In a blockbuster deal that brings together two of the biggest brands in American film, animation and comic books, the Walt Disney Co. has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in cash and stock. The sale now puts such classic characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and more recently popular Pixar characters such as Wall-E in the same entertainment stable as such world famous superhero characters as Marvel’s Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and Iron Man.

Indeed, Disney will take ownership of more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Disney CEO Robert Iger said the acquisition will allow Disney to “maximize value across multiple platforms and territories.”

Marvel shareholders will receive about $50 per share, a valuation that represents $30 per share in cash and 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. According to a statement from Disney, the boards of both companies have approved the transaction. The deal must now be approved by Marvel shareholders and pass an antitrust review by the Justice Department.