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Marvel Gets Cash to do 10 Films

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the make-going-to-the-theater-worth-remortgaging-the-house dept.

jmozena writes "Marvel has raised $525 million to independently finance 10 movies based on its comics over seven years. The titles named are Captain America, The Avengers, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Cloak & Dagger, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack and Shang-Chi. The company's also changing its name from Marvel Enterprises to Marvel Entertainment."

14 of 604 comments (clear)

  1. Good Investment by fembots · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Based on the statistics, comic-turn-movies are bringing in around $350 millions each after cost.

    It's a pretty safe investment, they just need two good ones to break even, and another 8 crappy ones @ $20m each to have 30% return.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Good Investment by ciroknight · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Based on SlashStatistics (a general look through the comments), these movies will fail, miserabily.

      The novelty of a comic book movie or a video game movie wears off very quickly, and are often greatly critisized by the true fans of the comic/video game. Yet they keep making these movies because they don't need to put a lot of thought into them; their designers already put their hearts into it and spent their life drawing these characters out in the comic books.

      I will admit, there is an occasional breakout hit: The Matrix, Sin City were amazing, Spiderman was not as bad as it could have been. But it hardly makes up for the disasters they wage in the process (Daredevil, Elektra, The Incredible Hulk, come on).

      It really is evident in the hollywood scheme of things that they have ran out of movie ideas because the corporation is stifling the idealists. People are too busy crunching the numbers on the films instead of spending the money, making it, and learning something from it. Some say Hollywood has matured in this way, but just look at the box offices: Hollywood hasn't matured at all. They're just remaking the same movies over and over, with different names for the characters, different actors, and in different cities.

      I think that's all I can say before I get into a rant..

      --
      "Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." G.W.Bush
    2. Re:Good Investment by nunchux · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I will admit, there is an occasional breakout hit: The Matrix, Sin City were amazing, Spiderman was not as bad as it could have been. But it hardly makes up for the disasters they wage in the process (Daredevil, Elektra, The Incredible Hulk, come on).

      Superhero movies are a pretty safe bet because they do make their money back, eventually. Even the "failures" you mentioned (Daredevil actually did quite well, BTW) make the cash back in foreign markets and on DVD. And the ones that do well do spectacularly well-- as in, people will see it in the theater, buy the DVD and still watch it on cable.

      And yes the die-hard fans will complain about liberties being taken... But the die-hards are never happy. The superhero genre relies more on the casual fan, those who used to read the books when they were kids, or those who just like superhero movies... And there are a lot more of these people than the die-hards.

      Yet they keep making these movies because they don't need to put a lot of thought into them; their designers already put their hearts into it and spent their life drawing these characters out in the comic books.

      Well, maybe in Sin City's case, or Ghost World, or V is For Vendetta... But come on, there's no heart and soul in Marvel's assembly line. A Marvel comic might have a talented artist or writer pass through every now and again, but that's all they're doing-- passing through. Most of the time it's done by hacks for hire. I don't consider The Fantastic Four to be too sacred for a B-movie adaption.

      It really is evident in the hollywood scheme of things that they have ran out of movie ideas because the corporation is stifling the idealists.

      You think this is something new? There have always been shitty movies. And shitty movie sequels. Superhero movies certainly aren't a new trend, and cheesy sci-fi serials have been made since the thirties. Movies have always been made for the lowest common demoninator, with a few bold talents managing to squeak through (and the same goes for comic books, doubly so.) We tend to forget the crap, so it's easy to say Hollywood is going to hell... But the good-to-crap ratio has been pretty steady for eighty-plus years.

      BTW there are a lot of good movies being made right now, you just have to know where to look. With the advent of cheap DV editing suites, for example, documentaries have never been better.

  2. Greh by Madsci · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Those movies sound terrible. And Hollywood wonders why it's in a slump? You can't make ten of something and have each be interesting/worth $10 in its own right.

    --
    Your paranoia is about as subtle as the alien probe in your neck.
  3. before there was monotheism by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    there was demigods and hero worship

    the roman gods and greek gods or the gods of hinduism, for example

    i think there is some sort of psychological sweet spot that superheroes touch in our heads and hearts

    it's a meme that monotheism just can't kill

    sort of ideal representations of who we think we should be or who we wish we were, and the relationships we have with other elements of society, and the struggle with evil... a social and psychological context that some nameless faceless uberentity that is a monotheistic god just can't satisfy in us

    we'll be with superheroes and marvel/dc for a long, long time

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  4. Re:Not Too Much Left by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, seriously, who would want to watch a film about Ant-Man?

