Crikey. Yeah, this has Isaac Perlmutter (the guy intimately involved in Marvel's bankruptcy back in the 90s) written all over it.
The sense of some of these items seems to depend on how you think causality works. Does a Fantastic Four comic actually increase Fantastic Four movie sales? Or is it the other way around? Do X-Men toys encourage Fox to make another X-Movie, or do they simply profit Marvel who has the license for them?
Given the relative size of the comic book market to the movie market, it doesn't make much sense to me.
There are some interesting, even legit items here, though (e.g., not introducing new characters as mutants / X-Men because then the movie rights automatically go to Fox). On the other hand, making the Fantastic Four un-persons in the comic book Marvel Universe is … um … kind of goofy (esp. since that seems to also sideline characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom and the Skrulls).
Bottom line, though, it all seems to e something coming from above and outside, and I don't necessarily think it's a Disney thing.
Originally shared by +Les Jenkins:
None of this surprises me. Now that Marvel has a successful film studio going I can see them doing everything in their power to get the rights back for the characters they sold off in the 90's. It also doesn't help that they're owned by Disney who holds onto its IP rights so jealously that they've been known to sue daycare centers that painted Disney characters on the walls without permission.
8 Acts of Pure Spite Happening Behind the Scenes of Marvel Movies
The battles going on behind-the-scenes of Marvel movies are just as epic, except with more lawyers.
I read a profile of Perlmutter recently. Serious piece of work there.
I think the article makes things sound more bitter than they are. It isn't totally that Marvel is doing all this just to spite Fox. They're changes make business sense as well. Why create a new, mutant character that they can't use in any if their films when a minor change to the character's backstory can make them an inhuman instead and let's Marvel keep the movie rights? Why make action figures that promote Fox movies when they can create Avengers action figures and promote their own movies? Why continue pushing the low selling Fantastic Four when they can try out something new?
Keep the suits out of editorial decisions! Their interference is rarely (never?) good for fans.
I've loved the Fantastic Four for over 35 years. I hate the idea that they're being put on the back burner because of crap like this. They should be a vital part of the MU.
I'm going to go wallow in abject futility now.
+Melissa Walsh As I said, the character origin bit makes a certain sense. The action figure market — there's clearly an economic analysis to do. But the FF thing, though, seems like the upper office interfering with the creative branch. Writing them and their associated characters, villains, etc. out (to the extent of not including them in any commercial products) feels just wrong, creatively.