Disney will officially take control of Fox next week


Disney's 21st Century Fox purchase is just days away from closing.
Disney expects the $71 billion acquisition to be finalized on March 20, Variety reported on Tuesday. The deal was originally announced in December 2017 and has since been slowly receiving approval from regulators around the world.
Disney is now set to own the 20th Century Fox film studio, which has released blockbuster movies including Avatar, Deadpool, and X-Men. Fox's films accounted for 9.1 percent of the box office revenue generated in the U.S. in 2018, per Box Office Mojo. If Disney had owned these films last year, the company would have taken in 35 percent of 2018's total domestic box office revenue. Disney will now own the four planned sequels to Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time, and Fox-owned Marvel characters like Deadpool and the X-Men are expected to be incorporated into Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has so far grossed more than $18 billion worldwide.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The acquisition will also give Disney control over FX and National Geographic, as well as a 60 percent stake in Hulu. Additionally, films from Fox's library can be added to Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+, which launches later this year. Some of 21 Century Fox's business will remain separate from Disney, though, including the Fox network, Fox News, and Fox Sports, CNN reports. They'll exist under a separate company called Fox Corporation.
At least 4,000 layoffs are expected after the merger goes through, The Hollywood Reporter writes.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The bougie foods causing international shortages
In the Spotlight Pistachios join avocados and matcha on list of social media-driven crazes that put strain on supply chains and environment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Strep infections are rising in the US
Under the radar The cases have more than doubled in 10 years
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Sudoku medium: April 22, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US