Disney has one of the most beloved franchises in the world coming to the MCU very soon. Already, however, they are going in a familiar, controversial direction.
Developing the merchandise around movies and shows is a massive group of industries. It involves games, toys, clothing and more. As a company prepares to release a multi-million dollar entry in a franchise, years of work has already happened behind the scenes. Focus groups are assembled, researchers pour over analytics… design docs and NDAs are passed around with executives of partner companies as they prepare the twelve-month job of secondary and tertiary markets surrounding and entertainment release. Most of the time the non-disclosure agreements work. But we have been blessed at That Park Place to make connections with toy industry insiders at major partner companies of The Walt Disney Company. Today, we’re finding out an unsurprising path forward for X-Men, the property we’re told is the “next big thing” for Marvel!
According to an insider and his connections with international market contacts, Disney’s Marvel Entertainment is hard at work with their partners developing the future of X-Men. Action figures, assorted toys, t-shirts, coffee mugs, you name it. It’s time for a new X-Men brand under the MCU umbrella — even though, for now, the X-Men name remains (sorry, Victoria Alonso). While we’ve already heard that Marvel is testing the vices that some of the characters will retain (smoking, womanizing, etc), we’re now getting this latest rumor/leak that Disney wants to “race swap” various X-Men. In effect, they want to reduce the number of Caucasian characters.
Here’s verbatim the message sent to us from our toy expert, whose identity we have confirmed and corroborated, but who will remain anonymous on this site to protect their career:
- Right now a big question is how much race swapping to include. The thinking is apparently that race swaps will be more accepted if the incoming « swapped-in » actor is a bigger name, with the thinking that the more marquis the name, the harder it is for fans to object or criticize it.
- Quick note on higher priced talent and budgets: Disney are looking at reigning in budgets somewhat, at minimum setting caps. The problem is that as projected actor salaries are planned to increase, there would be less left in total budget for production. Remember that part of the « winning formula », per Disney going forward is « cameos ». Those add salary pressure, even if included in an actors’ contract (included means the pay is already built in). Also, actor salaries are not subject to the various production subsidies that various states offer as well as financing plays for different accounting posts. Also special effects need dollar boosts, so that’s also a pressure on total budgets. Still, Disney know that they have to get a handle on budgets in order to help facilitate « non-event » movies hitting their theatrical profit lines.
- I need to talk to another guy to get more, but select Fox-Avengers will be included as « bait » and as « jobbers » for new « Disney » X-Men. You know how many fans are continually calling out Disney for pulling « bait & switches » all over the place ? Something I agree with by the way, and focus groups say it’s wearing very thin with even die-hards (who wanted to see a Dr. Strange movie be about Dr. Strange ..) … ok back to the « bait ». Well, that’s apparently set to continue, with a strong faction at Marvel calling for « better bait ». Apparently that is part of their oh so genius solution. The Fox actors are considered « top notch bait ». At first glance, this « better bait », when it rolls out will likely be FALSELY interpreted by some fans as Disney « listening to the fans ». It’s not. It’s a cynical money play, which also has a component to shut up those manufacturing licensed products (« see, see, we gave you a white male hero for a few minutes, so what are you complaining about? »).
- Continuing with the cynicism: the baiting with character/actor stunts aims to also sell the characters which are Disney’s real interest. In pro wrestling it’s called « jobbing », where an established big name who pops with fans is used to put over, sell, or at least make more palatable a new character the wrestling promotion wants to push. Watch for this to get even more glaring going forward
- How to play alphabet is also being mapped out for X-Men (which is at least as of two weeks ago still being referred too as « X-Men »).
- They are working hard at trying to find a palatable-to-them balance between the minimum property authenticity to ensure commercial success and their main focus of « being reflective of not only today’s society but also of the society of tomorrow ». One Marvel mid-line creative referred to this as « unfortunate » because that « means having white men be more present than we want to ».
- I have not heard about any gender swaps, though that doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking of it! The unfortunate thing is the property doesn’t need any race or gender swaps, it’s all already there. Alphabet? Focus groups, and we’ve dug, indicate that the large majority don’t want any of this in their superhero entertainment. Facts, sorry.
- Yes, the above is from 2nd and 3rd removed sources at Disney, but 3 of them have said that one of the main objectives is to « continue to move on, to transit from white men », even if this means leaving money on the table. I thought you would want to hear it. They know that « unfortunately white men are the money in the whole revenue stream chain, which includes multiple viewings, more merch at higher price points, secondary media spends, etc. We want to give the minimum possible needed to get the most that we can out of them. We’ll have to throw them a couple of bones.»
