Marvel’s 2009 to be Slow Year; Big Income Though

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Turning from a company who simply licenses its characters out to other studios in to a studio that makes the movies themselves has allowed Marvel a lot more freedom. However this freedom has sadly run up against the wall of past and possibly future labor issues. Take the jump for why 2009 might only see one Marvel movie hit the big screens.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting (funnily enough) that 2009 may be a bit of a slow year in terms of big screen hits for Marvel. "We're working right now to get the preparations ready to have a chance for one film in 2009," Chairman David Maisel said during Tuesday's earnings call with analysts. "Regarding 2009, we have been obviously affected by the labor situation in Hollywood," referencing the recently ended writers strike and "the uncertainty caused by the upcoming expiration of the actors agreements at the end of June."

As of now, Marvel is staying tightlipped about which character will get his own film in 09. That being said, there is room for some guessing. While the Hollywood Reporter points out that Maisel “said that films featuring Ant-Man, Captain America, Thor and the Avengers all are in development,” I would not expect it to be either of the last two.

Just the other day we heard that Edgar Wright could have finished reading the Ant-Man script and was meeting this week. He is pegged to direct the movie, but it could come second to Scott Prilgrim’s Precious Little Life which is also in his bull pen at the moment.

Why do I think that it won’t be Thor and Avengers? Thor I think they will try to publicize alongside another movie, because I don’t think it can garner the same attention a Captain America movie can. As for the Avengers, Marvel has seen what a mess DC and WB have gotten themselves in to with the Justice League movie, and will not want to repeat that by acting too soon. They will wait it out and produce the movie once they’ve released as many of its members as individual movies as they can.

2008 is definitely going to be a big year for Marvel, and one that SMH Capital analyst David Miller believes will bring the money in next year. "As such, we believe 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year for Marvel Studios, as the company will likely see the bulk of receipts from 'Iron Man' and 'Hulk,' licensing fees from 'Wolverine,' the 'X-Men' spin-off, and possibly minimum guarantees form 'Spider-Man 4,'" Miller said.

Miller is shouting at people to buy shares in Marvel, which have recently dropped due to some financial release error on Marvels side. Nevertheless, Miller believes they can hit $34 per share, thanks to what he believes is a global average of $337.9 million per Marvel movie over the past 8 years.

So even though Marvel may not be providing us with a bounty of movies in 2009, this year’s Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk movies, as well as X-Men Origins: Wolverine should hold us over. And even if we can’t wait, no doubt Marvel will release some direct-to-DVD animated films to satisfy us.

Joshua S. Hill
2/20/2008
Source: The Hollywood Reporter and Joshua S. Hill

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