5 More Ways for Disney to Cash In on the Superhero Boom

For as much ink as The Dark Knight Rises has gotten in the headlines recently, it's easy to forget that Batman isn't the only superhero starring at cinemas.

Yesterday, we took a look at how Time Warner (NYS: TWX) might re-up the Bat Franchise now that director Christopher Nolan is on to other endeavors. Today we'll look at what Walt Disney (NYS: DIS) subsidiary Marvel Studios already has planned, and what might be in the works.

Looking back to look forward
The House of Mouse has good reason to want more of what Marvel has to offer. Box Office Mojo ranks the comic-book king the top cinematic franchise, with just over $5 billion in gross receipts as of this writing. Disney-produced flicks are responsible for about 26% of that total:

Source: Box Office Mojo.

Among the remaining franchises, DreamWorks Animation (NYS: DWA) ranks second at $3.96 billion, followed by Disney's Pixar at $3.25 billion and then DC Comics at $2.8 billion. The numbers drop off significantly from there. Fifth-place MTV has earned about half of DC's haul, while up-and-comer Hasbro (NYS: HAS) has brought in $1.32 billion for its licensing partners.

American Superhero Idol
When viewed through the lens of current box-office trends, Disney CEO Bob Iger is a genius for paying just $4 billion for Marvel's mighty money machine. Every one of his peers is searching for a deal of their own. Most of them spend millions hunting for talent at the annual San Diego Comic-Con. Call it American Idol for comic-book nerds like me.

Someone will find the next Marvel eventually. Until then, investors are likely to be better served by betting on Disney. Here are five Marvel projects that have either already been or could soon be greenlighted for production.

Ant-Man. In production and previewed at Comic-Con. Edgar Wright, who co-wrote and directed the 2010 comic book adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, will direct. We don't yet have a date for the film, but fan reaction to the footage shown at Comic-Con suggests this could be another cult winner for Wright, and for Disney shareholders.

Black Panther. Rumored but not in production. The fictional prince of an advanced African nation is a mean and agile fighter who in the comics is affiliated with The Avengers, making him a natural for the big screen. The character has also appeared in his own cartoon series on BET, so there's a ready-made audience waiting to pay up to watch his adventures.

Daredevil. Not yet in production. Though he's already appeared on the big screen once (played by Ben Affleck in a 2003 movie that earned mixed reviews), Marvel has long hinted at a reboot because of the popularity of Batman at the cineplex. Both characters share a thirst for vengeance (Batman for his parents, Daredevil for his dad and girlfriend) and count the mob as chief enemies, suggesting crossover audience appeal. There's just one problem: News Corp.'s (NAS: NWS) Twentieth Century Fox, which owns the film rights, has lost David Slade as a potential director. Fox must get a reboot into production before year's end or face having to return the rights to Marvel and Disney.

Doctor Strange. Discussed when Marvel first announced plans for its own studio and then teased again in 2008, but no news since. The surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme of Earth could play off the current fascination with all things occult, undead, and just generally creepy. Plus, special effects could make the various displays of magic crazy cool.

Guardians of the Galaxy. In production, scheduled for an Aug. 1, 2014, release. Possibly the most ambitious film we've ever seen from Marvel, seeing as it would probably star a genetically altered, intelligent raccoon, a human with a telepathic link to a starship that's actually a sentient energy form, and an alien plant monster. Yet if the screenplay and production come together well, this movie could become exactly the sort of far-out cosmic adventure that Green Lantern was supposed to be but wasn't for Warner and DC.

Put on your cape!
Those are the in-house films we've heard about. Other productions include a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, already in filming at Fox, which holds the movie rights to all X-Men characters. Similarly, a film starring Ryan Reynolds as the assassin Deadpool -- who also figured in X-MenOrigins -- has long been rumored, but it, too, would have to come from Fox, and the studio is apparently busy with pre-production for a reboot of 2005's Fantastic Four.

Those limitations aside, which character or characters do you most want to see? Please weigh in using the comments box below, and then be sure to add Disney to your Watchlist for ongoing coverage. You're also welcome to a new special report that reveals three other American companies that are dominating on the world stage. Get our copy now -- it's 100% free to download.

The article 5 More Ways for Disney to Cash In on the Superhero Boom originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributorTim Beyersis a member of theMotley Fool Rule Breakersstock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Time Warner and Walt Disney at the time of publication. Check out Tim'sWeb home,portfolio holdings, andFoolish writings, or connect with him onGoogle+or Twitter, where he goes by@milehighfool. You can also get his insightsdelivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool owns shares of Hasbro and Walt Disney.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of DreamWorks Animation, Hasbro, and Walt Disney. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.

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