Hollywood Braces Itself for Impact As an Already Behemoth Disney Gets
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CALENDAR E SUNDAY,MARCH 10,2019 :: LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR POWER MOVEJacob Thomas For The Times Hollywood braces itself for impact The Marvel universe is united. So as an already behemoth Disney gets how will Disney make room for its set to take over 21st Century Fox galaxy of R-rated superheroes? By Ryan Faughnder By Josh Rottenberg Walt Disney Co.’s entertainment kingdom is about to get a whole lot bigger For years, starting with 2000’s “X-Men” and ramping up with Marvel Stu- thanks to its pending purchase of 21st Century Fox assets, and the rest of Hol- dios’ 2012 juggernaut “The Avengers,” comic book do-gooder team-ups have lywood has only just begun to grapple with the consequences of the compa- been all the rage on the big screen. Why have just one hero, the thinking goes, ny’s increasing power. when you can have two (“Batman v Superman”) or six (“Justice League”) — The long-anticipated $71-billion acquisition will put the X-Men, Homer or more than two dozen (“Avengers: Infinity War”)? Simpson, the Avengers, Buzz Lightyear, Kylo Ren and the gang from “Avatar” With the Walt Disney Co.’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox expected to be under the same roof, giving the Burbank company anunprecedented shareof finalized this month, that trend is about to get supersized with a spandex- film and television franchises. clad family reunion that many fans thought they’d never live to see. The deal, expected to close in the coming days, would boost Disney’s share In one fell swoop, the blockbuster $71- billion mega-deal brings nearly the of the domestic box office to at least 40% and reinforce its stronghold in toys, entire stable of Marvel superheroes and villains under one owner, with theme parks and cruise lines. The Mouse House will have an unrivaled say marquee Fox-owned characters like the X-Men, Deadpool and the Fantastic over when and how movies are released. Four now free to be absorbed into the Walt Disney-controlled Marvel Cin- “Basically, they become the 800-pound gorilla in the media landscape,” ematic Universe. (One notable exception is Spider-Man, whose rights are said Lloyd Greif, chief executive of L.A. investment bank Greif & Co. “It gives owned by Sony Pictures, though in recent years that studio has forged an in- Disney even greater clout from a streaming standpoint and even greater creasingly close and fruitful creative partnership with Marvel.) clout from an exhibitor standpoint.” For comic book devotees, the prospect of seeing, say, Wolverine, Deadpool Disney’s ambitions have taken on a new urgency with the development of and Mister Fantastic saving the world alongside Captain America, Thor and its upcoming streaming service, Disney+, set to launch late this year, and its Black Panther — or perhaps battling it out among themselves — is tantaliz- increased ownership of Hulu, both of which will pose a challenge to Netflix. All ing. For Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, it’s the fulfillment of a dec- these moves have wide-ranging implications for the [See Disney, E6] ades-long dream. [See Superheroes, E8] LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR SUNDAY, MARCH10, 2019 E3 DISNEY’S FOX TAKEOVER Twentieth Century Fox TAFOX FILM CORP.,circLESa 1930, set up shop between SantaFRMonica and Pico boulevaOMrds. A 1935 merger with TwentiethACentury PicturesLOwould change the moTvie game. Actors, executives and others reflect on the magic made at the studio over the years it was sort of in decay; they were By Stacy Perman, Meg James considering selling off the proper- and Ryan Faughnder ty. I had my final meeting with Rupert Murdoch, who was then in Twentieth Century Fox was the administration building. I once known as Hollywood’s dream thought it would be immaculate. I factory. Soon, it will be a part of his- walked in and the sign said FOX tory. FI Corp. That was the state of the The studio produced some of studio; no one fixed it. If you the highest-grossing films of all wanted to screen a movie you had time (“Avatar,” “Titanic,” “Star to rent it back from Sony. The Wars”) and many classics (“The commissary was decrepit. Grapes of Wrath,” “The Sound of Music,” “All About Eve”), catapult- John Landgraf (CEO of FX ing actors (Shirley Temple, Mari- Networks and FX Productions): lyn Monroe, Will Rogers and Harri- Ilove the fact that my office looks son Ford) into box office stars. out on New York Street. Ryan Over the years, the studio has Murphy’s office is in the building been run by several owners and where