In what could be the most significant bit of superhero news of the year, it’s looking increasingly likely that the Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox are very close to finalizing a deal that could see properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four making their way to the MCU. The update comes courtesy of Variety, who are reporting that the companies now have their money-men poring over the fine print of the deal before making it public – which means that it’s nearly good to go now.
The $74 billion deal apparently doesn’t go so far as merging the two companies but rather, would see Disney purchasing the majority of Fox’s most valuable IP, with the most significant additions being the film and TV rights to various properties. Word is that, should everything proceed smoothly, the talks will bear fruit sometime before Christmas.
So, what would this mean for the MCU going forward? After the events of Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel, Phase 3 of the MCU will be done. Along with this will come a changing of the guard, with several fan favorites being retired in some way. Marvel producer Kevin Feige has promised an injection of new blood, and what better way to go about that than to toss the X-Men into the mix?
If that were to happen, it would also probably mean the end of the existing ‘X-Universe’ as we know it. This would be a shame, too, as while Apocalypse wasn’t that great, the ancillary spinoffs like Logan, Deadpool and (on TV) Legion have all been excellent. Granted, Marvel could keep things running as is, but we imagine the temptation to merge the two cinematic universes together would be too hard to resist.
Leaving that aside for the moment, the future looks far more rosy for the Fantastic Four and their related characters, like Galactus and the Silver Surfer. Marvel Studios have made clear their desire to expand the cosmic side of the MCU and I can’t think of any better way to do that than to start hyping up the former as the next big threat. The possibilities are endless, really, and it’s certainly an exciting time to be a superhero fan.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as this deal nears completion, but tell us, how would you slot the X-Men into the MCU? And will you be sad to see the existing X-Universe wrap up, or has it outstayed its welcome? Let us know in the comments section down below.
