Let’s roll back to the announcement which was made on March 20, 2019, Disney declared the accession of the 21st Century Fox Company. It was the largest and possibly most demanding merger of two media companies in history! Reports say that Disney acquired the rights to “Dragon Ball Z” and did this deal under the mask of isolation. After Star Wars, Dragon Ball is one of the longest-running and most famous series, which consists of a built-in fanbase of over more than 30 years! And of course, Disney knew that.
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If you still don’t know and get confused based on the rumors, then take the “Dragon Ball-Z” as an official property of 20th Century Fox, and in the past, it created the live-action movie called “Dragonball Evolution” in 2009. And as you expect, the movie was so horrible that writer Toriyama felt that the fanbase deserves a good apology. After that, he decided to renew the series with Dragon Ball Z’s animated film: Battle of Gods (2013).
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Disney Acquired the Rights to Dragon Ball Z, but Here’s a Twist!
The good news is that Disney has acquired the rights to Dragon Ball Z but not the whole franchise. Disney has only acquired the rights to make a live-action Dragon Ball movie and film distribution rights. The animated series is still owned by Akira Toriyama, TOEI Animation, and Shueisha, which are based in Japan. The English dub is still under the supervision of Funimation Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Entertainment associate, but here Shueisha is the supreme rights-holder.
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Disney isn’t the only one who acquires a superpower but never uses it. Disney is well familiar with the potential and popularity of the Dragon Ball Universe. According to rumors going on for years, an Instagram artist of username ultraraw26 claims to know that Disney is working on a new live-action Dragon Ball franchise in the confidence of matching the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s massive popularity.
“I heard this rumor a few days ago that Disney is planning to start a new Dragon Ball live-action franchise with the hope of replicating the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now, this is only a rumor, I don’t know if it’s TRUE or what.
I only hope to see super Saiyan 4 make an entrance one day on the live-action screen.”
Still, Disney needs Akira Toriyama’s and Shueisha’s approval, but it’s only a rumor of time. I wonder, who doesn’t want to work with Disney? Surely, Disney’s writers and Akira Toriyama’s alliance on Dragon Ball Z Live-action will bring some wonders to the franchise.
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