Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. As Mark Ruffalo, who took over playing Bruce Banner/Hulk from Edward Norton after The Incredible Hulk, explained in 2017, Marvel Studios President/Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige "pulled me aside before [Thor: Ragnarok], and said, If you were gonna do a if we were going to do a standalone Hulk movie, what would it be?" After Ruffalo told Feige what he had in mind, his ideas were integrated into not only Ragnarokbut also Infinity War and Endgame. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. It is exciting to speculate on what an Marvel-themed park at Disney World would look like. 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. The Incredible Hulk barely improved on that half a decade later, making $263M in a year when Iron Man brought in $585M and The Dark Knight topped $1B (this was when hitting that mark was a major achievement). 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. Hulk Hogan Signed Universal Champion Red Wrestling Belt. Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. Hulk movies are not proven at best, unpopular at worst. Citi analyst Jason Bazinet explains, "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor. There are numerous characters from films and TV shows that are based on Universal Studios properties. The Avengers film rights have only been licensed to Universal by the company. The company obtained film rights, intellectual property, and a production company in addition to Marvel movie rights. Namor's introduction in the film has been widely regarded as one of the best aspects of Wakanda Forever, with many placing Namor among the best MCU villains, given the character's understandable motivations. 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). callback: cb 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. } 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 is not possible for Disney or Universal to use the Marvel name in their parks because they have a long-term agreement. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. Disney has regained ownership of the Marvel Comics character after Universal Pictures gave up rights to him. 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. While Marvel Studios have the rights to use Hulk and Namor in their films to whatever extent they please, releasing a solo film is more complicated due to Universal owning distribution rights. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. Planet Hulk could be as close as 2021.The real question is, are you willing to wait that long? A movie many fans hope is Planet Hulk. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. 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. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. What they own is the "right of first refusal" for distribution of Hulk movies. Site Map | After being recast as Mark Ruffalo (a choice unrelated to rights issues - it was the result of Norton not wanting to return), Hulk's appeared in The Avengers, Iron Man 3's post-credits scene, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok and will return in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4. And this is true of both in the 1960s and the 2000s. Overseas, Hulu titles are added to the Disney+ library, but the two streaming platforms remain completely separate in the U.S. Having two of these services to contend with has become something of a financial burden, and selling its 67% share could be highly beneficial to the company. The company is trying to overturn the decision of Marvel to grant Disney exclusive rights to the major Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. He's covered a wide range of movies and TV shows - from digging out obscure MCU Easter eggs to diving deep into deeper meanings of arthouse fare - and has covered a litany of set visits, junkets and film festivals. It's the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. New evidence posted to Reddit seems to indicate that Universals Hulk distribution agreement could end in June of 2023. 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. It is not possible to create Marvel-based versions of Universal characters. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. What do you think will happen regarding rights with The Hulk? and not used in merchandise, licensing or video games because Fox owned the characters. Disney has the option to produce and distribute any future Marvel movies that it acquires as a result of its Marvel movie rights. At least that would give Namor the freedom Hulk never had. While Marvel Studios is able to include The Hulk and Namor in movies, they've been restricted from releasing solo outings due to Universal holding those rights. In addition to Universal Orlandos ownership of Marvel characters in theme parks for a few decades now in an agreement that appears to be indefinite, the company reportedly has a deal in place with The Simpsons that will expire in 2028. Although Marvel has the rights to Hulk back, it is unable to release a standalone Hulk movie thanks to . The last we heard on the matter came from Mark Ruffalo, who pointed the finger squarely at Universal not playing nice with Marvel. 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. Under the licensing arrangements for The Fantastic Four and X-Men, the third-party studio pays the Company a licensing fee and receives a share of the Companys merchandise revenue on these properties. KEEP READING: She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero This follows how Hulk has been utilized in the MCU. 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. However, unlike most other reacquisitions where the creator gets the character back outright, with Hulk Universal still has a clause - seemingly in perpetuity - of first refusal on distributing any Hulk films. The situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. 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. The deal between Universal and Disney is iron clad; however, it may have a time limit. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. However, if Disney decided against buying out Comcast's 33% stake, then that company might choose to acquire the entire service. Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! That being said, the three characters they dont own are still part of the MCU. There appears to . 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. . As his antagonistic nature was established in Wakanda Forever, Namor will likely be used in this capacity again. Hulk in particular is a character that has suffered a bit because Universal owns the movie rights. 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. Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. You can see the excerpt from the SEC filings below: 6. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. 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. You can visit Forbes for an even more in-depth account of what is going on with this Marvel title. Universal landed the film rights to Hulk and Namor in the early 2000s. By Matt McGloin / Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 2:04AM. Both Planet Hulk and the long rumored World War Hulk would be incredibly expensive to pull off on the big screen the right way. 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. In March 2008, a short teaser trailer for The Incredible Hulk was released. Copyright | Community Guidelines | Yet, the same would've been said about the Sony and Disney partnership before it happened. 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. 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. For now, Marvel and Disney think the character works better as part of an ensemble. The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. The Hulk franchise even introduced the "shared universe" concept, with Thor and Daredevil showing up in those shows. Since Hulk came out in June of 2008 this means that the agreement could end in June of 2023. Contact | However, Feige expanded in July 2014 saying that Marvel Studios, not Universal Pictures or Legendary Pictures, could make a Namor film, "but it's slightly more complicated than that. Transformers: The Ride-3D: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. That is exactly why Mark Ruffalo does not have a solo project of his own despite his character being so darn popular among even the most casual of moviegoers. So, any Hulk or Namor solo film would become the property of Universal. Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. Sure, anything could happen if the deal ends, but whats most likely is they just renew the deal. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. In 2009, Disney spent $4 billion on Marvel comics. Universal currently holds the rights to several Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk. 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. 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. 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? The Hulk. 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. 7 Fantastic Animes You Need to be Watching Right Now. The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. A recent rumor has suggested that the solo film rights to the Hulk may be returning to Marvel Studios in 2023! The movie rights of Hulk have always been dynamic unlike the character rights of the other superheroes. For those who don't know, the film rights to everyone's favorite big, green, rage monster are complicated. 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. No, Universal does not own any Marvel characters. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. 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. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. Children 40-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be . She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. The best course of action for Universal is to renew the contract for another 15 years and keep everything running smoothly. Disneys $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 is the largest acquisition in history. 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.