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. The attractions will be located in Paris as part of Disneys park expansion, which will include the construction of its own Avengers Campus, where guests can meet and greet Marvel characters and enjoy on-theme restaurants such as the Pym Test Kitchen and the Ant-Man and The Wasp-themed Why did Disney sell Marvels rights to Marvel? And 2003's Hulk only made $245 million. The first installment of his superhero fiction book, TALES OF ADVENTURE & FANTASY, is available on Amazon in print and ebook! Photos not available for this variation. Paramount also distributed the first Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. This complicated legal issue has since led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and omit solo projects altogether. ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 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. Disney CEO Bob Iger, in describing these contracts to his staff, stated that they were business-friendly. I'm Joel Watson and I'm a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. The final reason given for no solo Hulk movie anytime in the near future is that it will cost a lot of money. Apparently, the original deal for his rights stated they reverted to Marvel 15 years after the release of the latest film. As we said at the start, Hulk isn't the most popular of the main Avengers. Disney has the ability to use this property in a variety of ways, including making new movies, TV shows, and games. 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. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. listeners: [], A recent report from The Wrap revealed that Universal still holds the rights to both Hulk and Namor, placing limitations on their use in the MCU. Reddit useru/vidoardesshared evidence that indicates Disney may regain the distribution rights to the Hulk in June 2023, allowing them to produce a new solo movie based on the green Avenger. 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. (The Culver Institue Laboratory) 2 of 2 found this interesting. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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. Don't hold your breath. 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. As The Incredible Hulk was released in 2008, this would mean that Marvel could use Hulk again from 2023 onwards. What they own is the "right of first refusal" for distribution of Hulk movies. Who Owns The Rights Of Hulk? - Caniry So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? Universal landed the film rights to Hulk and Namor in the early 2000s. The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Could this change? There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. 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? 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. With the acquisition of Marvel in 2004, Disney increased its popularity even further among people who do not read comic books. They have made great strides to do so and have been very successful in that regard. A consistently evolving entertainment industry landscape where Marvel is the biggest game in town means the only certainty is that one can never say never. Namor the Sub-Mariner was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Phase 4's culminating film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, despite the character's rights being owned by Universal Pictures. According to evidence shared on Reddit by u/vidoardes, Disney is in a position to regain distribution rights to the Hulk in 2023. This was the case with Universals film The Incredible Hulk, which was part of the MCU. Part of this comes from a tricky balance within the character's concept; while you have a big green monster for thrills, he only exists in a gulf of our actual protagonist. Universal Studios Hollywood. Ruffalo is now playing Bruce Banner/Hulk in the She-Hulk TV series, which is allowed under Marvel's deal with Universal since it's not a standalone Hulk project. 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). Universal Orlando Resort. Incidents at Universal parks - Wikipedia Marvel Super Hero Island is part of Universals Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. The rights of Hulk belonged to Universal similar to Spider-Man's rights in Sony The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. 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. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Marvel Finally Explains Exactly How Its Hulk Deal with Universal Works, Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead, She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero, REVIEW: Frank Miller Presents Ancient Enemies: The Djinni #1 Crafts a Compelling Origin Story, REVIEW: DC's Shazam! MCU: New Evidence Reveals When Hulk Movie Rights Could Return to Disney He works better when surrounded by a team, with the character not having to shoulder a whole movie on his own. RELATED: Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead. The Hulk. Owns a dog who loves watching Milo and Otis on repeat. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Yet, now that Bob Iger is back in charge of Disney, maybe he can complete his Marvel Comics collection and work out a new deal. Community Guidelines | But why? 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. Marvel regained cinematic rights to the character in 2005 after Universal failed to make a follow-up to Ang Lee's Hulk movie. And since Universal appears to have just recently lost that fight, it's not inclined to work with Disney on rights to these characters. callback: cb As has been known since Disney's acquisition of Marvel Studios in 2009, the distribution rights for certain Marvel characters have rested with Universal Pictures. 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');". 