The Avengers and the X-Men Crossover is Saved! Disney to Buy Fox

That’s right, we may still be able to see Iron Man and Cyclops onscreen together! In response to Comcast’s bid to buy Fox for $65 billion in cash, Disney upped their bid. What does it take to own a massive entertainment conglomerate? Well, a bid of $71 billion in cash and stocks seems to be the magic ticket. That eye-watering sum is even more impressive when you consider that Fox will have to spin off its news branch and maybe even its sports networks. Why’s that, you ask? Regulatory approval processes are quite complicated. 

Fox Wary of Regulatory Approval 

One reason Fox seems to be seriously considering Disney’s bid is regulatory boards. While AT&T recently won a case to acquire Time Warner, that doesn’t guarantee the same would happen for Comcast. Disney, on the other hand, is an entertainment company, not a telecom. Fox is likely weighing that in their consideration of being bought by the House of Mouse. Additionally, they could realize that there is simply more money to be made by partnering with the massive maker of Marvel and Star Wars. Getting the budget of Disney behind their films would help Fox reach even more audiences and make even more money. 

Shareholders Signing Off on Disney Deal 

The deal won’t actually be complete until the shareholders okay it. Which is ironic, as the Comcast deal was going to have to wait until a July 10th shareholder meeting to be approved. Disney’s bid beat that approval to the punch. Still, Fox and Disney shareholders could still oppose the bid. However, such opposition seems highly unlikely at this stage and is really more of a formality.  

That being said, the deal will also still have to pass regulatory approval. Fox’s assets would be considered and could have to be spun off into new companies if a board deems it necessary for the merger. Avoiding a lack of meaningful competition is an important facet of such boards, so moves like this can be risky for large companies. Disney, for their part, seems convinced that it won’t be an issue. Interestingly, the sale would include Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu. Both Disney and Comcast also hold a 30 percent stake in the online media platform. The final ten percent is owned by Time Warner, for the curious.  

The Future 

Hopefully the future holds a huge crossover film of the X-Men and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Is it too much to ask for a good movie version of Avengers vs. X-Men? We don’t think so. Make it happen, Disney!