The Disney-Fox buyout is complete as Walt Disney Company has officially acquired the entertainment wing of 21st Century Fox at a whopping $52.4 billion. While actors, industry experts and fans are excited about the deal, the Writers Guild of America West has slammed the buyout by issuing a rather harsh statement opposing the deal.
The deal between Disney-Fox has at last officially gone through, after much speculation and rumors. With this, the House of Mouse has ownership of characters like the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Deadpool. The deal will also give Disney the rights to the original Star Wars versions, which in turn will open up the possibility for an official release of the pre-Special Edition versions of the films.
The Trump administration has congratulated Disney Company for the big transaction. At today’s news briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “I know that the president spoke with Rupert Murdoch earlier today, congratulated him on the deal.” She added that the deal, according to President Trump could be “a great thing” for jobs.
While the world is at large happy with the acquisition, and the possibility of seeing Captain America standing alongside Wolverine sometime in future, the Writers Guild of America West, which represents more than 10,000 writers in the industry is not at all pleased with the buyout. According to them, this tie-up will worsen the struggles that creatives continue to face in the industry. The guild’s official statement reads as follows:
“In the relentless drive to eliminate competition, big business has an insatiable appetite for consolidation. Disney and Fox have spent decades profiting from the oligopolistic control that the six major media conglomerates have exercised over the entertainment industry, often at the expense of the creators who power their television and film operations. Now, this proposed merger of direct competitors will make matters even worse by substantially increasing the market power of a combined Disney-Fox corporation. The antitrust concerns raised by this deal are obvious and significant. The Writers Guild of America West strongly opposes this merger and will work to ensure our nation’s antitrust laws are enforced.”
While time will only tell whether the Disney-Fox tie-up will benefit the industry or not, check out the reactions of the Disney-Fox collaboration by actors, fans, and industry experts below:
While there are many aspects to Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s assets, I am personally incredibly happy about it, for obvious reason.
Welcome home, old friends. 😭 https://t.co/MpQHEnOTVL
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 14, 2017
Just saw this guy pulling up next to my office. pic.twitter.com/7oH9kjrR4D
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 14, 2017
Apparently you can’t actually blow the Matterhorn. pic.twitter.com/2bEAAcZrUv
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 14, 2017
Simpsons say “hi” to Mickey with respect (he’s a lot older than we are) pic.twitter.com/bD6wTZebas
— james l. brooks (@canyonjim) December 14, 2017
Knowing the Disney merger was on the horizon, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the possibilities. I’ve always kept it on the bright side and I’ll continue to do so as this new shared universe begins to take shape. My money is on Disney respecting all that Deadpool achieved.
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) December 14, 2017
Why is it @TheSimpsons and @FamilyGuyonFOX seem to know the future? Is THAT why @Disney wanted to own them so bad?? https://t.co/CcRAl63aYc
— Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) December 15, 2017
Disney after buying Fox pic.twitter.com/8LyXSvNKeW
— Servan GV (@servanmalaga) December 14, 2017
Disney and Fox, sitting in a tree –
G-A-L-A-C-T-Uer…
— Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) December 14, 2017
This is a clip from S10, E5 of The Simpsons. Air date: 1998.
The Simpsons predicted 20th Century Fox would be owned by Disney nearly 2 decades ago. pic.twitter.com/7FyxtXdJGT
— Zachary Crockett (@zzcrockett) December 15, 2017
Since Disney bought FOX Studios, this means they also own the rights to the live-action #DragonBallEvolution series. Think they’ll reboot it? pic.twitter.com/A37kfFPpJw
— Goku (@Goku) December 15, 2017
Before and after Fox/Disney deal. pic.twitter.com/haE5rqCgpf
— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 14, 2017
It's official: Disney owns most of 21st Century Fox … and now controls like half of ALL movies? pic.twitter.com/wSkODJOha9
— Blake Northcott™ ⭐️ (@BlakeNorthcott) December 14, 2017
In classic Russo Brothers fashion, it turns out they were accounting for Disney acquiring Fox the whole time! Here's what the Wakanda scene in Infinity War REALLY looks like: pic.twitter.com/ldwOvowfIw
— kev kringle (@AwestruckVox) December 14, 2017
Disney has confirmed that X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four will move under Kevin Feige. So it will be Marvel Studios controlling them and not under the 20th Century Fox banner.
— Jeremy Conrad (@ManaByte) December 14, 2017
the year is 2025. disney has just released alien vs predator vs marvel vs star wars. disneyland is an open air maximum security prison. there is only one channel where propagandized news is read by the disembodied voice of goofy. pic.twitter.com/ePGldUpoJj
— Peтer Ɓ. Pαrĸer (@Spider_Man_616) December 14, 2017
Y'all are missing the bigger picture in the Fox/Disney merger pic.twitter.com/Wu1YgSI5t0
— Benjamin Birdie (@BenjaminBirdie) December 14, 2017
Maybe after the Disney/Fox merger, the X-Men movies will get better. Cause other than Logan they have been not good since X2.
— Colonel Liana Kerzner (@redlianak) December 14, 2017
Disney's purchase of Fox's TV and movie assets means Fox News is completely unshackled.
They don't have to care about promoting films or shows. They don't have to worry about their image in the greater media landscape.
Oh, and they also get $50 billion to play with.
— Nash – Anbay ethay Azisnay (@Nash076) December 15, 2017
Source: Collider
