Mere days after The Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox were said to have resumed “serious” negotiations, a new report indicates the media giants could announce a deal as early as next week.
RELATED: Disney & Fox Have Reignited ‘Serious’ Acquisition Talks
The off-gain, on-again talks could lead to an agreement in which Disney acquires Fox’s film and television production assets, leaving the Rupert Murdoch-controlled company with news, business and sports channels, as well as its Fox broadcast network. According to CNBC, Fox has also been in talks with Comcast, but negotiations with Disney “have progressed significantly.”
Such an agreement, which would acquire the approval of federal regulators, would include 20th Century Fox film studio, 20th Century Fox Television, FX Networks, and a majority stake in the streaming service Hulu. Perhaps most important to CBR readers, it would also bring the film and television rights to the X-Men, Fantastic Four and related characters under the control of Disney and its subsidiary Marvel Studios.
RELATED: What Would a Fox/Disney Deal Mean for Marvel, X-Men & Fantastic Fo
As Bloomberg notes, the talks take place against the backdrop of the U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit to stop AT&T’s proposed $80 billion purchase of Time Warner, which would include Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting, and 50-percent ownership of The CW television network.