guest spots in other toons.

We know they would have had to change the contract simply to allow Fox's TV efforts to proceed legally. You think Disney would just sign off on that without favourable changes??

What are your ideas for favorable changes? Everyone's idea here seems to be Fantastic Four film rights. When there's no evidence of anything of the sort.

And Marvel can and will be doing the Inhumans, which are not far off the same basic concept.

Well, Marvel's been planning to do Inhumans for years. It's only now finally happening, except now as a TV series instead of a movie. The concept of Inhumans actually isn't similar to X-Men at all. The Inhumans follows the exploits of the Inhuman royal family. It's quite different than the X-Men, other than that you can argue story similarities to mutants and Inhumans and how they share some strange random powers. Sometimes they actually look physically mutated, other times the mutations or Inhuman powers are just manifested by psychic or ESP abilities.

'Need' and 'want' are different things. Do they need the FF? No, not really. Would they want them? Yes, I think they certainly would.

Of course Marvel wants all of that. They want X-Men back. Too. Do you really think they don't? I'd bet Feige would love to work with the X-Men and Wolverine in his playground. But they can't for right now. It still hasn't changed. There's no evidence any of these circumstances have changed for the films.

You are on the other hand seem to almost revel (Boom...) in telling us all Disney are perfectly happy to let Fox get a TV foothold with X-Men, with no more than a stake of the money in return. For me, considering the history between the two studios and knowing Disney are bullish to say the least about their IP's, that doesn't add up.

Fox's TV foothold has value to Disney obviously because it's a foothold they legally couldn't realize. Until proven otherwise, there's no evidence of this deal including film rights of other character sets.
 
Why wouldn't Rupert Murdoch's swallow another $80 million plus loss and watch his stock plummet? It's all starting to make perfect sense to me!

So your scenario is Rupert Murodch, kindly compassionate Rupert Murdoch, would be more than happy to offload Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, and Galactus to Marvel so they will now control all those characters and make them profitable instead? He's going to gladly hand them over so Disney get them back and make them a viable film property again that make billions of dollars? He's going to do that with a smile on his face? The

As you said, Yep.

And here's where you appear to be struggling. You are under the assumption that Marvel under Disney is the same company that they were as an independent entity. And that they have the same incentive to invest in the X-Men that they did back in 2001. That, of course, is patently false. Disney/Marvel had no interest in the X-Men. Zero. That changed last year. We don't yet know why. But we will eventually find out.

Find out what exactly?

Actually yes. So long as they don't say "mutant" or "X-Men" Marvel can put shows on the air with all sorts of powered up folks. And in case you didn't notice, Marvel put away their shine box. The relationship changed a smidge since the Mutant X days and upsetting FOX is no longer a concern. You think FOX is going to push around the Mouse? Please.

Except they can't be mutant or X-Men shows. Marvel can is and is putting on tons of shows with powered up folks in case you haven't noticed already.

No I don't think that at all. I think the very idea that you insinuate that is wrong. I think it's the exact opposite. Under this deal, Marvel can push their weight around more with Fox because they have something that Fox wants. Doesn't mean Fantastic Four would happily hand over Fantastic Four in exchange, which there is 100 percent no evidence for at all.
 
So your scenario is Rupert Murodch, kindly compassionate Rupert Murdoch, would be more than happy to offload Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, and Galactus to Marvel so they will now control all those characters and make them profitable instead? He's going to gladly hand them over so Disney get them back and make them a viable film property again that make billions of dollars? He's going to do that with a smile on his face? The

As you said, Yep.

My scenario involves rational billionaire Murdoch making decisions in the best interests of his family and stockholders, and not allowing petty jealousy to cause him to further lose ground to the Comcasts and AT&Ts of the world. And accepting a deal that will allow him to expand his lucrative X-Men franchise. It does not involve Bob freakin' Iger grabbing his toes and assuming the Avi Arad negotiating stance.


Except they can't be mutant or X-Men shows. Marvel can is and is putting on tons of shows with powered up folks in case you haven't noticed already.

No I don't think that at all. I think the very idea that you insinuate that is wrong. I think it's the exact opposite. Under this deal, Marvel can push their weight around more with Fox because they have something that Fox wants. Doesn't mean Fantastic Four would happily hand over Fantastic Four in exchange, which there is 100 percent no evidence for at all.


Again, as we've seen in the past, Marvel has asked for character reversion in past deals with FOX. But they switched directions when handing over their biggest bargaining tool. Nope, still doesn't make a bit of sense.


