When it was formally announced that Disney would be acquiring parts of 21st Century Fox, including the film studio and cable channels like FX,a lot of questions loomed large. Disney owns Marvel Studios, which creates superhero movies that take place in a single connected universe. Fox also creates its own superhero movies, that take place in a separate universe. Some of those movies are R-rated, some are connected to each other, and some are completely disconnected from everything else. How will this marriage work? Will films likeX-Forcethat are currently in the works have a home under Disney?
There are still a lot of questions unanswered, but one of the more intriguing projects that’s been in development at Fox isaDoctor Doommovie, to be written and possibly directed byFargoandLegioncreatorNoah Hawley. We only first learned of the projectlast summerand Hawley has most recently been busy working onLegionSeason 2, but now that Fox is coming under Disney, does thisDoctor Doommovie still have a place?
Collider’s own Christina Radish recently spoke with Hawley at the TCA panel forLegionand asked him about the status ofDoctor Doomright now, and he revealed he’s heard precisely nothing with regards to the Disney deal:
“I haven’t had a single conversation yet aboutDoomin the context of the merger. On some level, we’re still looking at a period of time – probably a year, at the least – for this whole thing to go through. Who knows, corporately, what conversations will be had, but certainly, until it goes through, it’s not a legal thing. I don’t know. I’ve been waiting for the phone to ring to see if anyone is gonna have an opinion. Otherwise, it’s just business as usual for me.”
It’s likely Hawley’s position is not a unique one, and he’s right, the deal for Disney to acquire Fox won’t close for at least a year. Right now, as best we know, Fox is continuing to develop its properties as usual during this transition period, but there’s always the possibility a larger meeting happens in the next few months between Disney CEOBob Iger, Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feige, and the folks spearheading Fox’s superhero movies (includingSimon Kinberg) that hashes out how they proceed from here.
In addition toDoom, Fox had/has big plans for its ownX-Menuniverse, withThe Cabin in the WoodsfilmmakerDrew Goddardcoming aboard to write and direct theX-Forcemovie—which is a team-up film featuring characters from theDeadpoolfranchise and other Marvel heroes/villains—last September. There are also overarching plans for theDeadpoolfranchise, withDeadpool 3already in the works, not to mention a potentialNew Mutantsfranchiseand the continuation of the properX-Mensaga with this year’sX-Men: Dark Phoenix.
How these films are affected is still a major question mark, but as Hawley reveals, it may be some time before we get clarity on exactly what’s going to happen with the Marvel adaptations currently in development at Fox.
Stay tuned to Collider for plenty more coverage from the TCA’s over the next week.
