Many people were concerned about the announcement of The Walt Disney Company acquiring Marvel Entertainment. There was a lot of speculation from comic book fans thinking this could be the downfall of Marvel Comics by having Disney Channel actors star in the feature films, creating television shows more family friendly, or making the comics less hardcore. However, it seems like all the concern was unnecessary.
Marvel Entertainment now has the financial backing from the Walt Disney Company to expand the Marvel Universe into new ways which were not possible. A whole Marvel Cinematic Universe is in the making with more television shows to tie into the events unfolding in the films. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is proving to be a success by going more depth to what is happening behind the scenes while the main superheroes, the Avengers, are busy fighting their own battles on the big screen.
Agent Carter is well-received from critics and viewers alike after its premiere January 6th, 2015. Other Marvel shows are currently awaiting release featuring Marvel favorites such as Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and more on Netflix along with another Marvel live action show titled ‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’ premiering on ABC next year. All of these will continue to piece together the growing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
On Disney XD and Disney Channel, younger audiences have ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’, ‘Avengers Assemble’, and ‘Hulk: Agents of S.M.A.S.H.’ as well as Marvel heroes being featured with characters of the popular show ‘Phineas and Ferb’ in ‘Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel’ back in 2012. These are not meant to tie into the whole Cinematic Universe, but allow kids and adults to enjoy Marvel superheroes in another form of media.
“The Avengers” was the first film Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures collaborated on. It was a summer blockbuster generating over $1.5 billion, critically acclaimed by movie critics, and moviegoers couldn’t get enough of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Nick Fury along with his fellow agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. protecting Earth from the villainous Loki.
The Marvel superhero films following the smash hit – “Iron Man 3”, “Thor: The Dark World”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” – have also been very successful at the box office and overall well received by fans and critics alike. Then another band of heroes were thrown in the mix. Cue in The Guardians of the Galaxy who are not as well-known as the famous Avengers and a band of unlikely heroes. Before the movie was even released, many panned the idea of the film and believed it would fail. “Guardians of the Galaxy” proved the naysayers wrong by being a surprise success and summer blockbuster making over $772.7 million in the box office and being highly praised by critics and fans alike.
Beloved Marvel superheroes are making appearances at The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Disney Cruise Line. Merchandise is found throughout the parks and resorts featuring the characters including the popular Disney pin trading, artwork, apparel, Mickey ear hats, action figures, and other collectibles. The Monorail at Walt Disney World featured the Avengers, Iron Patriot and Iron Man Mark 42 suit.
Disneyland Resort had the Stark Tech Expo and “Treasures of Asgard” when “Iron Man 3” and “Thor: The Dark World” were released in theaters. Walt Disney World also had the addition of Star-Lord and Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy” at the ‘Villains Unleashed’ event this past August at Disney Hollywood Studios.
On board the Disney Magic, kids have the opportunity to enjoy the Marvel superheroes coming to life in MARVEL’s Avengers Academy along with meeting the one and only Captain America at Disney’s Oceaneer Club of the Disney Cruise Line.
The Marvel and Disney partnership is benefiting both parties as fans of all ages will now have the opportunity to enjoy their favorite superheroes in more films, shows, merchandise, theme parks, and more for years to come. Marvel already has plenty more films planned or set to be released such as the much anticipated “Avengers 2: Age of Ultron” coming to theaters May 1st, 2015 . Lesser known Marvel characters are being introduced to people who are not as familiar with the comics giving the current generation and new generations to come an opportunity to experience and follow the superheroes as they continue their battle to fight against all evil. Who doesn’t love a good superhero film or show? Only time will tell what other exciting plans Marvel and Disney have to expand the Marvel Universe.
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