Marvel Studios Was Unhappy With How Universal Marketed Incredible Hulk Still, Marvel Studios has plenty of options to get around this deal, some of which fans have already seen. Back in April, Mark Ruffalo made the somewhat startling revelation that a standalone Hulk movie may not happen anytime in the near future because Universal still owns the rights for a standalone sequel to their 2003 Hulk movie and the 2008 follow-up The Incredible Hulk. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. The agreement has the potential to stay in effect (aka good faith) or for an indefinite period of time, unless Universal decides to close the Marvel Universe area, stops making payments for use of the property, or Marvel opts out of the contract if it believes Universal is mismanaging its rights. Sony will continue to produce all Spider-Man and Spidey films until at least nine months have passed. 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. Disney Might Trade Hulu to Comcast for Hulk, Citi Analyst Says Universal Could Be Considering Selling The Film Rights To THE HULK And A password reset link will be sent to you by email. Disney consolidated Fox and Warner's ownership in the Hulu joint venture in 2019. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Let us know in the comments. The Hulk franchise even introduced the "shared universe" concept, with Thor and Daredevil showing up in those shows. With a budget of $8.25 million, the film has the lowest budget of any Marvel film. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. All rights not expressly granted to Paramount, including without limitation, the following rights: merchandising, soundtrack, videogame, publishing (other than free excerpts for marketing purposes), music publishing, production of derivative works and other audio-visual works based on the Marvel Characters and/or Marvel Titles, including without Many have been desperate to see a sequel toThe Incredible Hulkwith Mark Ruffalo for over a decade, andShe-Hulkhas so far been the closest Marvel has been able to offer due to legal agreements. Related: Marvel Was Right To Scrap Black Panthers Original Namor Credits Scene. I find it hard to believe Universal would let the contract lapse and then just hold on to the Hulk rights. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. An SECfiling from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distribute The Incredible Hulk under the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: Captain America: Civil War takes place six decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted. Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. Yet, over time, the rights to characters came back to Marvel from studios like New Line and Paramount. And this is true of both in the 1960s and the 2000s. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. Hulk Movie Rights Explained, Solo Movie Still Years Away 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.) The rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. 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. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. While both are highly expected to be important to the MCU's future, they will only be able to be used in the way Hulk has been thus far. But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. 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. I'm Joel Watson and I'm a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. Star-Lord from The Guardians of the Galaxy and Gamora from Doctor Strange are two of the Marvel characters that we know and love, and both will appear in Disneys Hollywood Studios in the near future. Moreover, Marvel has made a deal with Sony that allows them Spider-Man to exist in the MCU. This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. David Maisel, a former Marvel Studios executive who played a key role in getting the MCU up and going, subsequently proposed that Marvel Studios make the next Hulk film and pay Universal to distribute it, which resulted in 2008's The Incredible Hulk. Disney has regained ownership of the Marvel Comics character after Universal Pictures gave up rights to him. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Marvel Finally Explains Exactly How Its Hulk Deal with Universal - CBR The report notes that Sony and Fox have to pay to create and distribute the movies, while Disney still retains the merchandise rights. (The Culver Institue Laboratory) 2 of 2 found this interesting. Of course, the comics moved beyond this in the 1960s, but culturally that is where Hulk's been, and it's only really in Ragnarok where his autonomy is presented. Well, unfortunately, probably not. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. Who Owns The Rights Of Hulk? - Caniry Prior to Disney acquiring Marvel, they had a distribution agreement with Paramount for Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Although his comics have never really sold well - the original run was canceled after only six issues, with the character only surviving thanks to his Avengers association - Hulk is one Marvel's biggest icons, thanks in no small part to the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno The Incredible Hulk TV series. 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. The Many Reasons Why Superman Never Gives Up. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. Disney has acquired the intellectual property rights to the characters, stories, and settings from Marvels comics. so what's up with hulk rights? : r/marvelstudios - Reddit However, even under the Mouse House, Universal still has that "first refusal" clause. 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. Fans shouldn't take the newly-uncovered details of the agreement between Disney and Universal as a certainty the House of Mouse is about to reacquire the distribution rights to Hulk and Namor. They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. The most notable example of a theme park operator holding Marvel theme park rights is Universal Parks & Resorts, which operates two theme parks with Marvel-themed attractions: Universal Studios Florida and Universals Islands of Adventure. Published Nov 30, 2022 Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin are also on hand. A movie many fans hope is Planet Hulk. That Darn Marvel Contract - What Rights Does Universal and Disney Own With Marvel producer Nate Moore recently revealing that both still belong to Universal, it is unclear whether these rumors held any merit. The scrappy little movie company led by Kevin Feige could make movies, but it had no way to get them into theaters. 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. And Marvel/Disney have recently entered an agreement to partner with Sony on a new Spider-Man reboot that will be distributed by Sony Pictures. I would love to see another stand-alone Hulk film, but it just doesnt seem likely. Universal Pictures are co-owners of the unfriendly green giant, which is why there hasn't been a solo Hulk movie since 2008's The Incredible Hulk and there's unlikely to be one in the MCU's future. The ensembles allow the character to show his strengths, and not focus on the weaknesses that would come out in a movie devoted solely to Hulk. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, Laal Singh Chaddha (2022): The Disastrous Adaptation of Tom Hanks Forrest Gump, Spidey And His Amazing Friends Season Premier at Battery Park, Ryan Cooglers Thank You Letter To Fans Is Making Me Emotional All Over Again. Those who own physical media copies of those early Marvel films will know both Paramount and Universal distributed those films. Copyright 2023 Cosmic Book News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | About Us | Contact Us | Movies | Comics | TV | Gaming | News | Reviews | Web Stories | Search, MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon', The Marvel's Release Date Pushed Back To November, Justice League and DC Sold To Netflix? Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. 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. Both Planet Hulk and the long rumored World War Hulk would be incredibly expensive to pull off on the big screen the right way. 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. Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Why Marvel's Complex Namor & Hulk Rights Mean They'll Never Get Solo Movies. He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real). Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde where Hyde is typically mindless. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. All logos and images used on this website are registered trademarks of their respective companies. ); Marvel won back the Hulk movie production rights in 2005, after Universal failed to put a sequel to 2003's Hulk into immediate production. User Vidoardes on Reddit posted some interesting findings regarding the deal that indicate it may end in June of 2023. Now, Disney may finally be able to offer fans what they have been waiting for, perhaps explaining the silence surrounding the widely-reportedWorld War Hulkmovie. How long until Marvel gets the full rights for Hulk? Throughout the day, various Spider-Man and Marvel merchandise will be available for purchase. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. This was typically Paramount, who released every film except Hulk up until The Avengers, by which point Disney had bought Marvel and set about distributing themselves. The film audience for the title didn't grow between movies, which is seen as a bad sign. Since 2008, Marvel Studios has also acquired the rights to Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, and a slew of others. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. Shocking Facts About Casino Real Story, Homemade Smoothie Recipes You Need to Try This Season, Lupita Nyongo is headed to A Quiet Place, Elevate Your Movie Nights with These Affordable Home Theater Upgrades. 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. Based in London, he oversees a global news & features team based in NY, LA and beyond. Site Map | 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. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. Contact | Ruffalo explained the situation in a new interview with Collider: "As far as a Hulk movie, a standalone Hulk movie, Marvel doesn't really have the rights to that yet. A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! Marvel Super Hero Island, a massive Marvel-themed attraction at Universal Orlando, is one of the many attractions in the park. The original agreement on file with the SEC states that Universal Studios has agreed to distribute Marvels film The Incredible Hulk and subsequent sequels on the same terms as those on which Paramount has agreed to distribute the other films. Sure, anything could happen if the deal ends, but whats most likely is they just renew the deal. This may come as a shock to new age readers but no, Marvel Studios does not actually have the movie rights to The Hulk. What To Expect From Hulk in Avengers 3 and 4, Ruffalo's contract originally ran for six movies, Why Marvel Movies Always Release A Week Later in The US, Why Obi-Wan Didnt Use Force Speed To Save Qui-Gon Jinn From Darth Maul, The New Mad Max Might Break A Decades Old Series Rule, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Broke The MCU's Threequel Rule. The situation is more of a standoff between Disney and Universal where neither wants to give, and so Marvel are just dealing with it. And that's the minimum. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. Back then, Marvel Entertainment were an independent company and so the Studios operated as just production, working with outside distributors. "The Incredible Hulk" The Incredible Hulk (TV Episode 1977) - IMDb As part of any such package, the House of Mouse stands a chance tofinallyregain two key Marvel franchises. 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. This also ensured that Marvel Studios could use Hulk in "future multicharacter films," beginning with The Avengers in 2012 and continuing on to Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. However, it is clear that Universal still holds the rights to several important Marvel characters. Some people prefer action movies, while others might prefer comedies or dramas. 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. That means that when Marvel Studios wants to make a Hulk movie, they are contractually obligated to ask Universal if they want the distribution rights. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger have all been acquired by Marvel Studios from Paramount. Superman & Lois: The Third Seasons Villains Revealed! Unlike other Marvel characters in the MCU, such as Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor, Namor and Hulk are not solely owned by Marvel Studios. Despite Disneys purchase of Marvel Entertainment, the studio continued to produce Marvel films. At the same time, Universal retains "the right of first refusal to distribute any future solo Hulk movies," which accounts for the lack of a second Hulk solo movie in the MCU. The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019 brought home several big Marvel characters such as The X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool among others. The problem isn't really story, but practical: Marvel can't make a Hulk solo film.It's been a staggering nine years since The Incredible Hulk and despite talk of a direct follow-up or tangential solo outing for Bruce Banner and his enraged alter ego, none have come to pass; it's been proven that supposed leaks suggesting development were false and Marvel Studios has repeatedly said it's off the cards, with Thor: Ragnarok even delivering on long-desired standalone outing Planet Hulk. Its the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. The situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. 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. Marvel Super Hero Island is part of Universals Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. With the current state of Hulk's distribution rights sitting up in the air, new evidence has been uncovered to suggest when Disney will reacquire the rights.