        The studio is obviously hoping that swarms will want to watch.

  5. Don't get me wrong, but what? by ReformedExCon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Just my impressions of the list:

    Captain America
    Didn't they do this one and it sucked?

    The Avengers
    A facless hero clan. I can't even name a single hero in this group.

    Nick Fury
    I guess because the Punisher movie worked so well...

    Black Panther
    Ah, a hero named after a hyper-racist group. I don't see anything wrong with that.

    Ant-Man
    Honey, I shrunk the superhero!

    Cloak & Dagger
    Not that Cloak was a completely contrived character, or that Dagger wore far too little clothing, but how could this movie possibly be interesting?

    Dr. Strange
    Who?

    Hawkeye
    Ah, Daredevil without charisma, but empowered with a ridiculous costume.

    Power Pack
    Never heard of them.

    Shang-Chi
    Is this like the token Asian guy?

    I think they probably need to stick with their franchise heros and stay away from these B and C-list zeroes.

    --
    Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
    1. Re:Don't get me wrong, but what? by Geoffreyerffoeg · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dr. Strange
      Who?

      Well, if they said they'd make a superhero movie about Dr. Who, I'd probably say, "Dr. Who? Strange."

    2. Re:Don't get me wrong, but what? by jayhawk88 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Captain America
      Didn't they do this one and it sucked?

      They also did Spiderman and FF movies that by all accounts were horrible before the "big" releases. It's not like anyone is not going to go see a summer blockbuster movie because that one time some independant film company in the 70's lucked into a license and the movie sucked.

      The Avengers
      A facless hero clan. I can't even name a single hero in this group.

      Captain America, Thor, Ironman, Hawkeye, Giant Man, The Wasp...Hell if they go really old school Hulk will make an appearance. Yes the Avengers don't have the kind of name recognition the X-Men, FF, or Justice League has, but that's what pre-movie hype is for.

      Nick Fury
      I guess because the Punisher movie worked so well...

      If they go for a Marvel Ultimates Universe style with this movie (which is pretty much what they did with FF), Nick Fury is a black, eye-patch-wearing James Bond ass-kicking character with a suit that allows him to fly and turn invisible. I guarentee you Sam Jackson's publicist is already pimping him for this role.

      Black Panther
      Ah, a hero named after a hyper-racist group. I don't see anything wrong with that.

      Are you posting this from the 1950's? Did someone invent timetravel:// and not tell me? Please, that argument isn't even worth responding to.

      Ant-Man
      Honey, I shrunk the superhero!

      Yeah, and? Those movies did pretty well if I recall; there is a huge movie market aimed at kids these days. I'll admit Ant-Man as serious comic-book movie doesn't sound too appealing, but Marvel has and obviously would love to continue to hit the 8-14 demographic or whatever, perhaps this is part of that?

      Cloak & Dagger
      Not that Cloak was a completely contrived character, or that Dagger wore far too little clothing, but how could this movie possibly be interesting?

      Hmmm...dark, brooding character who is in constant pain, running around fighting crime with an ultra-hottie. Nope, can't think of any demographic that would appeal to!

      Again, this probably isn't the type of movie that you take that seriously, but there is obviously a male teenage demographic to hit with this flick.

      Dr. Strange
      Who?

      Think of Gandalf battling the Balrog in Fellowship, except the Balrog is Dormammu, Lord of all Hell, and Gandalf is Dr. Strange, who can fly around and cast all kinds of CGI-friendly magic spells. And then take it times 10. Strange is all about magic in the MU, and this perhaps has the chance to be the best of the titles if done properly.

      Hawkeye
      Ah, Daredevil without charisma, but empowered with a ridiculous costume.

      Again, if they go the Ultimate Universe route, Hawkey basically looks like Brad Pitt; a super soldier who can use a bow like guys in John Woo movies use pistols. Hardcore action flick potential.

      Power Pack
      Never heard of them.

      Probably another kiddie flick, they were basically a bunch of kid superheros back in the 80's. Honestly this does seem like a strange choice to me, I would guess Marvel is seeing a Spy Kids type thing.

