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Disney to acquire Marvel for $4 billion

Publisher of Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men comics agrees to buyout offer from multimedia giant behind Mickey Mouse, ABC, Miramax, and more.

The Magic Kingdom will soon see an influx of immigrants, as The Walt Disney Company today announced an agreement with Marvel Entertainment to acquire the comic publisher and its stable of over 5,000 characters. The deal is valued at $4 billion in cash and Disney stock.

Disney's new cast of characters.

Disney's new cast of characters.

Both companies are established players in the gaming world. Disney Interactive Studios has been publishing game adaptations for Disney films like G-Force and Hannah Montana: The Movie and is also branching out into original properties like the upcoming racer Split/Second.

Marvel doesn't publish games itself, but it frequently licenses out its characters to a wide variety of publishers. Currently, the comics company is providing characters for new and upcoming titles from Activision (Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2), Capcom (Marvel vs. Capcom 2), Sega (Iron Man 2), and THQ (Marvel Super Hero Squad).

In a conference call with analysts today, Disney executives fielded questions about their plans for the acquisition. And while they mentioned the need to respect deals that were already in place, there were hints that Disney might look to replace Marvel's licensing partners in the future, where appropriate.

"On the video games front, [Marvel has] some what we see as smart licensing agreements with some of the best video game manufacturers in the business," Disney president and CEO Bob Iger said. "And while we have been steadily moving in a vertically integrated direction, we don't rule out the possibility of a blend of licensed games, as well as self-produced and self-distributed. And what is nice about this is that as some of these deals near expiration, we have the luxury of at that time considering what is best for the company both from a financial perspective, from a quality perspective, and an exposure perspective."

Both companies' boards of directors have signed off on the acquisition. However, it still must be approved by Marvel shareholders and government regulators.

1613 Comments

  • nindevo

    Posted Apr 2, 2011 6:52 am GMT

    Man if I had 5 billion I would put an end to this madness

  • Donlimck

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 12:17 am GMT

    Ultimate Alliance 3 is coming out soon. You'll see X-men, F4, Spiderman, Iron man,Captain America, Hulk , Thor, Apocalypse and many more teaming up to fight against the evil Planet Conquerer Micky and his team of evil doers Donald, Goofy, Daisy, Minnie, Pluto, Alladin, Cinderalla, Beast (from Beauty and the Beast), Bambi,The little Mermaid, Bolt, Nemo,Tarzan.
    Get it today

  • clintbrew

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:11 am GMT

    Disney also did films like the sixth sense and TV shows Like Lost
    cannot wait for kingdom hearts 3 symboite heartless vs Spidersora also Ironduck and the Incredible Goof

  • runnydrizzle

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:53 pm GMT

    I wonder what will happen to Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios Florida? Are they going to be taking a chunk out of the market there? Like Disney is even worried about it but more money is more money. Greedy Bastards!

  • thesmartdude

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 10:58 pm GMT

    It wasn't 4 million it was four billion.

  • Newager

    Posted Sep 10, 2009 10:55 pm GMT

    why do I suddenly get an idea that spiderman, the hulk, cpt america will come out at kingdom hearts 3... Disney acquires marvel... and Square has a joint venture work with Disney on the franchise of kingdom hearts... so as a result... Oh noes... :S

  • grifter_tm

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 11:28 pm GMT

    Probably the worst thing I can imagine for this merger is Mickey Mouse making an appearance on Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 as a secret character.

  • tasthomas

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 10:45 pm GMT

    The funny thing is that Walt Disney himself was a pioneer. Snow White came out in the '30's...very edgy for its time, and still better drawing than I see today.

  • MetallicSoap

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 5:27 pm GMT

    wow, mister sinister and winnie the pooh in the same room? Some christmas party thats gonna be...

  • NearlyPrescient

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 2:40 pm GMT

    also: I think everyone's forgetting that Disney isn't exclusively G stuff.
    anyone remember Pirates of the Carribean?
    just because Disney is Marvel's new parent company, I doubt ANYTHING will change.

  • NearlyPrescient

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 2:38 pm GMT

    if I had known marvel was only worth 4million, I might have tried to put together some money to buy it
    haha.

  • thesmartdude

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 2:07 pm GMT

    *Clears throat* Doooooooooooooooooom!!

  • Gamew

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 12:02 pm GMT

    Now the Disney World in Orlando will need another Park, now only for the Marvel characters.

  • htsunami

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 8:39 am GMT

    Personally I feel that disney purchasing Marvel will turn out to be one of the very worst things that could have happened to their fan following. It will limit the freedom of their artists and writers causing their publications to lose any quality they have left and the films will certainly suffer from an ever pounding of political correctness that any true inspiration will disapear. To me, Disney has become a dictatorship over the years and just another huge corporation attempting monopolies by acquiring as much of the media as possible to sway the American public and the world at large into "their way of thinking". Walt Disney's probably turned over so many times in his grave that he's burrowed through the bottom of his casket and currently resides in China.

  • ghostface26

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 8:47 pm GMT

    Great... Just Great...

    Now the new Iron Man movie's soundtrack will consist of crap like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.

