RELATED: Why Were the Hulk's Pants Always Purple? Big changes have been taking place behind the scenes at Disney ever since Bob Iger returned as CEO, with one popular theory being that the company will sell its 67% stake in Hulu. Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin are also on hand. The film would go on to gross $134 million in the United States and $264 million worldwide, bringing its total to $134 million. Distribution Term: Paramount shall have the right to exercise its Paramount Distribution Rights with respect to each Picture for an initial period of 15 years commencing on the initial Theatrical Exhibition of such Picture (the 'Initial Distribution Term');". If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure these distribution rights.". The Marvel Cinematic Universe's relationship with the Incredible Hulk has been relatively awkward since the film was released in 2008. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. So, while Disney owns the rights to the characters Namor and the Hulk, Marvel's pre-existing deal with Universal locks down the distribution rights, possibly in perpetuity. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. Although, Disney may need to be quick to get started on a Hulk-centric project as Mark Ruffalo may well be looking to move on from the role soon after over ten years as Bruce Banner. Universal Studios has the rights to many of these characters, and has used them in a variety of theme park attractions and live shows. Spider-Man remains a huge part of the MCU and Namor will appear in the upcoming film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Either party may terminate the contract; however, Marvel must have a legitimate, legal reason to why the contract is void (poor upkeep, not upholding the quality of the IP, etc.) But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. Prior to Disney acquiring Marvel, they had a distribution agreement with Paramount for Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. For removal of copyrighted images, trademarks, or other issues, Contact Us. At this time, it's believed that Marvel and Disney don't want to invest between $150-200 million in a solo superhero movie that isn't going to make a very large return like their other recent releases. If, or when, Universal chooses to forgo distribution, Disney will immediately pick up those distribution rights for a solo Hulk movie. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. Avengers simulator rides are permitted in certain legal zones in other countries. There are many different types of movies that people can enjoy. Since then, there have been 22 movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with more planned for the future. Im Joel Watson and Im a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. From the high-speed thrills of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man to the extreme ups and downs of The Incredible Hulk Coaster, theres a Marvel ride for everyone. What makes Marvel movies so special is that they are able to appeal to a wide range of people. Whether you are a die-hard comic book fan or someone who has never even picked up a comic book, there is a Marvel movie out there for you. Advertise, Funny Superhero (DC & Marvel) Shirts & Stickers. { Hulk will return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwhen it premieres on August 18, exclusively on Disney+. Exploring The Possibility Of Superman Growing Up With Parents: What Could Have Been? Never, Universal Studios permanently owns the distribution rights to any film in which Hulk portrays himself as the main character, as well as his related friends in his universe. Regarding the Marvel Studios Spider-Man films, Disney pays Sony a licensing fee to use the character (Civil War, Homecoming, Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Far From Home) based on how each film performs at the box office. The situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. While Universal agreed to share the character with the main universe in MCU, it was still not allowed for Disney and Marvel to produce any solo movie on him. This was fine in the freewheeling 2000s when Marvel stood as its own thing, but now under Disney creates a conflict - they would be loaning out an IP so another company can make money off it. While Disney and Marvel hold rights to develop movies starring The Hulk, Universal and Marvel reached an agreement in June 2008 to distribute The Incredible Hulk.. Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. They have made great strides to do so and have been very successful in that regard. Condition: New. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. On September 23, 2003, a 34-year-old woman . See original listing. The Greater World Wrestling organization will soon release a new Hulk series entitled World War Hulk.. How much did Disney get for Marvel? Daredevil (and by extension the entire Netflix Defenders franchise) exists only because Marvel wasn't able to wrangle Galactus and the Silver Surfer back from Fox, and just this summer we got Sony/Marvel co-production Spider-Man: Homecoming where the web-slinger joined the franchise while being made by a different company. And both films failed to break even against their budget. Since The Incredible Hulk, the character has appeared in all four Avengers movies, as well as cameos in Iron Man 3, Captain Marvel, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and supporting roles in Thor: Ragnarok and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Disney has the ability to use this property in a variety of ways, including making new movies, TV shows, and games. