Fans and Investors Rejoice: Marvel Heroes on Disney Streaming Service

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 1, 2018

Well, we’re getting a clearer picture of how Marvel superheroes are going to fit into Disney’s forthcoming streaming service, and quite frankly, it looks pretty darn smart.

Variety has reported that the characters Falcon and Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (played by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, respectively) will star in a team-up limited series. Previously, Variety had reported that Loki and Scarlett Witch were likely to get limited-run series. The model, apparently, is to have six-to-eight episodes, with more substantial budgets than typical for television series.

If you’re a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan, then you’ve got to be excited. For good measure, this direction with Marvel on the Disney streaming service gives investors reasons to be pleased as well.

With these announcements, Disney can continue to open the big blockbusters in theaters; subsequently cashing in on digital and Blu-ray sales; and having the films join the streaming service library. For good measure, fans looking for movies featuring other characters basically will get their wishes granted via these limited-run streaming series. In effect, fans will be getting content equivalent to three to four movies with each limited series.

This blows open the doors for more creativity in terms of the Marvel universe – combined with new content coming in the Star Wars universe, for example. That means expanding the subscriber base for the new streaming service. Of course, in the end, it’s all about execution in terms of telling interesting, compelling and popular stories. But while there are always failures along the way, quality storytelling has never been a real problem for Disney.

Let the Disney streaming war with Netflix be engaged, with consumers benefiting all along the way.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with the two latest books being Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.