Walt Disney Company Thinking About Purchasing Hasbro

[Wendy]

There is a rumor that the Walt Disney Company is in talks to purchase Hasbro, the world’s largest toy and game company. Hasbro brings with it a significant amount of licences in addition to the lucrative merchandising, such as Transformers, G.I. Joe, Monopoly, Magic The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, Tonka, Nerf, Clue, Candyland, My Little Pony and almost everything you can imagine.

According to MTV, who first reported the news, “serious discussions are happening at the highest levels” between the two companies. Not to mention, Hasbro already has a relationship with Disney, developing toys and games based on several of their properties (Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel etc.) and has a long standing, albeit it rocky, relationship with Hollywood (Transformers, Battleship, etc.).

MTV Geek wrote about this possible major business acquisition, stressing that it’s still just being talked about, but that it could happen at any time.

Paramount already controls the rights to the two big male properties, Transformers and G.I. Joe, both with new movies in the works. If the deal follows the LucasFilm model, those rights would likely stay with that company, at least until some kind of contract runs out.

Universal also controlled the rights to a bunch of Hasbro properties, such as Clue, Ouija, Stretch Armstrong and Battleship, but famously dropped most of them and only released Battleship. Since then Hasbro has continued to develop films based on this properties (as well as others) while shopping them around for a new home.

[Britchick]

they are taking over the world!

[catrancher]

I can understand it however. Personally, I'd be delighted to own Mr. Potato Head.

Tom (... more toys!)

[uscwest]

Why don't they just buy Universal and Warner and get it over with, or does Warner even still exist?

[Shellyamc]

Hmm..I'm wondering if we might need to fear the Mouse. In 4 more years we might not have a President, but a Cast Member

[Slowhand]

Why don't they just buy Universal and Warner and get it over with, or does Warner even still exist?

WB had better still exist or else our very good friend in LA would be out of her executive role there.

[Dawn]

I keep reading it as purchasing Haribo...

[Britchick]

I keep reading it as purchasing Haribo...

me too and then i thought mmmm vodka infused mickey head haribo....mmmmm

[Deafjeff]

Wow that would be interesting to see what Disney would be like in the next few years.

[foreverducky]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Maybe I'm too much a traditionalist to enjoy this idea.