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. Transformers: The Ride-3D: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. . The Incredible Hulk star Tim Roth is also reprising his MCU role as Emil Blonsky/Abomination for She-Hulk, having recently lent his vocals to the character for his cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. Of course, this hasn't prevented Marvel from giving Hulk a multi-film arc in the MCU, similar to those for characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow. This follows how Hulk has been utilized in the MCU. There are numerous characters from films and TV shows that are based on Universal Studios properties. Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. In 2021, Lewis graduated from university with a Film and TV Studies degree, earning First Class Honours. In 2009, the CEO of Disney acknowledged the importance of Marvels intellectual property rights when Disney purchased Marvel. Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde where Hyde is typically mindless. / All Rights Reserved, Write for Us Movies, Entertainment, Comics, The Complicated Relationship Between Marvel And Universal, https://veryimgs.veryaware.com/1661323847200.jpg, https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a5aed50578738cfe85dcdca1b09bd179?s=96&d=mm&r=g. Universal currently owns distribution rights to any movie starring Hulk or Namor in the leading role, meaning they receive a significant share of the profits. However, if Disney decided against buying out Comcast's 33% stake, then that company might choose to acquire the entire service. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Why Marvel's Complex Namor & Hulk Rights Mean They'll Never Get Solo Movies. Despite the MCU making strides to retrieve these rights - such as their deal with Sony to use Tom Holland's Spider-Man and the Disney acquisition of Fox for the X-Men - some of them remain complicated. This took a very meandering route to Ang Lee's Hulk in 2003, a film whose mixed reaction led to a muted sequel development period that ultimately saw the rights revert to Marvel in 2006, just as the studio was setting up the MCU. Worth a mention is that the Fantastic Four and X-Men will be returning to Marvel-Disney once the Disney-Fox deal goes through which could be within the next month or two. But while these two Marvel icons are the studios' intellectual property, a distribution rights deal with Universal for those characters' films with Marvel Studios existed before the Mouse moved into the House of Ideas. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. What's also unclear is if the distribution deal also extends to TV. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. However, as is known from the Hulk in the MCU since The Incredible Hulk, this is not to say Marvel Studios cannot use Hulk or Namor at all. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. It's clear that Disney/Marvel do not have a problem distributing their superhero adventures through another studio, though that is not their top choice. Now Open - Get Details. In short, Marvel signed a contract with MCA Inc., which owned the Universal Studios theme parks at the time, before Disney acquired it. However, Marvel could attempt to regain the rights to the characters for Phase 5 and beyond. Fans of Marvel Comics' history know that the effort to get its characters on TV and into the movies was decades in the making and pioneered by Stan Lee. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. It is impossible for Universal to make a standalone for the Hulk as opposed to a Marvel film because the studio owns the rights to the character. This is why The Incredible Hulk, the character's only solo outing in the MCU, was distributed by Universal. This means that the release of any Hulk/Namor solo film from the initial greenlighting of the film, to theatrical and home releases, as well as sorting out distribution revenue shares and so on falls solely on Universal's shoulders. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. However, there is one type of movie that seems to be universally enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life, and that is the Marvel movie. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. This, therefore, means that the futures of both characters still rest on Universal. Disney will be able to make Marvel-based films with the deal. Running from 1977 to 1982 (with three TV movies that joined David Banner with Thor and Daredevil), it reshaped how wider culture viewed the Green Goliath, popularising many essential elements (not least "don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry"). One of these is Bruce Banner/Hulk, explaining why The Incredible Hulk is still the only MCU solo film for the character. Under the licensing arrangements, the third-party studios incur the costs to produce and distribute the films, and the Company retains the merchandise licensing rights. There is a chance that Marvel will lose the rights to major characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, and others in the near future due to their copyright expirations. The rights of Hulk belonged to Universal similar to Spider-Man's rights in Sony The rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. Here Universal's the only ones who win. KEEP READING: She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero Hulk appearing as a secondary character in the MCU receives just as much attention as other main characters like Thor and Iron Man, as the solo Hulk film. According to a 2002 report, Walt Disney was in talks to purchase archrival Universal. They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. Yet, over time, the rights to characters came back to Marvel from studios like New Line and Paramount. All Rights Reserved. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. Screen Rant's Managing Editor, Alex Leadbeater has been covering film online since 2012 and been a permanent fixture of SR since 2016. Planet Hulk could be as close as 2021.The real question is, are you willing to wait that long? If for some reason Universal chose to forgo distribution, then Disney would immediately pick up the distribution rights for the Hulk movie. There has been speculation about a Marvel-themed park at Disney in the past, but nothing has come to fruition. So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? In addition to Sony still having the film rights to Spider-Man-related characters, Universal Pictures continues to hold the distribution rights to solo movies about The Hulk and Namor the. These parks feature rides of the highest quality, in addition to Marvel movies long history with them. Photos not available for this variation. All rights reserved. This isn't the main reason we haven't heard an announcement on Planet Hulk or any other Hulk movie, though. In an interview covered by The Wrap, a Wall Street analyst for Citi, Jason Bazinet, predicted that terms agreed to in Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox and its assets in 2019 could lead to the return of the rights for two wayward Marvel superheroes: Hulk and Namor. Disneys $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 is the largest acquisition in history. Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Japan all have amazing Marvel rides that are sure to thrill and excite any fan of the superhero franchise. If, or when, Universal chooses to forgo distribution, Disney will immediately pick up those distribution rights for a solo Hulk movie. } The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. In this video, Sid reveals the possibility The Hulk & Namor Rights could go back to Marvel! Follow Sid On Social Media:Instagram: @therealdoomblazer ~ h. Privacy | The outlet added a comment from Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore who revealed the character had to be "borrowed" for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, just like the Hulk has been. Played by Tenoch Huerta, this interpretation is a massive hit with fans, both diehards and those unfamiliar with Namor. Phase three of the film series will begin with Captain America: Civil War, followed by Doctor Strange (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Spider-Man, Captain America, Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, and Rogue are just a few of the Marvel heroes and villains you can meet at the theme park. Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? So if Marvel went ahead with a Hulk film on their own, they could either buy out Universal's distribution rights, make a deal with the studio that would be mutually beneficial, or just live. Disney does not permit the use of the comic book character at any of its theme parks in the United States or Canada. Because of this, and Tenoch Huerta's fantastic performance, many MCU viewers would like a Namor solo film - something that may not be happening anytime soon. You can see the excerpt from the SEC filings below: 6. Hulk has been a member of the MCU for over a decade. Do you think we'll eventually see solo Hulk and Namor movies? Disney has exclusive rights to Marvel theme parks through a deal between the two companies. Superman & Lois: The Third Seasons Villains Revealed! Hulk in particular is a character that has suffered a bit because Universal owns the movie rights. Marvel Studios has also been reported to bedeveloping aWorld War Hulkmovie following on from the events of Disney+'sShe-Hulkwith plans to shoot this year for a late 2023 or early 2024 release. 5 Benefits of Comparing Top Products and Services Before Buying, EXCLUSIVE: DETAILS on Original Script For Black Panther Wakanda Forever, Casino Based On A True Story? Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! It is true that Universal still holds the distribution rights to any future Hulk movies, but the character rights and licenses firmly belong to Marvel after Universal didn't act on a. It has not been agreed to at this time, according to sources. This is also why the Hulk only appears in the various Marvel Studios movies as a supporting character, such as in The Avengers films or Thor: Ragnarok. 7 Fantastic Animes You Need to be Watching Right Now. Neither of the films got great attention either; The Incredible Hulk is one of the worst reviewed of the entire MCU and is often forgotten when it comes to full-franchise assessment. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. Home | Since Comcast's Universal owns the film distribution rights for Hulk and newcomer Namor, the Wall Street analyst argues, "If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure. It's well known that characters' movie rights have a big influence on the Marvel films made. The movie rights of Hulk have always been dynamic unlike the character rights of the other superheroes. That means more production time and higher costs with the extensive effects necessary. Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. Just because he's a supporting character, though, doesn't mean Hulk is being underserved. We also see why Disney never created any merchandise for the Fox Studios Marvel movies as they didnt want Fox getting a share of the revenue. Rumors have previously spread to suggest Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Universal Studios Hollywood Height Requirements - 40 Inches or Taller. It is also noted that if Marvel and Disney really wanted to make a new Hulk movie, they would buy the distribution rights from Universal, or cut some sort of new deal with Universal, or just release it through Universal as they have done with other studios in the past.