Walt Disney Studios has inked a deal with Paramount Pictures that sees them paying $115 million to the studio in order to have the distribution rights for the 2012 release of The Avengers and the 2012 release of Iron Man 3. According to Deadline, the deal sees Paramount getting $115 million plus as much as 9% on the third Iron Man movie as a bonus for helping launch the franchise that catapulted Robert Downey Jr. to superstardom.
With Marvel out of the picture in 2012 and DreamWorks already gone, Paramount Pictures will have to make due with the franchises it controls already. Soon we’ll see Transformers 3 in July and a fourth Mission: Impossible in December 2011. In 2012 we can expect sequels for Star Trek, G.I. Joe and a relaunch of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series (with Chris Pine as the CIA agent). And shingles Bad Robot (J.J. Abrams) and Platinum Dunes (Michael Bay) are making a number of projects for the studio.
Paramount will still distribute Thor on May 6, 2011 and The First Avenger: Captain America on July 22, 2011.
Here’s a complete press release regarding the deal between Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios.
BURBANK, Calif. – October 18, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios announced they have reached an agreement under which Paramount will transfer its worldwide marketing and distribution rights to Disney for Marvel Studios’ The Avengers and Iron Man 3. Paramount will remain the worldwide distributor of the upcoming films, Thor and Captain America, as well as the previously released Iron Man and Iron Man 2.
Under terms of the new deal, Disney will pay Paramount $115 million for the transfer of the distribution rights to Iron Man 3 and The Avengers to be paid on the theatrical release dates. These monies will serve as a minimum guarantee against the distribution fees.
“In completing this agreement, Disney will now assume worldwide marketing and distribution of The Avengers and Iron Man 3 and leverage these two highly-anticipated films across the multiple global platforms of The Walt Disney Company,” said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “We appreciate the tremendous momentum that Paramount established with these iconic Marvel characters and look forward to propelling the brand even further in the coming years.”
“Five years ago, when Paramount and Marvel made our initial deal, both our businesses were in very different places,” said Brad Grey, Chairman & CEO of Paramount Pictures. “We are grateful for the partnership we have had with the terrific Marvel team over these years and proud of the work we have done together. Today, this new agreement is the right deal for Paramount, for Marvel and for Disney. We look forward to working together on Thor and Captain America, and we wish Disney and Marvel the utmost success, in what we know will be a very productive and wide-ranging partnership.”
“Paramount has been a wonderful partner in helping Marvel Studios bring our characters to the big screen,” said Alan Fine, Office of the President, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. “This agreement makes sense now that Marvel is part of The Walt Disney Company.”
Paramount will release Marvel Entertainment’s Thor and Captain America worldwide beginning on May 6 and July 22 of 2011, respectively. The Avengers will be licensed to Epix under Paramount’s existing pay television arrangement.
