One of the more interesting comic related stories of late cropped up yesterday with word from Variety that Fox and Marvel Studios were going to make concessions on several of the key characters from the Marvel Universe.
Under their deal, Fox can hold onto its Marvel characters as long as they keep making films involving them. If they don’t, the rights revert back to Marvel and their new owners at Disney. Fox currently owns the rights to the “X-Men,” “Fantastic Four” and “Daredevil” franchises – the latter two of which the studio has been developing reboots for.
Previously attached director David Slade departed the “Daredevil” film last month and news emerged this week that “The Grey” and “The A-Team” director Joe Carnahan is Fox’s top choice to take the helm of the project should it go forward. Carnahan reportedly wowed execs with his “Frank Miller-esque, hardcore 70s thriller” pitch for the film.
Unfortunately the rights to “Daredevil” are about to run out in October meaning the studio has no chance of making the deadline. Thus came word that the studio has entered talks with Marvel hoping to renegotiate their “Daredevil” rights agreement and secure more time to make the reboot.
And Marvel was said to be considering capitulating as Fox was offering them something they desperately wanted – the rights to Galactus and the Silver Surfer – two key characters from the “Fantastic Four” universe which Fox own and which Marvel would love to employ in their future features. There’s also reportedly talk of a co-financing arrangement on said “Daredevil” reboot.
Then later in the afternoon, Deadline shot down the report, claiming their sources have “strenuously denied” the reports saying the current talks are very much about Disney co-financing the “Daredevil” reboot. If not, Fox is reportedly ready to let the character revert back to Marvel.
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