Marvel is suing various comic creators to keep the rights to various Avengers characters.
Disney’s biggest financial draw and success is the series of Avengers characters that have popped up on the big screen in the last decade. Marvel’s various characters have brought the studio billions of dollars since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2008. Now, the company is launching several lawsuits against the heirs of comic creators to keep the characters they helped distribute and popularize.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the lawsuits are against the heirs of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Gene Coleman, among others. Disney would Their lawsuits suggest that Avengers characters such as Spider-Man and Iron Man are ineligible for copyright termination as they were works made for hire.
Last month, Steve Ditko’s estate filed a notice of termination on Spider-Man. The law states that after a period of time, authors and artists can reclaim the rights to their work. The notice states that Marvel would lose the rights to Spider-Man in June 2023, meaning no films, comic books, or television shows could be produced. Larry Lieber, the brother of Stan Lee also filed a termination notice on behalf of his late brother.
DC had a similar kerfuffle with the creators of the Superman characters but won the suit thanks to Dan Petrocelli. Marvel has hired Petrocelli to file Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Patrick Ditko, Don Rico, and Keith Dettwiler, all heirs to various Avengers characters.
Should the suits go awry, Marvel could lose a handful of their top-earning characters like Spider-Man, who consistently bring in billions of dollars. Of course, this would also mean a lack of content, as Marvel wouldn’t be able to publish or create any new content focusing on these characters.
Here is the synopsis for Avengers: Endgame:
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.
Avengers: Endgame is available on Digital HD, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content in the future!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The post Marvel Suing Comic Creators To Keep ‘Avengers’ Character Rights appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.