- « The parks, the boats and football pay the bills »
Stay tuned. There is more to this message that we will be sharing tomorrow. In addition to the X-Men news, our insider is also sharing with us information that is extremely spicy about Star Wars and Lucasfilm. You do not want to miss it.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below and let us know your thoughts!
The anti-white hate has to stop. Changing character’s races always ends-up being against white characters. These isolated creatives think they are helping the world by hiring the actor’s skin color…but they creating division.
what anti-white the x-men wont be arriving for a while and somehow he has info that their already planning on race swapping them when they don’t have a writer ,director script or even a release date
“The parks, the boats and football pay the bills”
This is really all you need to know. Disney is not interested in making money. The parks and cruises are basically just a funding system to promote the peculiar ideology of Disney’s executive management team, which they promote via their media operations. Investors should sell this company while there’s still value left in it.
Anyone still believe Chapek is serious about de-politicizing the company?
So a cruise trip is the equivalent of learning CRT?
No, that’s ridiculous. The cruise ship is what funds the CRT in the movies.
What does Disney have to do with football?
I think some of this is still Disney operating under the assumption that white men are a) going to be a minority sooner rather than later, and b) non-white men will buy their movie tickets. “A” may be true eventually, but “B” would only be true if non-white men identify with the characters. Problem is, they know Wolverine, Cyclops, etc. are white, and they feel pondered to when an existing character is swapped. Pandering is unpopular with everyone but the super woke and super fragile, and there aren’t enough of those to pay the bills.
I think this idea that the “global audience” hates white people and won’t go to see movies with white people in them is a complete myth. Squid Game, which had mostly Koreans, became a global hit and did not need to be jam-packed with modern US political ideology and “diversity” characters to succeed. People go to the movies and read books to see good stories, not for political pandering. And we can already see the results – Disney’s MCU/Star Wars movies are failing everywhere, not just the US.
Ultimately, this stuff about a “global audience” is mostly nonsense to appease dumb investors. It’s about pushing the personal, peculiar political ideology of Disney’s executive management team and the directors of these films. It has very little to do with making successful films and making money – that is clearly a secondary concern at best.
Well white people don’t breed enough that’s why.
So this corroborates what your film insider says about Feigs “leaky” boat. They could use existing X-Men (ie. Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Beast etc) and then create (this is shocking I know) new mutants who happen to be Black, Asian, Hispanic and Pacific Islander.
No… no, they will continue doing modern day “Black Face” where they take an existing white character(s) and put a Black Face on them. Really original Hollywood and apparently you haven’t learned your lesson yet. It’s also nice to know that Marvel has openly racist people working there.
Oh well, thank you Disney for helping me to save money. My wallet remains closed to you
nothing about what that insider has any truth and doesnt make sense
I have not given Disney money since 2017. This trend is gonna continue for the rest of my life most like.y & it is great
Because you quit for dumb reasons, casual.
I find it very hard you have info on the x-men somethings thats probably 5 years away but no toy info on the Fantastic Four which already has a director and writers and release LMFAO.
“You know how many fans are continually calling out Disney for pulling « bait & switches » all over the place ? Something I agree with by the way, and focus groups say it’s wearing very thin with even die-hards (who wanted to see a Dr. Strange movie be about Dr. Strange ..) … ok back to the « bait ».”
the “fans” that accuse them of bait and switch are a small minority of anti-sjws mpst fans dont think that way and there is no “bait and switch” with MoM its called Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and for the majority of the movie doctor strange is stuck in the multiverse no bait and switch
“They know that « unfortunately white men are the money in the whole revenue stream chain, which includes multiple viewings, more merch at higher price points, secondary media spends, etc. We want to give the minimum possible needed to get the most that we can out of them. We’ll have to throw them a couple of bones.»”
way to expose your racism there to say people wont watch movies or buy toys if characters aren’t straight white male. Movies like Black panther and captain marvel shows that not the case. Maybe just having good stories is what sells u ever consider that
Their stories have not been good either lately & literally made with hate & racism in mind (She-Hulk is just one example). I will give them Werewolf By Midnight. But Werewolf By Midnight is literally the only good thing that Marvel has done this year. Marvel is slowly but surely going the way of Star Wars. Dead franchises walking & people are tired of the race swapping. Disney is pretty much dead as an entertainment company
@Random Disney isn’t dead like that. That’s just assumptions mixed with subjective opinions on your end. Plus your claim that their stories this Phase aren’t good is very debatable.
