‘Star Wars,’ Marvel fans may be biting their nails over Comcast-Disney duel

Comcast reportedly is considering a move to outbid Disney’s $52.4 billion offer for a collection of 21st Century Fox assets, including the original Star Wars films and Marvel franchises including Deadpool and the X-Men.

This could mean big changes for consumers, particularly fans of those popular film franchises.

The planned offer by Internet and cable provider Comcast, worth $60 billion according to CNBC, would thwart Disney’s plans to build out its streaming channels by buying some of Fox’s prized entertainment assets. Besides movie and TV studios, these include Fox’s one-third stake in Hulu and Fox’s 22 regional sports networks.

In turn, Comcast would bulk up its own portfolio of films and TV shows to lure more Internet and cable subscribers. It’s already the nation’s largest provider of cable TV and broadband Internet service and owns NBC Universal and DreamWorks Animation.

Walt Disney Co., for its part, “made a good deal ...

and we’re going to remain confident in our ability to close,” Disney CEO and chairman Robert Iger told CNBC Tuesday.

An impending battle between Comcast and Disney for much of Fox will make for entertaining theater. But the outcome could also have a ripple effect with consumers, whether they are watching on the big screen, on the living room flat screen or have cut the cord and are streaming on their phone.

Here’s what could happen.

New Netflix competitors

Any streaming service would be stronger with a content portfolio bolstered by Fox movies such as Ice Age and TV shows such as The Americans.

Comcast is evidently envisioning building out its own broadband-delivered service, which could expand into Europe if it succeeds in acquiring U.K.-based satellite TV and Internet provider Sky.

With rights to the Olympics and soccer broadcasts including the Premier League (through Sky), Comcast could create a sports-centric streaming service, for example.

Marvel team-ups

A Comcast bid could derail fans’ dreams of a unification of the Marvel Comics canon for films.

Whichever media company acquires Fox will be able to expand its roster of superheroes as Fox owns the rights to Marvel characters including the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool. ( Deadpool 2, a sequel to the 2016 Ryan Reynolds-starring film, hits theaters Friday.)

A ‘Star Wars’ disturbance

Fox currently has distribution rights to the first Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope, and theatrical and home video rights to the other five pre- The Force Awakens films. Should Disney add the Fox assets, the studio would gain complete rights to the entire Star Wars saga — which it could unleash on its upcoming streaming service.

Sports

Both Disney, which owns ESPN, and Comcast, which has nine NBC Sports regional networks, would benefit by scoring Fox’s 22 regional sports networks, which are spread across the U.S. Since Disney last month launched ESPN Plus, a $4.99 monthly streaming service, some of that new content could find a home very quickly.