Disney-Fox Merger: Combined Box Office Strategy Begins

At the top of Fox food chain is James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ franchise, which now becomes part of the Empire that Bob Iger Built.

In recent days, 20th Century Fox has been quietly rearranging its release calendar, no doubt in anticipation of the $70 billion-plus Disney-21st Century Fox marriage. Late last week, Fox pushed back the release of Death on the Nile, a star-studded sequel to Murder on the Orient Express, from Dec. 20, 2019, to Oct. 2, 2020.

In its earlier date, Nile would have opened opposite Disney and Lucasfilm’s untitled Star Wars: Episode IX. Fox also pushed Ad Astra, starring Brad Pitt, from January to late May, while relocating the action-comedy Stuber from May to July.

Federal regulations prohibit Disney and Fox film executives from directly coordinating their efforts during the merger process, but the proverbial handwriting is on the wall. Soon — providing there are no eleventh-hour glitches — Disney will begin releasing titles from a scaled 20th Century Fox proper, Fox Searchlight and Fox 2000, further expanding its ever-growing market share.

On Thursday, Disney announced that 20th Century Fox Film vice chairman and president of production Emma Watts will hold the same title when joining its ranks. Ditto for Searchlight co-chairmen Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, as well as Fox 2000 chief Elizabeth Gabler. All three entities will contribute separately to the already booming Disney portfolio.

“The addition of these respected film groups under the umbrella of The Walt Disney Studios will create endless possibilities as we continue to deliver first-rate motion pictures to audiences around the world,” said Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, to whom the four will report. “This is an experienced group of executives, and [studio president] Alan Bergman and I look forward to welcoming them to our leadership ranks upon completion of the acquisition.”

The acquisition of Fox’s film assets is the latest coup for Walt Disney Co. chairman-CEO Robert Iger after buying up Pixar Studios, Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios, which co-exist as separate brands alongside Disney’s own live-action studio and Disney Animation.

(Excerpt) Read More at: HollywoodReporter.com