SAN DIEGO— Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man and Hulk are finally going to co-mingle with their corporate cousins.
The Disney Channel on Saturday plans to announce that production has started on “Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel,” an animated television special that will mark the first time that Marvel and Disney characters have appeared together since the Walt Disney Company bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009. The long-rumored-about special will appear next summer. Fans attending a “Phineas and Ferb” panel at Comic-Con on Saturday will get a sneak peek.
Disney has moved slower than expected to integrate Marvel characters into its empire, but efforts appear to be accelerating. In April, a Marvel cartoon block started running on Disney XD, a cable channel aimed at boys. Last month, Disney-owned Club Penguin, an online world, allowed its subscribers to dress their penguin avatars in costumes from “Marvel’s The Avengers.” Earlier this month, Disney confirmed rumors that early development it has started on an animated movie centered on some of Marvel’s lesser-known superheroes known as Big Hero 6. (Sunfire, Hiro, Honey Lemon, Baymax and Go-Go Tamago for the initiated.) Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, has hinted about plans to weave Marvel characters into various theme parks.
In “Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel,” Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man and Hulk arrive in town after their powers are accidentally removed by the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Phineas and Ferb come to the rescue, and they work together to defeat some meddling Marvel villains, including Red Skull, Whiplash and Venom.
