Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC
Formerly
  • Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (1998–2005)
  • Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (2005–2009)
Company typeSubsidiary
NYSE: MVL (1998–2009)
IndustryEntertainment
GenreSuperhero fiction
Predecessors
FoundedJune 2, 1998 (1998-06-02)
DefunctMarch 29, 2023 (2023-03-29)
FateFolded into The Walt Disney Company
SuccessorThe Walt Disney Company
Headquarters1290 Avenue of the Americas,
New York City
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
ServicesLicensing
ParentThe Walt Disney Company (2009–2023)
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Websitemarvel.com

Marvel Entertainment, LLC (formerly Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Marvel Enterprises, Inc.) was an American entertainment company founded in June 1998 and based in New York City, formed by the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group and Toy Biz. The company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company since 2009, and was mainly known for consumer products, licensing, and comic books by Marvel Comics, as well as its early forays into films and television/streaming shows, including those within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment for US$4 billion;[1] it had been a limited liability company (LLC) since then. For financial reporting purposes, Marvel was primarily reported as part of Disney's Consumer Products segment ever since Marvel Studios' reorganization from Marvel Entertainment into Walt Disney Studios.[2]

Over the years, Marvel Entertainment entered into several partnerships and negotiations with other companies across a variety of businesses. As of 2024, Marvel has film licensing agreements with Sony Pictures via Columbia Pictures (for Spider-Man films) and theme park licensing agreements with IMG Worlds of Adventure and Universal Destinations & Experiences (for specific Marvel character rights at Islands of Adventure).[3] Aside from their contract with Universal Destinations & Experiences, Marvel's characters and properties have also appeared at Disney Parks.[4]

On March 29, 2023, Marvel Entertainment's operations, including Marvel Comics and Marvel Games, were folded into Disney's larger business units.[5][6]

  1. ^ Fritz, Ben (September 23, 2009). "Disney tells details of Marvel Entertainment acquisition in a regulatory filing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  2. ^ Part I: Page 1: ITEM 1. Business. Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Financial Report And Shareholder Letter Archived June 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved December 27, 2013. "Marvel businesses are reported primarily in our Studio Entertainment and Consumer Products segments."
  3. ^ Gaudette, Emily (November 6, 2017). "What a Disney/Fox deal could mean for Deadpool, the X-Men". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017. Fox has the rights to the X-Men, including Wolverine, Deadpool and the Fantastic Four.
  4. ^ Chu, Karen (October 8, 2013). "Hong Kong Disneyland to Open 'Iron Man' Experience in 2016". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  5. ^ Barnes, Brooks (March 29, 2023). "Disney Lays Off Ike Perlmutter, Chairman of Marvel Entertainment". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Vary, Adam (March 29, 2023). "Disney Absorbs Marvel Entertainment Amid Layoffs, Dismisses Chairman Ike Perlmutter". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2023.