Iger says Marvel characters could appear in theme parks
Posted
When word of the Disney and Marvel deal broke last September, rumors immediately began swirling about how it would affect Marvel's original theme park agreement with Universal Studios, which includes a Marvel-themed attraction at Universal Studios Florida's "Islands of Adventure." At the time, Deadline reported that Marvel and Universal severed ties on the West Coast, which could potentially allow Marvel's characters to appear in Disneyland without disrupting Universal's Marvel theme park in Florida.
Read more from MTV.
Related parks
I doubt that Disney would ever terminate or refuse to re-up the licensing agreement with Universal, because that's basically 'free' money coming in in the form of licensing fees. But I'd love to see what they could do (especially Tokyo Disney) with the Marvel license.
Having said that, once they do put Marvel in their other parks, they may realize that they could make more money in Florida by themselves. That would get another subculture thru the doors, AND they'd be selling their own licensed goods.
And as great as Super Hero Island and the rides therein are at IOA, I'd really like to see what Disney could do with the theme...given that they don't kiddyfy it to much.
The exclusivity is only in Florida, I don't see Universal wanting to renew the license if they're going to have the same theming down the road.
But how long is it for? The amount of money invested in the Marvel brand at IOA is not insignificant, as two of the signature attractions use it. You can't just make Spiderman not Spiderman. I'd be really surprised if the deal wasn't for something like 50 years.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Yeah, I figure it's probably a long agreement. I remember Iger or someone from Disney saying initially that they have no plans on changing any licensing w/Universal for the forseeable future.
You must be logged in to post
