The building of the X-men transmedia franchise and how expansive storytelling is affecting Hollywood.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the effects of transmedia storytelling on Hollywood franchises through a case study of the four X-Men films and the comic book series The Uncanny X-Men. This thesis shows how the adaptive process that transforms the character of Magneto from morally ambiguous comic book anti-hero to a more streamlined movie supervillain is illustrative of the two-edged approach of transmedia theory. It elucidates why transmedia franchises are economically and artistically advantageous, while concurrently having the potential to dilute narrative and thematic complexity. This analysis concludes that transmedia narratives can enrich popular culture, but also risk falling into the traps of formulaic storytelling, which could detrimentally affect artistic production.