Disney Expedites Control of Marvel Distribution From Paramount

19 Oct, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel

The Walt Disney Co., which acquired Marvel Studios last year for $4.3 billion, apparently is seeking to accelerate control of Marvel’s distribution deal with Paramount Pictures by paying $115 million to the studio for 2012 theatrical releases of The Avengers and Iron Man 3.

The financial amount will serve as a minimum guarantee against the films’ distribution fees. It wasn’t immediately clear if the revised agreement also factors in home entertainment, which includes packaged media and video-on-demand releases of the titles.

Paramount, which entered into a distribution deal with Marvel in 2005, will remain worldwide distributor for Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, which will be released theatrically May 6 and July 22, 2011, respectively.

The Avengers will be licensed to Epix under Paramount’s existing pay-TV deal.