Marvel Stockholders Approve Disney Merger

Back in September we posted news that Walt Disney Company had announced they reached a tentative agreement to buy Marvel Entertainment for an estimated amount of $4 billion, sending shock-waves through the movie industry in the process. Today, it was reported that Marvel stockholders approved the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by Marvel and The Walt Disney Company, which provides a merger in which Marvel will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney.

Marvel anticipates that the merger, which, based on the closing price of Disney’s common stock on December 30, 2009, has an estimated value of approximately $4 billion, will be completed today after the close of the market. While this is all fascinating financial mumbo-jumbo, what most movie-goers are probably wondering is how this will affect Marvel properties.

The fact that it seems as though Marvel will operate as an individual studio under the Disney umbrella, we can’t help but think that the Disney suits will indeed have some impact on the creative process of adapting Marvel properties. See what I mean in a humorous way, via this Marvel/Disney mash-up photo featuring Peter Pan flying side-by-side with Iron Man (via SlashFilm):

So are we going to see an epic Disney vs. Marvel live-action epic? Or will it be completely animated by Pixar? I don’t think that either of those concepts will come to life (fingers crossed). But it will be interesting to see how this whole thing pans out, as Disney has up’d the ante with family friendly action-adventure franchises; i.e. Pirates & Prince of Persia, to name a few.

What Do You Think? Discuss.