It’s official! Walt Disney Studios is about to get bigger when it’s going to acquire 21st Century Fox, which includes the Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, and cable and international TV businesses. The agreement went down with roughly $52.4 billion in stock. For those hoping to see X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s now a possibility.
Not only will Disney have the film rights for X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool, but it will also get other big franchises like Avatar. How fitting, since Pandora – The World of Avatar is already at the Walt Disney World Resort.
With this news, hopefully we’ll see an X-Men vs. Avengers film in the foreseeable future.
On the television side, Disney will also be getting Twentieth Century Fox Television, FX Productions and Fox21 with shows like The Americans, This Is Us, Modern Family, The Simpsons and more. In addition, it will also acquire FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India and Fox’s interests in Hulu, Sky plc, Tata Sky and Endemol Shine Group.
“The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We’re honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we’re excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world.”
“We are extremely proud of all that we have built at 21st Century Fox, and I firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace in what is an exciting and dynamic industry,” said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox. “Furthermore, I’m convinced that this combination, under Bob Iger’s leadership, will be one of the greatest companies in the world. I’m grateful and encouraged that Bob has agreed to stay on, and is committed to succeeding with a combined team that is second to none.”
Iger has accepted to stay as the Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company until the end of calendar year 2021 at the request of both 21st Century Fox and the Disney Board of Directors.
Source: The Walt Disney Company
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