      Shang-Chi
      Is this like the token Asian guy?

      Yeah, because martial arts pictures aren't popular or anything.

      Look, I know most of these movies will probably turn out to be on the level of Elektra or Punisher, but the point is that there is material to work with here. These characters/teams are not as well known to the general public as a Spiderman, Hulk, X-Men or FF, but they do have interesting characters and stories to tell.

  6. Hey, what happened to... by shmlco · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Iron Man.

    And why not the Silver Surfer?

    --
    Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
  7. Re:which sucks less? by GeorgeMcBay · · Score: 5, Funny

    so i'm guessing out of 10 movies maybe 2 won't suck

    There you have it, folks... the most optimistic man in the world.

  8. Re:All old characters... by GaryPatterson · · Score: 5, Funny

    (somewhere in Hollywood...)

    Exec A:
    "I'm thinking "The Sandman" from those cool comics, only in the movie he's not some skinny guy, but a musclebound hero!"

    Exec B:
    "I'm listening..."

    Exec A:
    "He's got the power of making people sleep, or hallucinate during the day. He fights crime and recharges his magic bag of sleeping dust every night. And his arch-enemy is his own sister, Desire!"

    Exec B:
    "Good twist. What about the love interest?"

    Exec A:
    "Well, his girlfriend is a rock-grrl from New York, street-hip and so marketable. We've got sketches of a clothing line"

    Exec B:
    "I like it. We need to drop some of that touchy-feely crap from the stories. I want action, and long fight sequences. Is that Woo guy available? I'm thinking of a huge fight scene, where the Sandman fights that sister, starting with fists and then getting swords from a wall or something. It'll end with him cutting off her head just when she's about to skewer him. We'll need some special effects though. Do these guys fly?"

    Exec A:
    "They do now!"

    Exec B:
    "Shit we're going to make so much money from this. Maybe there's a sequel, and she's not dead but comes back for revenge. It doesn't matter though."

  9. The PROBLEM with American comics is... by crazyphilman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ever since McCarthyism, they've been focused on ridiculous Superhero/Men In Tights nonsense while the rest of the world has moved on to much more interesting subject matter.

    On top of that, while Japanese Manga have been giving people 150 - 200 pages of black and white comics on cheap paper for ten bucks, DC and Marvel think they can make their comics into "collectibles" and sell 15 readable pages (if you take out the ads) for over four bucks.

    Hmm... Let me see... Top-notch science fiction, 200 pages for ten bucks, with NO ADS, or crappy kiddie "superman" stories at fifteen pages for four bucks... Let me think...

    DC and Marvel just don't get it. They think they're competing with each other, but REALLY, they're competing with Japanese and European companies. And somebody's gonna eat their lunch. Like Masamune Shirow, Mamaru Ooshi, Enki Bilal, Giraud, or Frezzato. People who write INTERESTING, ADULT-LEVEL STORIES that don't involve thinly-disguised magical thinking and wish-fulfillment.

    The American comics industry currently appeals only to little kids and adults who obsess over the current value of (I don't know) Batman #6. The collectibles market is SMALL. The entertainment market, on the other hand, is HUGE.

    Just look at how much bigger Border's manga section is than their superhero section. That'll open your eyes...

    --
    Farewell! It's been a fine buncha years!
  10. I work for the company that brokered the deal... by flicman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...and I pretty much agree that the slate sucks the way it's laid out. But consider this: Marvel has never before made their own films and had controlling interest in them. They've never had creative control to hire/fire screenwriters or directors, and they've only ever gotten a cut of the profits of the movies they make.

    This deal is important because it brings a new angle to the way movies get made in Hollywood - we created a mini studio out of a defunct has-been of a comic company, and we're going to do it again. All I'm saying is that you can bash the films all you want, but this is a good precedent because it's putting creative control for the first time in the hands of the creators. I know that in this case, there's no one left who helped create Captain America, but from a company standpoint, we're at the source. Who do you think is working on a deal with Image? Those cats aren't so old - there's a very real chance that they'll get to executive produce (at the very least) their own movies like no comic book geek has ever done before.

    Lastly, remember that the slate can (and will) change. I'm hoping that '300' can invigorate the hobbled historical epic genre because the script is good and the concept excellent. Sorry I'm late to the party.