    I think this is the worst kind of acquisition in the history of man. I think I going to puke now.

  • koolman01

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 7:03 pm GMT

    next thing u know it will b hulk with a tutu on

  • misterbutt

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 5:02 pm GMT

    Disney owns Miramax which made Kill Bill. That was a hard R so i really doubt Disney will screw with Marvel movies. as for games idk but i think the same principle will apply. not really a big deal.

  • hbrbab

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 2:36 pm GMT

    @ Linkzelda i can imagine that :p

  • kaptainownage

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 12:18 pm GMT

    Wow way to be sell outs Marvel. What exactly are the benefits for Marvel?

  • Linkzelda

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 11:46 am GMT

    Next fighting game ladies and gentleman, Mortal Kombat special, Disney Vs Marvel! Play as a mickey mouse and shoot fireballs into the incredible hulks wang. Punch Donald duck in the face as Spiderman. Rip off the Lil mermaids fins and bang her with wolverine. Get it before its gone folks! Disney vs Marvel, fun for the whole family!

  • HumanoMexicano

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 11:08 am GMT

    I hope it doesn't get any gayer than Kingdom Hearts...srsly we aren't all weaboos.

  • jim15936

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 1:47 am GMT

    Disney hasn't had a good original idea since Walt kicked the bucket decades ago. It survives by buying and cannibalizing other peoples ideas. Marvel is just the latest to be ground up into that vast conglomerate. Hope they don't grind up the characters and make them too pretty and tame. Take away the edge Disney... and nobody will want to watch them!

  • myrick21

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 12:33 am GMT

    Most comic to movie films are PG-13, I'm dreading what disney will do to them, possibly PG.........Ridiculous!

  • Candy-Star

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 6:36 pm GMT

    Marvel vs. Disney is confirmed.

  • garnandrajat

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 4:43 pm GMT

    that's it I'm going change to DC comic at least they have a sense of dignity

  • 5-0

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 3:49 pm GMT

    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • goldragon7

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 12:43 pm GMT

    @FstBrk342

    your so right about that.....

  • Shahenshah-Adam

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 12:37 pm GMT

    Hell Nah Someone please tell me this is a Joke.

  • Decepticon_11

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 11:16 am GMT

    Disney blows

  • solidsnakedude1

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 8:57 am GMT

    @fighterguard

    now we can see spiderman in kingdom hearts which is awesome enough

  • fighterguard

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 6:00 am GMT

    With this, and SquareEnix buy of Eidos, perhaps we will see Lara Croft and Spiderman together in a future Kingdom Hearts game

  • Bigred_Machine

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 1:39 am GMT

    Oh no....Marvel = Disney? ...Disney = Marvel?? IT JUST DOESNT GO!

  • Hobojoe0858

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 10:11 pm GMT

    Disney and Marvel, dosent seem to mix kinda like Mickey Mouse and Spider-man, oh wait....

  • pyrobob105

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 9:31 pm GMT

    I wonder if this will effect Universal Studios Islands of Adventure Theme Park because they have the Marvel Superhero Island. Which is right next to Disney in Orlando.

  • joecastillo

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 8:53 pm GMT

    this is horrible :[
    i wouldn't be surprised if saw mickey in the new iron man movie

  • bill_nye_sciguy

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:39 pm GMT

    "Sora, this is Spider-man." "Spider-man, Sora."

  • HiiperDrive

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 4:08 pm GMT

    Project Mickey Mouse head-shaped Death Star is making good progress. In other news Darth Disney just killed Marvel.

  • Soviet1232

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 12:11 pm GMT

    Ladies and Gentelmen, the end of Marvel.

  • Combii

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 11:52 am GMT

    @ZachBobBob

    Agree

  • JJS29

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 9:25 am GMT

    IMO, Disney bought them out to have something to attract an older crowd. I wouldn't be super surprised if nothing changed with Marvel. I would bet that the biggest change would be Disney incorporating Marvel into their theme parks. A wise move by Disney. Just my $.02.

  • ZachBobBob

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 9:06 am GMT

    I hate disney soo much now :'(

  • dylan_1337

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 8:32 am GMT

    Think of Kingdom Hearts. Replace all disney characters with marvel characters. Final Fantasy plus marvel. It seems like the only way disney would be able to do something right without ruining it.

  • goodbye77

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 7:28 am GMT

    the devil is slick

  • Prosaver

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 6:31 am GMT

    I can't believe Disney bought Marvel!

  • ShadowLaguna

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 6:07 am GMT

    Divide by zero.

  • l0wF4t

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 3:47 am GMT

    this is a disaster!!!

  • Dark_MetalSonic

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 2:21 am GMT

    expect kingdom heart 3 with marvel

  • q8360

    Posted Sep 3, 2009 9:16 pm GMT

    Mickey Mouse VS SpiderMan?

  • FstBrk342

    Posted Sep 3, 2009 8:29 pm GMT

    NOOOOO!!!! DISNEY IS GOnNA KILL MARVEL AND INJECT IT WITH HANNA MONTANA AND JONAS BROTHERS AD SPACE D:!!

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