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. Moreover, Marvel has made a deal with Sony that allows them Spider-Man to exist in the MCU. These rights are typically granted by Marvel Entertainment, Inc. to theme park operators in exchange for a licensing fee and a percentage of the parks gross revenues. Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. 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 Things getcomplicated here as The Wrap's report begins getting into the financial complications such a deal would involve. Sony received the rights to Spider-Man, the X-Men went to 20th Century Fox, and characters like Hulk and Namor had their rights obtained by Universal Pictures. In 2012, Marvel and Universal reached a deal that allowed Marvel to produce a new Hulk film, but the rights to the character still remain with Universal. I've been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. The studio wants to keep him as a 'special event' character, which raises the profile of an ensemble movie like these two mentioned, or Captain America: Civil War, where Bruce Banner is rumored to appear next. Hulk Movie Reportedly Changing Hands from Universal to Disney Soon So, any Hulk or Namor solo film would become the property of Universal. Universal Studios | Movies, Theme Parks, News and Services Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! Evidence Shows Hulk's Movie Rights Could Return To Marvel In 2023 A new Hulk movie would have to be given over to the Green Goliath, with the story revolving around an entirely CGI Hulk. 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. College of the Canyons - 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA. The Greater World Wrestling organization will soon release a new Hulk series entitled World War Hulk.. Now with Disney about to buy Fox, all the characters have returned to the Marvel comics and are now also being used in licensing, merchandise and gaming. But that doesn't mean a solo movie won't ever happen. Hulk in particular is a character that has suffered a bit because Universal owns the movie rights. Universal has the first refusal opportunityto distribute the project, Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive, but there are still plenty of release opportunities left in Phase 6 and beyond, Spider-Verse 2 Reportedly Includes Major MCU Phase 4 Reference, Andor Season 2 Director Just Deleted This New Set Photo After Sharing Online, Avatar 3: Disney Is Secretly Teasing Sequels New Characters, Robert Pattinsons Batman Universe Just Recast 1 Gotham Character, The Mandalorian Season 3: Episode 2's Longer Runtime Revealed In Advance, Ant-Man 3: Quantumania's Post-Credits Scenes Count Confirmed, Michael B. Jordan Shares Blunt Response to Black Superman Casting Rumors, Daredevil Actors Hit the Gym for Disney+ Reboot (Photos), Ant-Man 3 Writer Refuses to Listen to Fans Criticizing MODOK: 'They're Wrong', Ant-Man 3's Disappointing Reviews: Kang Actor Breaks Silence on Negative Reaction. This is why Marvel Studios are unlikely to release a solo film for either character anytime soon, as they would not have full control over the distribution of their own film. If you have never seen a Marvel movie, I highly recommend you check one out. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. 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. It requires going against an ingrained idea and barreling into something more psychological than the MCU structure allows. However, as Marvel Studios have not yet made any effort to do so despite Mark Ruffalo's Hulk being such an integral MCU character, it is unlikely to happen. The most important verbiage is that Universal owns the rights to Marvel "in perpetuity"; meaning for as long as the contract is in good standing. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. Will a solo movie happen anytime soon? Along with a number of other Universal Studios attractions, Islands of Adventure includes a Marvel Super Hero Island. Marvel's rights are a complicated affair as the character's distribution rights belong to Universal. Those who own physical media copies of those early Marvel films will know both Paramount and Universal distributed those films. Dragon Ball Z Characters Who Could Defeat Superman. The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. forms: { RUMOR: Disney May Regain Theatrical Distribution Rights to Hulk Films Universal/Marvel Hulk Sequel Rights Clarified - IGN The relationship between Marvel and Universal is complicated, to say the least. Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? Spider-Man remains a huge part of the MCU and Namor will appear in the upcoming film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It is exciting to speculate on what an Marvel-themed park at Disney World would look like. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Disney has exclusive rights to Marvel theme parks through a deal between the two companies. Privacy | The Hulk franchise even introduced the "shared universe" concept, with Thor and Daredevil showing up in those shows. One of these is Bruce Banner/Hulk, explaining why The Incredible Hulk is still the only MCU solo film for the character. After all, Ruffalo's contract originally ran for six movies, so assuming that hasn't changed he still has one more to go (Iron Man 3 is unlikely to have counted); rounding things off with a Hulk movie would a fitting finale to the character's time in the MCU. Geeks WorldWidepreviously reported in October 2021 thataWorld War Hulkmovie is in development with a 2022 production date, butupdates have since been scarce. Disney has the opportunity to incorporate more movie-based themes into its theme parks. A cunning warrior, the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a good friend. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. 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. Like with Spider-Man, there is scope for some agreement, although the current terms don't leave much room for negotiation. