The Current Ownership of Wolverine: Marvel or Fox?

The rights to the iconic character Wolverine and his association with the X-Men are often the subject of confusion. This article aims to clarify the current ownership and the history of these rights, particularly in the context of the merger between Disney and 20th Century Fox.

Historical Context

To understand the current ownership, it's important to examine the historical context of these rights. Prior to Disney's takeover, the rights to Wolverine were split between Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. When Marvel Comics was purchased by Marvel Entertainment (now part of The Walt Disney Company), the ownership of Marvel's characters and content shifted.

The Fox Acquisition

It's crucial to know that 20th Century Fox, now known as 21st Century Fox (renamed to just Fox), owned the movie rights to the X-Men due to a bankruptcy agreement in the 1990s. However, this ownership by Fox was not the full picture.

Disney's Acquisition and Rights Recovery

On a notable date in 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of the 20th Century Fox film and television operations. As part of this acquisition, Disney also recovered the film rights to the X-Men, including Wolverine. This means that not only do Marvel Comics control the character of Wolverine, but Disney also retains control over the movie rights, which were previously under 20th Century Fox.

Current Ownership and Future Projects

Currently, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), several movies and television shows involve Wolverine and other X-Men characters. For instance, Hugh Jackman appeared in the last mainland X-Men film, >X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and is rumored to reprise his role in Deadpool 3. The merger between Disney and Fox has ensured that both comic and movie rights are unified under the Marvel umbrella.

Upcoming Releases and Storylines

The acquisition has significant implications for upcoming releases and storylines involving Wolverine. The reported casting of Owen Wilson for a character role suggests timeline jumping and other narrative elements. Moreover, Logan, the film where Wolverine dies in the narrative, is set in the late 2020s. However, the character has not faced this fate in the broader storyline yet.

Conclusion

As of now, the rights to Wolverine are owned by Marvel, but the movie rights are held by Disney through its acquisition of 20th Century Fox. This merger ensures a consistent and cohesive storyline for fans of the X-Men and Wolverine.

For more information on the specific rights and future plans, stay tuned for updates from the Marvel Studios and the Disney subsidiary.