18. Marvel Had To Risk Everything In A Bid To Create The Marvel Cinematic Universe
In 1996, Marvel filed for bankruptcy. In an attempt to make some money, they sold off the rights to lots of their most famous characters to major Hollywood studios. Though they made a bit of money doing so, it wasn't enough to help them with their financial issues. Then along came talent agent David Maisel, who pitched Marvel an idea that would go onto save them completely: why not start their own in-house movie studio? Make the superhero movies themselves instead of selling off the rights, and then retain all the profits. But it was a risk. If the venture failed, Marvel would lose everything. Maisel was convinced that his plan was the way forward, however, and after securing a loan of $525 million dollars and putting all their properties on the line, Marvel Studios was born. Everything was riding on the success of their first feature film: Iron Man. And it was a huge success. Without Maisel, then, Marvel would've likely continued to sell off all its properties and would - in all likelihood - cease to exist today as a result. Shooting for the MCU instead was a colossal risk of the highest order, but boy did it pay off! David Maisel... you genius, you.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
