Why Did Marvel Make X-Men and Fantastic Four Separate from the MCU? Will They Ever Join?

The Evolution of Marvel's Cinematic Universe

For a long time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) actually didn't have the rights to major properties like the X-Men or the Fantastic Four. In fact, they barely had rights to Spider-Man. Going back to the 90s, Marvel comics was floundering. Comics, as a medium, had become a niche market, and even the biggest publishers were struggling to make ends meet. As a last resort, Marvel sold the rights to their biggest properties: the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to 20th Century Fox, and Spider-Man to Sony.

This decision kept Marvel afloat and led to iconic films like X-Men and Fantastic Four. However, the problem became apparent a decade later when Marvel decided to make their own superhero movies. They had nothing to work with because they didn't own the rights to their biggest characters!

This is why the MCU started with Iron Man. A previously B-list hero, Iron Man, built the foundation for the Avengers. Kevin Feige and Marvel didn't think B-listers would sell better; they were missing the rights to their A-listers.

Things have changed over the past few years. Disney has since acquired 20th Century Fox and has a deal with Sony to let Spider-Man into the MCU. The X-Men started making their MCU debut with the release of Deadpool and Wolverine. The Fantastic Four are set to make their MCU debut next year.

The Comics Industry's Collapse

Before Marvel Studios existed, the comics industry went through a significant collapse. The value of first editions of iconic characters like Superman, Batman, and Captain America was revealed to be worth tens of thousands of dollars due to the paper drives during World War II, making first editions rare. As a result, DC and Marvel started making multiple first editions of their comics to meet demand, causing a paper shortage and nearly driving the publishers into bankruptcy. DC bounced back because Warner Bros. owned DC, but Marvel was forced to sell the film licenses of some of their properties to Hollywood studios.

The rights to these popular characters were sold to other studios, and the Marvel universe remained separate. It wasn't due to a business decision by Marvel executives to use B-listers for marketing; it was simply because they didn't own the rights to their A-listers.

Disney's Recovery of Rights

Advances in technology and changes in the market dynamics allowed Disney to get the rights back or secure new deals. In 2009, Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, including the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four. With Sony, the deal to include Spider-Man in the MCU is ongoing, and now the Marvel universe is poised to welcome its most powerful mutants and superhero families.

In conclusion, the separation of the X-Men and Fantastic Four from the MCU was largely due to legal and financial reasons. However, with Disney's acquisitions and strategic deals, we are now seeing these characters making their way back into the MCU. Fans can look forward to an even richer and more diverse cinematic experience featuring beloved superheroes.

Stay tuned for more updates on Marvel's expanding universe in the MCU!