If you asked a movie guy (and even if you didn't)

You didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you anyway.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert once filled weekly column inches with his “Movie Answer Man” feature. He got hundreds of real questions. I get … not as many.

So, once again, I’ve taken it upon myself to ask made-up questions from made-up readers. And for some reason these fake questions continue to be a little aggressive.

- Over the years, I’ve noticed you tend to be a major Disney apologist. Does it not bother you that a single company is taking over seemingly every aspect of the entertainment industry? What excuse do you have for Disney buying Twentieth Century Fox?

— Ron Ronaldson, Post Falls

Ron, your question is fair, but I don’t think I have an all-encompassing answer. I grew up loving Disney movies, and the Disney/Pixar machine was pumping out genuine classics at a time when I first got into film criticism. As a certified nerd, I’m also a fan of “Star Wars” and Marvel, which are both now in the Disney web. I guess I will always have to acknowledge a user bias to some degree.

That said, it’s too early to predict the full impact of Disney controlling the entertainment output of Twentieth Century Fox. In the short term, it means Fox won’t be in charge of the “X-Men” universe, which has been inconsistent at best under their control. Whether or not characters like Wolverine, eventually make it into the Disney-controlled Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’m confident enough in MCU mega-producer Kevin Fiege to continue his remarkable track record.

I am bummed about the potential cancellation of Fox’s “Gambit” movie featuring Channing Tatum as the Cajun, card-wielding mutant, but that’s because I’m a ’90s kid who grew up on the “X-Men” cartoon series. Gambit ruled on that show. Mon ami!

- Hey Tyler, you’re a sad little Disney fanboy. Help explain just how much they have on the movie slate in 2019. Say hi to your mother for me.

— Mahrk Wahlberg, Hayden

That’s a little mean, Mahrk, and I don’t know why you would say hi to my mother, but Disney is indeed in the middle of a giant year.

In fact, their lineup is almost too overstuffed, with a big budget entry coming every 3-4 weeks through the summer. Either these movies are going to eat into each other’s box office grosses, or the other studios outside of Disney will suffer a few more losses than usual.

“Captain Marvel” opened huge earlier this month. Tim Burton’s live action “Dumbo” arrives March 29. On April 26, the year’s most anticipated movie (and likely box office champ) “Avengers: Endgame” arrives. “Endgame” will get a month to dust everything, and then Disney serves up another live-action remake, “Aladdin.” That movie, featuring a disturbingly blue Will Smith, could underperform given the tepid response to its trailers.

Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” opens on June 21 and will surely make at least a billion dollars worldwide. In a fun little twist though, the “Child’s Play” horror reboot opens on the same day.

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” (July 5) is released by Sony, but the shared use of the MCU benefits Disney’s bottom line. The live-action/CGI “Lion King” remake opens July 19. “New Mutants,” produced by Fox but now benefiting Disney, remains penciled for Aug. 2 (for now).

Phew. Disney takes a little break before dropping the Angelina Jolie led “Maleficent” sequel in October, then look for “Frozen 2” to destroy everything on Thanksgiving. Disney caps the year with a little movie tentatively titled, “Star Wars — Episode IX.”

Yes, at least one of these will underperform (“Aladdin”), but it will be a tiny blip on a monster 2019. Plus their much-anticipated streaming service launches sometime late this year. Yeah, I wish I owned Disney stock.

- Jordan Peele’s new movie, “Us,” comes out this week. That guy has more talent in his pinky fingernail than you have in your entire body. Other than Peele, are you jealous of any other “new” filmmakers?

— Sally Sangria, Coeur d’Alene.

While I agree with your assessment of Peele, I don’t know why you felt the need to compare me with him. Seems needlessly mean-spirited. I know I could do more with my life, but geez, rub it in. Anyway, “Get Out” was my favorite movie of 2017, so I can’t wait to see “Us” this weekend. I’m also eager to see his new “Twilight Zone” series coming to the CBS All Access app in April.

I’m glad you put “new” in quotes because obviously Peele has been around a while, despite “Us” being only his second directorial feature effort. Similarly, my other “new” favorites have established careers. Greta Gerwig, known primarily as an actress before she made 2017’s “Lady Bird,” is one. She’ll have her version of “Little Women” to look forward to this year.

Writer/director Sean Baker is another filmmaker to watch. “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project” were favorites of mine from their respective years. I also can’t wait to see what Bo Burnham does as a follow-up “Eighth Grade.” And can we expect more output from Boots Riley on the feature film front? Last year’s “Sorry to Bother You” was exciting and fearless in ways most filmmakers wouldn’t touch.

While all those talented people work on things that matter, I’ll probably be back to answer more fake questions whenever I can’t think of another real column topic. Sally, your words cut deep.

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com