we'll see-- If it's true that Avi Arad sold certain character rights to Fox "in perpetuity" that was extremely stupid-- My advice would be to not initiate any confrontational lawsuits, which would likely delay projects involving the characters in contention for even longer than we've waited so far. They can revisit this once a year, in quiet negotiations. Technically, since Disney owns the Marvel characters, there is some licensing revenue that will happen, regardless (a similar issue exists now with Universal Studios Orlando, which has several Marvel-based attractions based on a previous licensing deal.)
Regarding X-Men, since those films are still actively in production, it would likely take at least one of them being a blatant flop for Fox to start becoming disinterested (and, well, we're not praying for flops, are we?)
with Fantastic Four and Daredevil/Elektra, since zero movement has happened since those properties had two films each (with Elektra being the 'sequel' to DD), it's a little more difficult to handicap-- Despite the critical roasting, DD was at least baseline profitable when worldwide box office and later cable/dvd revenue was taken into account.. Elektra, despite dismal box-office managed to apparently do well enough on dvd to get a deluxe version 6 months later (and all this stuff keeps popping up on FX)..
For now, since the distribution rights to Avengers and Iron Man 3 were purchased from Paramount, Marvel/Disney should concentrate on reacquiring the peripheral character properties that have languished in limbo for some time now with 'nothing' happening. Sub-Mariner at Universal for one.. Werewolf by Night was supposedly set up at Miramax at one point.. LionsGate should hopefully have exhausted their avenues with the Punisher films and the straight-to-cable Man-Thing by now (they also had Iron Fist on the back burner at one point).. Hopefully New Line Cinema isn't catching "Twilight" fever and is willing to let go of the Blade characters..
As long as Nick Cage is interested in Ghost Rider, then Sony/Columbia have the nod, at least until this next film's cycle is done (no pun intended)..
Hopefully Black Panther is considered a separate character from the Fantastic Four mythos, to keep it out of Fox control..
Ironically, for years Marvel under Avi Arad actually was able to take advantage of being a "free agent" licensor in Hollywood, and shop projects to different studios, depending on who was interested. But now that Disney has become the parent company, intellectual-property consolidation is now the priority..
