Brands
Disney Consumer Products in India teams up with brands and retailers
Mumbai: To celebrate the release of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Disney Consumer Products India has collaborated with 25 brands across apparel, accessories, food and beverage, and technology to launch an array of themed merchandise locally. These brands include Adidas, boAt, Coca-Cola, Myntra, NESTLÉ POLO, The Souled Store, Wrogn and more.
For nearly 85 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced diverse characters and compelling stories, transforming Marvel Super Heroes into pop-culture icons that are well loved in India. Deadpool joins the ranks of powerhouses like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, and his sensational appeal has brands in India diving into the extended Marvel Universe with this latest and highly anticipated movie release.
Disney Consumer Products, India, director Priya Nijhara said, “Deadpool’s refreshing charisma and irreverent humour has amassed formidable fandom in India, particularly with the Gen Z audience. This reflects Marvel’s enduring relevance today and fuels our excitement as we join forces with exceptional brands to roll out an expansive line of Deadpool & Wolverine themed products in celebration of the movie release.”
Here are some of the Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ inspired merchandise to look out for:
Coca-Cola has launched limited-edition Coca-Cola cans and bottles featuring Deadpool & Wolverine, including 32 iconic Super Heroes from across the Marvel Universe. Illustrated with a balance of white, red, and black tones, each can is scannable and brings the character to life through an AR extension.
NESTLÉ POLO features Deadpool’s quirky persona on three limited-edition packs that fans can scan for a chance to win branded merchandise. The new red and black packaging debuted in India, and it embodies Deadpool’s signature colours.
Snacking brand Too Yumm! adds an extra kick to its Bhoot Karare and Karare Munchy Masala range with the bold personas of the Marvel Super Heroes, highlighting their appeal to the newer generation.
boAt has curated an audiowear collection themed after Deadpool & Wolverine, blending Marvel’s epic storytelling with its advanced technology. Inspired by their agility and resilience, Belkin introduces a portable wireless power bank with seamless charging and a built-in stand (available on Amazon.in from July 27).
Modern riders can embody their heroic spirit with AXOR’s limited-edition helmets showcasing Deadpool & Wolverine designs. Titan joins the buzz with dynamic eyewear and fashion accessories through Titan Eye+ and Fastrack respectively, incorporating the signature colours and elements from Deadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool’s unfiltered charm and charisma is coveted by apparel brands looking to focus on young adults. Wrogn, endorsed by cricketing genius Virat Kohli, channels Deadpool and Wolverine’s rebellious spirit with a collection featuring iconic quotes from the movie and standout designs. The Souled Store unveiled a range of t-shirts, backpacks, and high-top sneakers, covering all essentials for any occasion. Bonkers Corner, Free Authority, Brand Studio Lifestyle, Myntra, Max Fashion, Pantaloons and WYM extend the excitement of Deadpool & Wolverine beyond the screen through custom collections, available in their respective retail stores and online platforms. Reliance has launched an extensive lineup through its sub-brands (Yousta, Azorte and Reliance Trends), offering everything from t-shirts and jackets to denims.
Alongside merchandise from 7‑Eleven, fans can also look forward to an exciting collaboration with Adidas set to launch in India in early August.
The latest merchandise from these brands and retailers aim to delight Indian fans and add to the excitement of the movie. Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ will release in India on 26 July in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Brands
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
