It's official! Though it was initially reported that the Disney-Fox deal would be finalized by late 2018,
we recently got word that everything would be ironed out by mid-March, and 21st Century Fox has just announced that it has completed the distribution of all issued and outstanding shares in connection with the Disney acquisition.
Disney's acquisition of 21CF will become effective at 12:02 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, March 20, 2019.
The implications of this deal are far-reaching (to say the least), but we're obviously paying closest attention to Marvel Studios' plans for Fox's stable of
X-Men and
Fantastic Four characters. Now that the deal is finalized we may begin to get a clearer picture of what Marvel has in store on that front, but fans shouldn't expect any major revelations right off the bat.
Perhaps we'll finally get some details once the studio is good and ready to share its Phase 4 plans, but Disney Chairman Bob Iger has
already confirmed that The Mouse House will continue to release movies under the 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight banners.