And you're under the assumption that slapping an X on the title is going to drive the FOX shows to ratings that Marvel couldn't generate on their own. Featuring Legion and those other guys not from the movies series which is having its own struggles. We shall see.
 
My scenario involves rational billionaire Murdoch making decisions in the best interests of his family and stockholders, and not allowing petty jealousy to cause him to further lose ground to the Comcasts and AT&Ts of the world. And accepting a deal that will allow him to expand his lucrative X-Men franchise. It does not involve Bob freakin' Iger grabbing his toes and assuming the Avi Arad negotiating stance.

Stockholders would not be happy with Rupert Murdoch if Fox last a franchise that returned to Marvel and made them billions that Fox previously controlled. Your vulgar analogy is also invalid because there's no such thing going on. Just as there's no proof to support your scenario.


Again, as we've seen in the past, Marvel has asked for character reversion in past deals with FOX. But they switched directions when handing over their biggest bargaining tool. Nope, still doesn't make a bit of sense.

And you're under the assumption that slapping an X on the title is going to drive the FOX shows to ratings that Marvel couldn't generate on their own. Featuring Legion and those other guys not from the movies series which is having its own struggles. We shall see.

There's really no sense in giving up Fantastic Four film rights for X-Men TV rights if you are Fox.

There's no magical box Fantastic Four is hiding in at Disney right now. It's not real. Deadline, THR, or Variety or one of the major trades would've picked up on it by now if that was the case.
 
What are your ideas for favorable changes? Everyone's idea here seems to be Fantastic Four film rights. When there's no evidence of anything of the sort.

First, and once again I have to state this: I am not saying the FF were in the deal, so stop ignoring that (cutting it from my quotes as below) and replying to me as if I have.

Now, what would be favourable?

Obviously this is pure speculation but for one we know Marvel don't see much money from the films. Disney isn't hard up so that in itself isn't a huge issue, but if they have the chance to get a better cut (of gross points too, as it's likely the original contract is for net points given Marvel didn't have a clue what they were doing back then) then that's something I think they would try to wrangle, not least as it reduces Fox's revenue.

2nd could be reducing Fox's cut of tie in merchandising. Disney could still refuse to make any, but if they do they'd get more of the profits. Fox getting a smaller cut from merch that is being made, rather than nothing form merch that is stonewalled, is still a better option for them there.

3rd (though probably not able to get this one ) would be a reduction in the reversion deadlines. If they really wanted to push it going for a definitive date in the future where the rights have to elapse regardless might have been something they considered (say something like 20 years, then that's that's all fox). This one though is highly unlikely as Fox's 'keep em forever as long as we churn out a flick' is a stranglehold I can't see them willingly giving up, especially for TV shows (which can go either way in terms of success).

Whatever the particulars might have been though the Bottom line is this: Given the chance to renegotiate the T&C's of the originally very one sided contract, Disney's lawyers would make it considerably better for Disney than it was before, and with an eye at making the overall future of the franchise with Fox weaker rather than stronger. With Fox struggling on the CBM front there is some blood is in the water. Would be Poor form for a Shark to ignore that.

Well, Marvel's been planning to do Inhumans for years. It's only now finally happening, except now as a TV series instead of a movie. The concept of Inhumans actually isn't similar to X-Men at all. The Inhumans follows the exploits of the Inhuman royal family. It's quite different than the X-Men, other than that you can argue story similarities to mutants and Inhumans and how they share some strange random powers. Sometimes they actually look physically mutated, other times the mutations or Inhuman powers are just manifested by psychic or ESP abilities.
The Inhumans movie is still on the table atm, though how that meshes with the series (if they go ahead with the flick) remains to be seen.

And not similar? I disagree: The window dressing is different but the basic concept behind the abilities is 'born that way'. Mutants get their powers from their X-Gene when they hit puberty, Inhumans from their altered DNA when they get exposed to Terrigen crystals.

No radioactive spiders, gamma rays, super solider serums, hi tech armor or suits, alien god with a super hammer, or particles that grow and shrink things. The capacity for powers is in already in their DNA from birth, so no elaborate origin story required to introduce new characters when desired.

And in recent years Terrigen was released worldwide in the books, with the new Inhumans outside of Attilan pretty much being the same as mutants (some were even going to Xaviers school).

