It's All Connected, Kinda Sorta: How Marvel Studios Reporting to Disney Studios Could Affect Marvel TV in the MCU
Last night news broke there was a restructuring of who Marvel Studios, studio president Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D'Esposito report to. They no longer report to Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter and they now report directly to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. This does not change the way Marvel Studios produces their movies but it could have an affect on the whole "It's All Connected" phrasing of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
One of The Daily SuperHero's Hollywood insiders sent a message last night after this restructuring news broke and brought up an interesting point that could have some effects in the MCU between the film and TV divisions. Marvel TV is still reporting to Perlmutter and since the film division is no longer under his supervision there might be a little less connectivity between the network television series, the Netflix series and the film universe.
The implication here isn't that the film and TV programming won't reside in the MCU anymore, because they do. Based on the source's comment what might not happen is seeing Daredevil appear in Avengers or Lady Sif showing up in AGENTS OF SHIELD; the TV and film crossovers fans have wanted might be more difficult to do prior to this managerial restructuring. The divide has been made within Marvel and it's been widely reported and alleged how Perlmutter is a difficult boss to work for (and with) so he might not be happy about losing his grip on the studio. Now, and here's some speculation, he could make things uncomfortable when Marvel TV would like to use a film character in one of their shows and vice versa if let's say the Punisher is wanted by Marvel Studios to appear in a movie.
However, the bright side of the studio now being supervised by Disney Studios is Feige will be able to have the freedom to spend a little bit more on the actors and directors he wants for future roles. As well as on the actors he wants to stay once their multi-picture contract is up. There's been past rumors alleging how Perlmutter hasn't been happy about the amount of money they've had to pay Robert Downey Jr. once his contract was up. This could be the reason a rumored IRON MAN 4 movie in Phase 3 was scrapped for a Tony Stark appearance in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR instead.
In the end, none of this will affect the movies that Marvel Studios fans have grown to love and this actually gives Feige more power within the confines of the Walt Disney Company. This is a good thing for Feige because it's also rumored how Feige's ultimate goal (per BDM) is to eventually take over Lucasfilm once current president Kathleen Kennedy steps down. When this may happen is not known, and Feige's Marvel Studios contract reportedly expires in 2019, so perhaps she will step down in a few years once Disney's Star Wars has been successfully relaunched. Or maybe she won't for another 10 years. Regardless, Feige is in a much safer place to continue Marvel's Phase 3 slate of films, to plan out Phase 4 and in a great position to eventually take over the Lucasfilm seat.
How Marvel TV and Marvel Studios will work together remains to be seen after this restructuring and will be monitored closely now.
Related Posts:
Marvel Studios No Longer Reports to Marvel CEO and is Now Under Walt Disney Studios Supervision
Marvel Studios Reportedly Dissolves Their Creative Committee During Move to Disney Studios Supervision