Disney To Rep The Avengers, Iron Man 3

BURBANK: The Walt Disney Studios has picked up the worldwide marketing and distribution rights for Marvel Studios’ The Avengers and Iron Man 3 from Paramount Pictures.

Disney will pay Paramount $115 million for the rights to the two upcoming films, with the amount to be paid on the theatrical release dates. This serves as a minimum guarantee against the distribution fees. Paramount holds on to the worldwide distribution rights for Thor and Captain America, as well as the previously released Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Paramount will release Thor and Captain America worldwide next year on May 6 and July 22, respectively.

"In completing this agreement, Disney will now assume worldwide marketing and distribution of The Avengers and Iron Man 3 and leverage these two highly-anticipated films across the multiple global platforms of The Walt Disney Company," said Rich Ross, the chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. "We appreciate the tremendous momentum that Paramount established with these iconic Marvel characters and look forward to propelling the brand even further in the coming years."

"Five years ago, when Paramount and Marvel made our initial deal, both our businesses were in very different places," commented Brad Grey, the chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. "We are grateful for the partnership we have had with the terrific Marvel team over these years and proud of the work we have done together. Today, this new agreement is the right deal for Paramount, for Marvel and for Disney. We look forward to working together on Thor and Captain America, and we wish Disney and Marvel the utmost success, in what we know will be a very productive and wide-ranging partnership."

"Paramount has been a wonderful partner in helping Marvel Studios bring our characters to the big screen," added Alan Fine, from the office of the president of Marvel Worldwide. "This agreement makes sense now that Marvel is part of The Walt Disney Company."