Disney CEO Says They Originally Passed On Purchasing Marvel Because The Property Was "Too Edgy"
Bob Iger has released a memoir which has a trove of interesting information for Marvel fans, as we have been reporting today. Now, we learn why the house of mouse initially passed on the studio altogether.
Bob Iger is the current CEO of Disney, having taken over the company from Michael Eisner in 2005. A mere four years later, Disney purchased MarvelEntertainment allowing the powerhouse that is Marvel Studios to thrive and provide fans with films such as Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Endgame, along with the remainder of the 22 films that make up The Infinity Saga.
The MCU films have proven to be incedibly successful, taking in over $18 Billion at the box office. Compared to the measly 4.24 billion that Disney acquired the properties for, it was obviously a very lucrative business decision for the House of Mouse to make. That's why it comes as such a surprise that Disney initially didn't want to make the deal happen, and actually turned it down in the past.
The following is an excerpt from Iger's new memoir, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years As CEO of the Walt Disney Company, in which he explains that executives were certain that Marvel's characters would tarnish the Disney brand.
Early in my time working for Michael, I attended a staff lunch in which he floated the idea of acquiring [Marvel]; a handful of executives around the table objected. Marvel was too edgy, they said. It would tarnish the Disney brand. There was an assumption at the time -- internally, and among members of the board -- that Disney was a single, monolithic brand, and all of our businesses existed beneath the Disney umbrella. I sensed Michael knew better, but any negative reaction to the brand, or suggestion that it wasn't being managed well, he took personally.
It seems that even though Iger felt differently about it, there was little he could do until he himself took over. Obviously he took it seriously as we now have the biggest film franchise in the world thanks to the ultimate buyout.
It's interesting to think how things would have been very different for the MCU had it been purchased sooner, and what actors would be portraying the heroes we've grown to love.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know below!
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