With cookbooks, toys and a rumored movie spinning off from their successful Angry Birds app, some have thought of Rovio as a wannabe Disney. But if rumors are true, Disney might actually be looking at the app maker with a view to helping it on its way to world domination.
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Bloomberg is reporting that Rovio is in talks to receive funding that would push the value of the company to $1.2 billion, although just who the company is talking to remains a mystery; all that’s been disclosed is that it’s an entertainment company, and apparently, one so impressive that Rovio is listening, despite turning down similar offers in the past.
Disney—which has a history of partnering with synergistic media companies with exploitable IP (Muppets, Pixar, Marvel)—isn’t the only potentially interested party, however; other names being thrown around include Electronic Arts, News Corp. and, oddly enough, Farmville owners Zynga.
Unsurprisingly, all named parties declined to comment when asked about any possible negotiations. Personally, I’m holding out for a Disney deal, just so my dream “Angry Birds team up with the Angel to fight Spider-Ham” movie can finally become a reality.
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Graeme McMillan is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @Graemem or on Facebook at Facebook/Graeme.McMillan. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.