they painted the scrims, moguls and produced an impres- back when we didn’t have green sive run of hits and expensive flops screens. (1963’s “Cleopatra,” starring Eliza- beth Taylor and Richard Burton, That’s show biz nearly sank the studio when its original $4-million budget bal- At its peak, the backlot encom- looned to $44 million). It helped pi- passed 285 acres and had a west- oneer home video, and launched a ern town, a harbor and Mulberry fourth TV network, cable channels Street — better known as New and a boutique film studio churn- York Street, originally built for ing out a slate of award-winning en- “Hello Dolly” in 1968. Over the tertainment. years much of the backlot was sold And then, in December 2017, the Twentieth Century Fox off, but the 53 remaining acres are Murdoch family, whose company WILLIAM FOX left his New Jersey nickelodeon venture in 1916 to launch his film empire in L.A. drenched in history. What’s left of has owned Fox since 1985, agreed Sonja Henie’s original ice skating to sell Fox’s film and TV operation popular newsreels, led him to Shirley Temple photography epic film on this historic lot. rink is under Stage15, and James and several channels to Disney for marvel that the Fox name could be included production shots and L. Brooks’ offices were once Frank $71billion. The deal is expected to found on screens across the globe. promotion shots in a file called the John Candreva (executive Sinatra’s bungalow, and before close in the coming days. Fox will The studio, originally known as “Star-Head.” The contract players director, Studio Facilities that it was Will Rogers’. retain ownership of the legendary Movietone City, opened to great had them too. They contained all Operations, 1989 to present): lot and such businesses as the Fox fanfare in October 1928 and was the publicity shots, and Shirley’s None of the fire systems on the lot Matt Groening (creator of “The Broadcasting network, Fox Sports hailed as “the newest, largest, and Star-Head took up several boxes. worked. Factory Mutual, the in- Simpsons,” debuted in 19 89): You and Fox News. But a chapter in most completely equipped plant There was a portrait of her playing surance underwriters, gave them a know, it’s really fun to drive on to Hollywood history will be over. for the production of motion pic- with her puppies at her bungalow. mandate to fix every fire system the Fox Lot, it’s like an old-fash- The Los Angeles Times spoke tures in the world.” within 30 days or they would lose ioned studio lot and you see those to dozens of actors, executives and By 1930, however, Fox, who’d Susan Perkins (“permanent their insurance. So I got hired to giant soundstages. It feels like, other Fox veterans to reminisce borrowed heavily to expand his temp,” 1967-68, 1973-2008): come in by the facilities depart- “Oh, my God, I’m in Hollywood.” ment. We basically lived here for 30 about the studio’s 10 6-year legacy, empire, lost control of the studio. Istarted in the script department Schawn Belston (executive VP its family atmosphere, its moguls, In 1935, Fox Film merged with in 1967, taking dictation. When I days, me and my crew. And we did such a good job they just kept us. Media and Library Services, its filmmakers and the magic they Twentieth Century Pictures, turned 40 they wanted me out of 1996): We were going to restore the made. Their comments have been founded by Joseph Schenk and the [temp] pool and in a perma- Suzy Mamann-Greenberg “Seven Year Itch.” I called Billy edited for brevity and clarity. Darryl F. Zanuck. The newly nent job, but I said no. It was much (co-executive producer, “How I Wilder and his secretary said, “He formed Twentieth Century-Fox more fun to wander. I worked with Met Your Mother,” 2005-14 ) : The will never call you back.” I said, On the lot ushered in a golden age of west- writers, producers and directors. I first time I was on the lot was in “That’s too bad, can you tell me erns, musicals, sweeping epics and went to the backlot. In one year I 2004 to produce the Jason Al- why?” She said, “Yeah, if you want The story began in 1915 when the first movie filmed in propri- had 48 jobs. The only department I exander sitcom “Listen Up.” [It] to get a response, write him.” So I William Fox, a Hungarian émigré etary CinemaScope, “The Robe.” never wanted was legal. I wanted was full of movie history. One of wrote him a letter. Then he called. who owned a clutch of New Jersey to be with the creatives. the first things I saw going to the I’ll never forget hearing, “Please nickelodeons, began producing Esmé Perry-Trueheart (senior soundstage was a “Sound of Mu- hold for Billy Wilder.” He told me, and distributing films.