Of course Marvel wants all of that. They want X-Men back. Too. Do you really think they don't? I'd bet Feige would love to work with the X-Men and Wolverine in his playground. But they can't for right now. It still hasn't changed. There's no evidence any of these circumstances have changed for the films.
Straw man question as you asked me about the FF, not the X-Men. Obviously, and they have not been coy about the matter, they want all their characters back.

Fox's TV foothold has value to Disney obviously because it's a foothold they legally couldn't realize.
It's a foothold for a rival, one they have historically not been on great terms with, and for a property you admit yourself Marvel want back.

Until proven otherwise, there's no evidence of this deal including film rights of other character sets.
Like I've said before and said above I don't think the FF was part of the deal. I know you want to hammer home your 'no evidence' argument, but please don't cut my comments when replying to them which show where I stand on the matter.

Lastly, this is already going round in circles. You call for evidence, which is fair enough, while others speculate. The very nature of speculation is that there isn't any firm evidence. You look at things, consider the possibilities, and come up with a theory.

As such we are just gonna be repeating ourselves over and over and I cant be bothered to keep going over the same points again and again.

I prefer to remember the title of this thread, and await the day the hope might be realised.
 
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Stockholders would not be happy with Rupert Murdoch if Fox last a franchise that returned to Marvel and made them billions that Fox previously controlled. Your vulgar analogy is also invalid because there's no such thing going on. Just as there's no proof to support your scenario.

Stockholders would not be happy if Rupert traded in a franchise that hasn't earned him a dime in over a decade - and in fact lost him $80 million last year - in exchange for television rights which you have stated time and time again are super valuable? Remember a billion a year for the WB shows?

There's no magical box Fantastic Four is hiding in at Disney right now. It's not real. Deadline, THR, or Variety or one of the major trades would've picked up on it by now if that was the case.

Just like Deadline, THR and Variety picked up that the Punisher, Daredevil and Ghost Rider rights had reverted?

I must disagree with Wobbly on this one. I do believe that the reversion of the FF rights was part of the X-Men deal. I don't know whether the FF character family will be coming over next year, 2018, 2020 or 2023, but based on Marvel's past dealings with FOX I can't envision a scenario under which they would hand over live action rights to Disney owned characters without getting rights back in return. The deal as presented simply doesn't smell right, as it is one that would require Disney/Marvel acting against their own interests.

Would the Mouse give up their exclusive control over Marvel branded television program? Would this same company willingly extend FOX's control over Disney's X-Men franchise in exchange for a slice of those programs? Would they not even ask for the FF, a franchise which holds zero value to FOX in exchange, and one they had attempted to acquire multiple times (one ALLEGEDLY)? And if rebuffed, why wouldn't Iger and company walk away from the negotiating table? FOX was pushing to have at least one show on the air by 2017. Timing was on Disney/Marvel's side.

Admittedly, the proof is on your side. And if you turn out to be wrong, you can always say that there was no proof to support that scenario. Which is correct. But sometimes it makes sense to put on your thinking cap, attempt to sort out the corporate bullspit, and use your brain power to come to a logical conclusion. Excelsior!
 
I must disagree with Wobbly on this one. I do believe that the reversion of the FF rights was part of the X-Men deal. I don't know whether the FF character family will be coming over next year, 2018, 2020 or 2023, but based on Marvel's past dealings with FOX I can't envision a scenario under which they would hand over live action rights to Disney owned characters without getting rights back in return. The deal as presented simply doesn't smell right, as it is one that would require Disney/Marvel acting against their own interests.

I'm just being more cautious about all this, given it looked like we were getting close last time round and had our hopes dashed at the last.

I do have my own suspicions about the deal (I figure there must be more to it than we know atm), and a possible FF reversion is not out of bounds, but it's just something I refuse to let myself beleive at the moment.

I will stick with hope for now, and belief (and no small relief) will come if an FF reversion does get confirmed.
 
Well, Deadline did report on Daredevil reverting back in 2013.
 
Yes, and are they not making those shows? Now they can make those shows and still profit from Fox making Legion as well. Win-win.

Do you really even believe this, or are you just putting it out there because you don't have an alternate, viable explanation?

Disney owns a number of ABC channels. They also own a number of Disney channels and a number of ESPN channels. (All told, I believe they own something like 10-20 channels.

Every viewer who is watching Legion on Fox is not watching one of those Disney-owned channels.

And if it's just about the almighty dollar, why does Disney not do the same thing with X-Men merchandise? There's a lot of potential money in X-Men merchandise, but Disney has very intentionally avoided making that merchandise.

