Things We Saw Today: Disney and Fox Merger Means X-Men and Fantastic Four Come Home to Marvel

After months of speculation and false starts, Disney and 21st Century Fox’s shareholders agreed to the $71.3 billion merger that will return the movie rights for both the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to Marvel Studios. This merger opens up a dizzying array of possibilities: will the X-Men join the Avengers? Will we finally get a decent Fantastic Four film? And where the hell is Deadpool gonna figure into all of this?

While this merger allows for a massive expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is nonetheless disconcerting that Disney (an already massive company) will now add even more franchises and titles to its vast library. Between original Disney properties, the MCU and Star Wars, one company is now in control of the biggest, most profitable fandoms on the planet. While not a monopoly, it is certainly monopoly-adjacent. Either way, there seems to be no stopping Disney from collecting all the fandom stones.

(via Deadline, image: 20th Century Fox)

• More than 300,000 Microsoft employees signed a petition calling on the company to end their contract with ICE. (via Jezebel)
• Ed Westwick will not be charged with sexual assault, despite three different women coming forward with accusations. Sigh. (via TMZ)
• Ronan Farrow has a new #MeToo exposé coming, and this one is about CBS CEO Les Moonves. Yikes. (via The Hollywood Reporter)
• PewDiePie mocks Demi Lovato’s overdose, continues to be human trash. (via CNET)
• Mara Wilson writes about Allison Mack, NXIVM, and the susceptibility of child actors. (via Elle)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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