Is It True that 20th Century Fox Can Give X-Men Back to Marvel?

Yes, there is a common misbelief that 20th Century Fox can give X-Men back to Marvel, which is a lazy and inaccurate assumption. After Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, all the rights including those for X-Men and Fantastic Four automatically reverted to Marvel.

Understanding the Acquisition

Disney's purchase of 21st Century Fox was not a simple acquisition of a single studio. Disney acquired Fox Studios, Fox Entertainment Group, and all the associated rights and assets, including the intellectual properties of X-Men and Fantastic Four.

Milestone Announcements and Contracts

The acquisition was made official in 2019, and since then, the copyrights and ownership of all properties under 21st Century Fox have been transferred to Disney. This includes the rights to the X-Men and their characters. As per the terms of these contracts, the rights to characters like X-Men and Fantastic Four reverted back to Marvel upon the acquisition.

Future Plans in the MCU

The transition of X-Men and Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is already underway. In 2024, we can expect to see the first full appearance of these characters with both Deadpool and Wolverine making a joint appearance for the first time in the MCU.

Contracts and Acting Obligations

Disney's decision to honor the contracts with past actors affecting roles in X-Men movies from 2025 to 2026 is a necessary step to maintain consistency and continuity. However, other characters, including Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, will also make future appearances in the MCU.

Conclusion

In summary, the rights for X-Men and Fantastic Four already reverted back to Marvel upon Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The transition is now a matter of bringing these characters into the larger MCU framework, with the first major crossover set for 2024.