A vast portion of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has been offloaded to Disney.
That’s the headline that continues to send shockwaves across the four corners of the Internet, and the Mouse House is just getting started. Having drawn up tentative plans to consolidate its newly-acquired Marvel characters under the one umbrella (read: the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Disney is about to redraw the superhero genre as we know it. And at least according to CEO Bob Iger, whose time with the company will extend into 2021, this cross-pollination won’t impede on Fox’s own slate of adult-oriented and, in the case of Deadpool, hilariously crude superhero flicks.
But costumed crusaders weren’t the only motivating factor behind Disney’s acquisition. As we learned mere hours ago, the House of Mouse will soon gain control of Predator, Alien and a number of other high-profile film franchises, while USA Today has gone ahead and listed those TV properties hoovered up by Disney as part of its $52.4 billion deal. The Simpsons is obviously the big one here, but there’s also The X-Files and Homeland to consider.
Still with us? As part of its desire to dethrone Netflix as the number one destination for original TV content, Disney has acquired rights to *deep breath in* 24, Futurama, Family Guy, Prison Break, M.A.S.H., The Gifted, Legion, American Horror Story, The Orville, This is Us, and Modern Family.
Suffice it to say, Fox’s TV division is one of the most prolific and diverse in the business, and this merger ought to boost Disney’s portfolio in time for its long-rumored streaming service, which is expected to go live sometime in 2019. Also of note, Marvel/Netflix shows in the vein of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and The Punisher are staying put, as the Mouse House is reportedly more concerned with original Marvel content, not to mention that live-action Star Wars series.
So, there you have it; The X-Files and other major TV shows will now be produced under the shadow of Disney. It’s a pivotal moment for both companies, and we’ll be bringing you all the latest as this story continues to unfold.
