Time Warner Inc (TWX), Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (LGF): Why The Walt Disney Company (DIS) Just Bumped Up This Marvel Film’s Release

Of course, both companies know there’s no sense in trying to force their own blockbusters to square off directly against each other with simultaneous release dates, but Disney has no problem using one of its lesser-known, unproven properties like Ant-Man to serve as a well-orchestrated distraction from the competition.

Second, given all the comic book movie hype, it’s easy to forget Disney is working hard to bring the next Star Wars film to fruition in 2015. And while fellow Fool Tim Beyers recently argued that December 2015 would be a great time to squeeze it in, this week’s new developments open up a coveted fall season spot for which I think Star Wars Episode 7 would be a shoo-in.

That does put it awfully close to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (NYSE:LGF)‘s planned release of the final installment of its popular Hunger Games trilogy in November the same year — and that’ll probably do quite well in its own right, considering the first Hunger Games movies brought in more than $691 million last year — but I have to agree with analysts who’ve already gone out on a limb to predict that rabid Star Wars fans could easily drive Episode 7‘s ticket sales over $1 billion when it eventually hits theaters, regardless of the influence of any other films released around the same time.

In the end, that’s why I’m convinced The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has everything in its studios business right where it needs to be, so investors can stop worrying about when their company has chosen to release its films. Instead, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The article Why Disney Just Bumped Up This Marvel Film’s Release originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Steve Symington.

Fool contributor Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Walt Disney.

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