Via DisDining.com
It’s no secret that Disney and Universal have been caught in competition for years, with a rivalry equal to that of the Hatfields and McCoys.
But one of the most contentious aspects of this rivalry is the confusing rights to Marvel characters. While the Walt Disney Company officially owns the rights to Marvel Studios, Universal theme parks…also owns the rights to Marvel Comics?
It’s a confusing situation, with incredibly specific contract terms, leading to circumstances that can be hard to grasp. The bottom line is that Walt Disney World cannot use any Marvel imagery already being used in Universal Orlando Resort.
However, on the other side of the country, Disneyland Resort has an entire theme park area dedicated to Marvel Studios, and many fans wonder when Disney World will finally be able to reflect characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Some new developments regarding the rights to Marvel could lead to a breakthrough.
Universal Studios Japan will close its beloved Spider-Man attraction in 2024, disappointing many Marvel fans who love the dark ride.
But it’s not entirely bad news, as it means that Tokyo Disneyland could possibly swoop in and snatch up the rights to the Marvel super hero.
Considering that Spider-Man (or Peter Parker) is easily one of the most popular characters in the Marvel universe, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear Tokyo Disneyland announcing a new Spider-Man attraction once Universal Studios Japan officially loses the rights to the beloved Marvel character.
