While on a conference call Tuesday afternoon, during which he delivered the financial result of the third quarter, Disney Chairman and CEO, Bob Iger confirmed that the company does intend to develop their recently acquired Marvel property, including Deadpool, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men.
That’s right, with the amalgamation between itself and 21st Century Fox all but official, the House of Mouse finally acknowledged the “opportunity” that the Big Six film studio will provide upon the completion of their acquisition.
Iger announced the studio is looking to explore both the big and small screen potential of their recently purchased property, including the likes of “Avatar, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Kingsman and Planet of the Apes,” as they’ll soon be shifting their focus onto the presently unnamed streaming service.
Slated to launch sometime in 2019, the Disney streaming network – powered by BAMTech – will proffer an extensive back catalogue that could now possibly include the “high-quality television FX is renowned for” which, according to Iger, will help “substantially grow our portfolio,” thereby fitting in perfectly “with our plan.”
During the teleconference, Iger also mentioned National Geographic, which is “another tremendous brand built on quality” with “global reach and cross-generational appeal,” that Disney will be looking to expand. As for Fox Searchlight, which garnered twenty Academy Award nominations in March earlier this year – including Best Picture (The Shape of Water) – Iger said that Disney will “continue to allow the studio to do what it does best.”
The big takeaway here seems to be that the studio’s really pulling out all the stops for their presently unnamed streaming service. Earlier this month, the House of Mouse made its first attempt at reclaiming another high profile intellectual property in the form of Star Wars and just yesterday, it was discovered that each and every MCU movie will be leaving Netflix and making their way onto Disney’s service.
I don’t know about you, but by this time next year, it sounds like we’ll all be forking over our hard-earned dough to the streaming site that Iger and co. have got in the works for us.
