*By Max Godnick* Disney may have won the bidding war for 21st Century Fox's prized assets, but if the deal goes through, fans may be the real victors. "If you're a fan of Marvel, you're going to get the X-Men and the Fantastic 4 back with the Avengers," said Tim Baysinger, a TV reporter for The Wrap, in an interview with Cheddar on Friday. "How can you not be excited about that?" Comcast, which announced this week it would not pursue its bid for Fox, cleared a path for Disney to complete its $71 billion acquisition of the company's movie studio and various cable channels. That means Marvel Studios, which Disney acquired for $4 billion in 2009, will also re-absorb rights to the "X-Men" and "Fantastic 4" movies, which had been controlled by Fox. And if Disney's deal closes by next summer, Baysinger said Marvel could be poised to deliver some earth-shattering news at 2019's Comic-Con, an event the studio skipped this year. "I would not be surprised if, a year from now, \[Marvel Studios President\] Kevin Feige is standing in front of Hall H announcing a Phase 4 slate that could very well include the 'X-Men' and the 'Fantastic 4,'" Baysinger said. Next spring's follow-up to "Avengers: Infinity War" marks the end of Marvel's third phase in its theatrical release strategy. The studio has been quiet about plans beyond that, but a Fox deal may crystallize things. It's an exciting prospect, given that critics [panned](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantastic_four_2015/) the latest installments of Fox's "X-Men" and "Fantastic 4" franchises, but have been [much kinder](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/avengers_infinity_war) to Disney's superhero fare. "Marvel knows how to do their characters better than anyone else," Baysinger said. For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/what-the-disney-fox-deal-means-for-fans)

Share:
More In Business
The Next Major Milestone For Bitcoin
Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise Asset Management, gives Cheddar the latest on the Securities and Exchange Commission approval of bitcoin ETFs. Hougan calls this time a 'potential major milestone for bitcoin.'
LeBron James Inks Sports Trading Card Deal With Fanatics
LeBron James has agreed to an exclusive deal with Fanatics Collectibles. James and his son, Bronny, will appear together on a unique sports trading card to herald the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s new multiyear partnership with Fanatics.
How A.I. is Impacting the Stock Market
Joe Zhao, Managing Partner at Millennia Capital, joined Cheddar to discuss the latest stock moves and how the market is being impacted by artificial intelligence.
Load More