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Why Marvel's Complex Namor & Hulk Rights Mean They'll Never Get Solo Movies. Disney CEO Bob Iger assured shareholders in 2009 that Marvels acquisition would not be jeopardized. 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). and not used in merchandise, licensing or video games because Fox owned the characters. AsThe Incredible Hulkhit theaters in June 2008, the 15-year period indicates Disney will regain distribution rights to the character in June 2023, at which point Marvel Studios would be able to begin production on a Hulk movie that Disney themselves would distribute. These movies are full of action, adventure, comedy, and drama, and they always leave audiences wanting more. HULK Star Josh Lucas Has Nothing But Good Things To Say About Ang Lee's Divisive Marvel Movie While Marvel Studios is able to include The Hulk and Namor in movies, they've been restricted from. Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. 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. Is Superman Gay? 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. { Thanks to the late co-creator of the Marvel Universe, cartoons and live-action series that featured Hulk, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange hit TV. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. Father, veteran, and storyteller. New Rumors Indicate Hulk Solo Film Rights May Be Coming Back To Marvel This category includes She Hulk as well. Disney and Marvel still hold the rights to develop movies starring the Hulk, but Universal has the first refusal opportunityto distribute the project and takes a significant chunk of the profits. Although these characters are no longer featured at Universal Orlando Resort, they remain a major part of the Marvel universe, and they will be a big hit with fans of the movies and television shows. However, if Disney decided against buying out Comcast's 33% stake, then that company might choose to acquire the entire service. According to a 2002 report, Walt Disney was in talks to purchase archrival Universal. Now, it could be simply the company wasn't going to give up their ability to call on the powerful clause rather than actual disagreement, but it's clear the whole situation comes down to that. 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. so what's up with hulk rights? : r/marvelstudios - Reddit It really all comes down to contracts. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Disneys purchase of Marvel in 2009 had a big impact on Universal Studios. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger have all been acquired by Marvel Studios from Paramount. 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. RELATED: Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. How To Improve Netflix Viewing Experience, How Grand Theft Auto Became one of the Most Popular Brands Ever, Ranking Our Favourite Episodes of Extreme Home Makeover. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. The situation is more of a standoff between Disney and Universal where neither wants to give, and so Marvel are just dealing with it. What this means is Universal cannot make a Hulk movie, with Disney and Marvel unable to distribute a Hulk movie if they choose to move forward and make one. Apparently Disney Could Get The Full Rights To Marvel Characters Hulk The Marvel brand is not permitted by Disney to be used in the licensing of Marvel content to U.S. theme parks. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. The Reddit User then looked at the original Paramount deal which states that the deal is only good for 15 years after each picture. The last we heard on the matter came from Mark Ruffalo, who pointed the finger squarely at Universal not playing nice with Marvel. Per Ruffalo and Kevin Feige, Ragnarok is the start of a three-movie arc that will act as some approximation of a standalone story, delving into what makes Hulk, Hulk. 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. The rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. 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. So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? Price: US $499.99. However, it's not like there's no Hulk in the MCU. All rights reserved. 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. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. Power was fully restored, the . Marvel Studios Was Unhappy With How Universal Marketed Incredible Hulk After the events of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the hints at Bruce Banner's MCU story, there were some rumors that Marvel Studios could make a solo Hulk movie after 2023. Following Disneys acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios and Marvel Television were formed. 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. For removal of copyrighted images, trademarks, or other issues, Contact Us. The Return Of Superman: A Show That Positively Portrays Fathers, The 1978 Superman Film And Its Iconic Sequel Superman II. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. I find it hard to believe Universal would let the contract lapse and then just hold on to the Hulk rights. A movie many fans hope is Planet Hulk. 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. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. Despite the fact that Marvel is housed at Universal Studios, it is not a part of the park. There is another rumor of Marvel Studios developing a World War Hulk movie following events from She Hulk. These are not included under Universals Hulk rights. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending established that Namor was almost using Wakanda to gain his long-awaited war on the surface world, meaning he could potentially appear in an antagonistic role again in a future Black Panther film. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. How much did Disney get for Marvel?