Why is their action regarding Legion 180 degrees from everything else they do?

And before you change the subject to "Marvel Doesn't Have the FF Rights" I don't believe that and I've never claimed that. But others do believe that and I'm willing to entertain all possibilities as at least possible (however unlikely) in the absence of definitive evidence.

Disney's willingness to allow Fox to make Legion (and the other show) is completely incongruous with their other actions and everything we know about them.

If you want to convince those who believe Marvel has the rights that they don't, you need a viable alternative theory. A small cut of the profits is not a viable theory based on everything we know.

My best theory (and I've put it out there) is that the TV shows were an olive branch offered by Marvel in hopes of a better ongoing relationship. Fox accepted that olive branch and then slammed the door in Marvel's face.

I am very open minded and willing to consider viable alternative theories, but those theories need to be viable and fit what we know about Disney. Making the deal for a small cut of the profits doesn't meet those requirements.
 
Well, Deadline did report on Daredevil reverting back in 2013.

Carnahan's tweets in Aug 2012 tipped the trades off:

"Think my idea for a certain retro, red-suited, Serpico-styled superhero went up in smoke today kids."

https://***********/carnojoe/status/235234710870192128

The rights reverted October 2012, officially confirmed in 2013.

I think Ghost Rider, Punisher & Blade all passed back without any trades knowing before Marvel was ready to spill the beans.

Even the Ego trade no-one knew about. It was one of Deadpool's screenwriters let that one slip.
 
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Do you really even believe this, or are you just putting it out there because you don't have an alternate, viable explanation?

Disney owns a number of ABC channels. They also own a number of Disney channels and a number of ESPN channels. (All told, I believe they own something like 10-20 channels.

Every viewer who is watching Legion on Fox is not watching one of those Disney-owned channels.

And if it's just about the almighty dollar, why does Disney not do the same thing with X-Men merchandise? There's a lot of potential money in X-Men merchandise, but Disney has very intentionally avoided making that merchandise.

Why is their action regarding Legion 180 degrees from everything else they do?

And before you change the subject to "Marvel Doesn't Have the FF Rights" I don't believe that and I've never claimed that. But others do believe that and I'm willing to entertain all possibilities as at least possible (however unlikely) in the absence of definitive evidence.

Disney's willingness to allow Fox to make Legion (and the other show) is completely incongruous with their other actions and everything we know about them.

If you want to convince those who believe Marvel has the rights that they don't, you need a viable alternative theory. A small cut of the profits is not a viable theory based on everything we know.

My best theory (and I've put it out there) is that the TV shows were an olive branch offered by Marvel in hopes of a better ongoing relationship. Fox accepted that olive branch and then slammed the door in Marvel's face.

I am very open minded and willing to consider viable alternative theories, but those theories need to be viable and fit what we know about Disney. Making the deal for a small cut of the profits doesn't meet those requirements.

In other words, if you give them an inch they'll take a mile.

But in the case of Fant4stic, if you don't give Ben Grimm even an inch, he'll take Miles'. :o
 
Well, Deadline did report on Daredevil reverting back in 2013.

Deadline reported on the DD rights reversion back in the summer of 2012. But Feige revealed that the Ghost Rider and Punisher rights had reverted as well in a May 17, 2013 interview in Entertainment Weekly. That was new info.
 
My best theory (and I've put it out there) is that the TV shows were an olive branch offered by Marvel in hopes of a better ongoing relationship. Fox accepted that olive branch and then slammed the door in Marvel's face.

The only problem I have with that is it makes Disney look rather naive to say the least.

They are typically tough (sometimes cynical) negotiators so I can't see them allowing the TV shows without having guarantees in place for something in return.

Marvel under Avi Arid...sure. But this isn't Disney's first rodeo.
 
I could buy "We'll agree to partner on a TV show if you agree in writing to not make any more FF movies and allow the rights to revert at the end of seven years. And we agree that neither party will disclose this arrangement until after the reversion date."

I'll admit to a bias toward the First Family, but I can't see Disney letting the opportunity to reacquire the FF drop when FOX came to them hat in hand looking to renegotiate the 1993 agreement.

When Disney bought the damn company it was reported that securing the FF rights was a top priority for the Mouse. We know that Feige and company attempted to gain access to a few FF family characters in 2012. We also know (ALLEGEDLY!) that Ike's epic meltdown in 2014 came about due to a failed attempt to keep FFINO from being made. We also know that the FF has zero - A 0 followed by eleventy billion other 0s - value to FOX. And that the X-Men deal wasn't consumated until after FFINO left theatres. No proof, to be sure, but a wildfire's worth of smoke. I'm sticking to my conclusions.
 
