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Step #9: Create a finance plan for a television series

TV SERIES FINANCE PLAN

Title

House of X

Genre

Comics/Superhero Fiction

Budget

$125,000,000. ($25,000,000 per episode)

Synopsis

An introduction of the Mutants and X-men characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe through a miniseries consisting of 5 episodes. Now that Disney owns Fox’s rights to the characters based on the comic book series, it is time to integrate them into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. By utilizing the 5-year gap in the storyline of the movie Avengers: Endgame where most of the characters are dusted off by Thanos’ snap, this is an opportunity to establish the X-men storyline and gives a logical explanation to their existence and their presence within the universe up to this point.

The movie Eternals Established that the Deviants and Eternals are opposite beings that effects the growth of human population within the MCU. This would be a great explanation as to why Mutants begins to exist as homo sapiens evolved into mutants throughout history as the Deviants were killed off by the Eternals which in turn allows the humans to continue evolving into mutants. Thanos’ snap in the movie Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame established that the ‘snap’ creates enough radiation that could be felt throughout the universe which eventually gives the location of Thanos’ whereabouts to the Avengers. This radiation could be a precursor to the evolution of the Mutant’s powers which makes them more prominent in the MCU during the 5-year gap period. The mutants exist due to the eternals’ intervention. Thanos’ snap further evolves the mutant powers that makes them more powerful and thus ‘birthing’ the X-men into the MCU.

The 5 episodes miniseries could reintroduce the X-men without being repetitive as it utilizes a different medium; Tv Miniseries instead of a feature film. The miniseries could also be used to explore other conflicts within the X-Men storyline without utilizing the main characters and instead use side characters to establish the mutants and their rise within the universe. The Mutants began evolving and started using their powers to save people as well as save other mutants within the 5-year gap. By creating this miniseries, the X-men could be featured in their own feature film in the future without wasting too much time to establish who they are and their purpose. This miniseries could establish a storyline where the existence of mutants creates an opportunity for the government to use them to police the Avengers since the Sokovia Accords established in Captain America: Civil War failed.

With this miniseries, the X-men would continue to its own Feature film titled X-men vs Avengers, where the heroes would collide creating an even bigger crossover than the ones before. I think this is a great opportunity both financially and creatively for Disney.

house of x compare 1.jpg

Wandavision

Budget: $225,000,000

Episodes: 9

Average Ratings: 8.3

house of x compare 2.jpg

The Falcon and The Wintersoldier

Budget: $150,000,000

Episodes: 6

Average Ratings: 8.5

house of x compare 3.jpg

Loki

Budget: $141,000,000

Episodes: 6

Average Ratings: 8.5

Comparables

Disney has released some successful miniseries that ties in well with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Especially during the pandemic where streaming seems to be the only distribution available at that time. Some of Disney’s successful miniseries are WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki. All of these miniseries are based off secondary characters from Marvel. This could be the perfect ‘vehicle’ for some of the lesser known X-men members to introduce the mutants and the X-men to the MCU through this miniseries.

Finance Plan:                                                             100%                                                      $125,000,000.              

Equity:                                                                              23%                                                        $28,750,000.               

Sponsorship, grants, deferments:                   2%                                                           $2,500,000.                 

Facilities deal:                                                            25%                

Production Incentive:                             30% - 40% Refundable Tax Credit     $37,500,000. (New York NY) 

Sales Minimum Guarantee:                              20%                                                         $25,000,000.

Considering that this is a Marvel Film owned by Disney, I would not see any problem in securing equity for this miniseries. Secondly, facilities deal would probably be provided as some episodes could be shot on the Disney Studio sets. Filming of the X-mansion would be able to use the same location as the previous X-mansion locations in New York thus taking advantage of the tax refund incentive. As a Disney produced Marvel miniseries, it would be easy to obtain a Sales minimum guarantee.

REFLECTION:
This is idea came to me when I first learned about the Acquisition of 20th Fox Century by Disney. I thought about how to integrate the X-Men and the Mutants into the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe without repeating the storylines that are already used by the Fox X-men series. This was during the time when Disney announced releasing a few minor Marvel Characters in the form of mini series and I thought this is a good opportunity to re-introduce the X-Men and the Mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe without being repetitive yet having the freedom to explore the minor characters without using the main X-Men roster until a feature X-Men film. The reason why I pick this idea of mine to create a business plan for this assignment is due to the fact that I have a very strong faith in this idea which I think is something that every Marvel fan such as myself is hoping to see happening where the X-Men universe could be integrated into the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe without breaking the canon of the MCU.
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