The ratings & Box Office says a whole lot. Disney is dead just like that. Only the Parks are keeping them afloat now. They destroyed everything else they had
When Top Gun: Maverick ultimately makes more money than Woke Panther as its total its gonna be fucking hilarious
@Random Not as much as you think. Stuff like Wandavision, Loki, Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night are still successful. Hell the Marvel movies that were released this year, neither of them were bombs and the only real bomb there was Lightyear. The only failed stuff was Ms Marvel and She Hulk. If they were dead, Andor, Tales of the Jedi, or even Hocus Pocus 2 would have all bombed but they didn’t.
You clearly are ignoring the ratings for Andor / Tales Of The Jedi. Thor: Woke & Thunder under performed MASSIVELY when you look at profit & break even point & not the total of the box office. You gotta lie when the facts say differently. Typical Disney Woke Wanker
Also if you gotta bring in stuff from a year or two ago & you cant keep it 2022 only you know you lost the conversation & is wrong so thanks for admitting that you know that you are wrong. If you want a safe space try the Reddit official pages as facts dont care about your feelings
@Random Except half of the stuff I mentioned was this year and they still succeeded mostly. Yes, I am right on the movie side because both of the Marvel movies this year and including Wakanda Forever did not bomb Lightyear style. This is just you being brainless out being petty like the name switching. Now THAT, is what I expect 8-12 year olds or old people trying to be hip on Reddit do, not some random individual.
Wokeanda Forever is not even out yet ? The only movie that was any type of success was Doctor Strange & that was a MILD success. Also Top Gun: Maverick will still ultimately make more money than Wokanda Forever.. There is only one mild successful marvel movie this year JUST ONE you lying woke wanker
@Random That’s why I was including it because that film won’t be a bomb. Again this just comes off as you being stupid in a petty way. I don’t consider Dr Strange making almost a billion dollars as “Mild”. Love and Thunder broke even and made some money so that’s not a bomb either and same can apply to BP.
Thor: Woke & Thunder pretty much made back what it took making it & advertising it & not much room for extra. These are still ultimately not very good numbers for where the M She U is right now. Add in the negativity towards Woke & Thunder its not all rainbows & sunshine. Dr. Strange was made as a $1 Billion movie Disney is ultimately disappointed in these numbers. When Wokeanda Forever makes less than Top Gun: Maverick over all this will be worth firing some people over. As stated earlier you already lot this conversation anyway so take the L & move on
@Random How can I take the L when you just admitted they’re not bombs after all? Also why are you acting like Wakanda Forever has to compete with Top Gun when that’s all done with the latter? I think we were spoiled with the last Phase because not every MCU film has made a billion dollars dude. Just because they don’t make a billion all the time doesn’t mean it’s in trouble. That’s just nonsense. Lastly, MSheU? Never go full neckbeard especially when that’s not really true.
I said Doctor Strange was a mild success. Thor: Woke & Thunder Disney are not happy with those numbers. Especially when Taika Waititi is not returning as the director for the future of Thor. Disney will not be happy when the headlines say come Christmas Time that Wokekanda Forever did not beat Top Gun: Maverick. Disney is not happy with any Phase 4 merchandise over all not selling. You can lie & spin this however you want. Disney+ is pretty much a failure for Marvel & LucasFilm in the ratings AT THIS POINT IN TIME. Could this change ? Sure but it will require at least the firing of Victoria Alonso. At the end of the day TIME is NOT GONNA BE KIND for the M She U. Bring on destroying the X-Men & The Fantastic Four its gonna be great
Also its interesting noting that if Disney were happy with how everything was performing on Disney+ why havent they announced anything for Marvel after Woke Echo & Woke Iron Heart & Woke Daredevil ? Hell the rumor is they are moving on from traditional shows after the current agreed on contracts are completed & they will do more short stuff like Werewolf By Night. If they do actually do make such a change all this says is Disney is not happy with how things are going on Disney+/ They certainly wont be happy with Woke Echo & Woke Iron Hearts performances that is a guaranteed. Also Box Office wise now Disney is relying on cameos throughout “The Multiverse Saga”. Another sign that they are not exactly entirely happy if they cant rely on these new woke failing characters
Jokes on Disney and Marvel. People don’t care any longer. There won’t be any recovery because they refuse to change out the creatives that created the original problem.
“People don’t care any longer”
Yeah that can be debated and challenged pretty easily.
If this is true I hope no one here is sympathetic to Hugh Jackman like they were to Harrison Ford. He sold out for the money and I hope he enjoys them on his way to hell.
Who made you be the judge on what’s right or wrong?
I ***love*** this toy series of articles.