Tom Holland and Will Smith's animated spy comedy, Spies in Disguise, had the potential to kickstart a lucrative franchise. The film, produced by Blue Sky Studios, featured a clever subversion of the mentor-mentee dynamic between the two stars, with Holland playing a diffident young scientist and Smith a confident, experienced spy. Despite positive reviews and a strong cast, the movie underperformed at the box office, earning just $171.6 million on a $100 million budget. This disappointing result, coupled with Disney's acquisition of Fox and the subsequent closure of Blue Sky Studios, meant that the film's potential as a franchise starter was ultimately unfulfilled. The film's legacy is a testament to the challenges of translating animated success to live-action and the impact of corporate mergers on creative projects.
