The man who’s appeared in essentially the most Marvel films isn’t Robert Downey Jr. or Chris Evans or Chris Hemsworth. It’s Stan Lee, the co-creator of a lot of Marvel’s best characters, together with Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the X-Males. Lee was the author and editor by way of Marvel’s glory years of the Sixties, then steadily transitioned to a figurehead place the place his jovial, gregarious persona grew to become synonymous with the Marvel model.
After serving for many years as the corporate’s chairman emeritus and ambassador in Hollywood, he spent his closing years popping up in dozens of cameos in Marvel films. His closing look was in Avengers: Endgame, which he recorded shortly earlier than his demise in 2018.
However a brand new deal between Marvel and the corporate Stan Lee Universe has paved the way in which for Lee to return posthumously to Marvel’s films, or TV reveals, or in different areas. In accordance with The Hollywood Reporter, the 2 firms have signed an settlement to license Lee’s identify, likeness, voice, and even his signature in “function movies and tv productions, in addition to Disney theme parks, varied “experiences” and merchandizing.”
They do observe the deal “doesn’t essentially pave the way in which for the return of Lee cameos in films, at the least not in the way in which followers historically knew them, insiders warning.” However below the phrases of the deal Marvel may insert Lee — maybe utilizing archival footage, or with the identical form of digital results that added the late Peter Cushing to Rogue One, for instance — into movies or reveals set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The settlement offers Marvel a big selection of areas the place they’ll make the most of Stan Lee’s likeness, together with…
… in films and tv initiatives, in addition to to make use of photographs, current footage and current audio recordings that includes him. The rights to make use of Lee’s identify, voice, likeness and signature solely in theme parks, cruise traces and in-park merchandise have been additionally included the deal. Audiences and parkgoers may see Lee flip up as figures and toys, on attire and stationery, in video video games and VR.
Marvel and Lee are inextricably linked (even when most of Lee’s best contributions to the corporate wouldn’t have been full with out main enter and artistry from illustrators like Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others) so on some degree, the settlement makes a whole lot of sense. Individuals love Stan Lee, and there are certainly methods Marvel can make the most of that connection in followers’ minds in ways in which additionally honor Lee’s work. Alternatively … does anybody wish to see CGI Stan Lee popping up within the background of a scene from Thor: Love and Thunder? Stan’s cameos have been enjoyable, however I don’t assume they need to proceed previous his demise. That’s simply too bizarre.
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