The only problem I have with that is it makes Disney look rather naive to say the least.

They are typically tough (sometimes cynical) negotiators so I can't see them allowing the TV shows without having guarantees in place for something in return.

Marvel under Avi Arid...sure. But this isn't Disney's first rodeo.

I agree and that's the thing that's bothering me. Disney likely would have gotten something firm before progressing.

But I'm intrigued by what actually did happen. I'm nearly certain Marvel was at least under the impression they were getting something.

They idea that they just did it for a cut contradicts everything we know.

The biggest reason I don't believe Marvel got FF is I don't believe something that big could be kept secret for this long. Too many people would have to know and that many people can't stay secret for that long.

Feige's statements don't really make any difference one way or the other, but common sense tells me a secret this big would be very hard to keep for this duration... and because Marvel would know it would be hard to keep they would have announced it at some point on their terms rather than taking the chance it would leak.
 
It's a foothold for a rival, one they have historically not been on great terms with, and for a property you admit yourself Marvel want back.
I feel this needs to be stressed when discussing the TV deal.
Marvel/Disney just allowed a rival company to make shows that will be competing for viewers with the shows they are making in-house. I mean, it's not only Legion or that attempt at the Inner Circle show, they've opened the door to more coming down the pipeline...
Why? For a percentage of what that show, or shows could make, IF they become lucrative? I thought we've all agreed that Disney isn't hard up for cash... So this seems unlikely.
They must have gotten something else. Is it Fantastic Four? Probably not. But I don't think it's just for the promise of maybe a cut of something that might be successful.
I prefer to remember the title of this thread, and await the day the hope might be realised.
:up: :up: :up:
 
There's always going to be competition in the TV and there's always going to be something else on. For the TV model, in case anyone didn't notice, you frequently have media companies producing content that air on networks owned by media competitors.

That's why Warner Bros. airs Gotham on Fox instead of The CW, which it co-owns.
 
There's always going to be competition in the TV and there's always going to be something else on. For the TV model, in case anyone didn't notice, you frequently have media companies producing content that air on networks owned by media competitors.

That's why Warner Bros. airs Gotham on Fox instead of The CW, which it co-owns.

The model is changing. Networks are looking to own the programs on their schedule.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/inside-nbcs-studio-shakeup-pressure-900617

Keeping with this ownership trend, both Legion on FX and the "Mutant on the Run" show in production for FOX will be owned by 20th Century Fox Television thanks to the enormous generosity of Uncle Walt.
 
Though the deal was subsequently rejected, we know the price of granting an extension on the Daredevil licensing agreement was Galactus and the Silver Surfer. And we recently found out that the price of altering (ALTERING!) the powers of NTAW was Ego. He ain't exactly an A-Lister, but Ego is certainly a significant part of the Marvel mythos.

So what was the price for handing over X-Men TV rights? It certainly wasn't money. In the two prior dealings with FOX Marvel could have but didn't ask for a check. Was it a piece of the action, a minority stake in FOX's TV outings? That could be part of it. But have you checked out the trailer for Legion? It looks interesting, but I highly doubt we are looking at a mainstream hit here. This ain't exactly GOT. And as I've stated before, Marvel could have put out a show about a mentally disturbed Mutant - I mean Inhuman - with vast powers and not given FOX a dime. The same goes for the "Mutant on the Run" show FOX has in development.

The only conclusion I can come to is that the price was a) Marvel characters that are b) bigger than Ego or the Galactus/Surfer combo asked for back in 2012. That leaves the entire FF character family.

If one of the self appointed experts on these boards can come to a more logical conclusion I would love to hear it.

They could have also asked for a higher royalty fee for the XMen movies. I think they get 5% of the gross for deadpool and way less than that for XMen movies. Getting a higher fee from XMen movies would give them more leverage in future negotiations.
 
I could buy into the possibility that they agreed on a reversion date within a few years while those X shows get off the ground but it wouldn't make any since for FOX to agree not to make another film and just sit on the rights until the actual reversion date in 7 years. That makes no sense for Disney to do that.
 
The rumor they wouldn't be in there was more or less speculation from POLYGON. They didn't clarify their sources said no X-Men or Fantastic Four characters.

As I said earlier, character ban on X-Men and Fantastic Four by Marvel has NEVER been absolute.
 
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