When Disney bought Marvel, Universals contract to use Marvel characters expired, and they were forced to close the attraction. 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. The Many Reasons Why Superman Never Gives Up. So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. Namor will make his MCU debut inBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhich hits theaters on November 11. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. 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. If for some reason Universal chose to forgo distribution, then Disney would immediately pick up the distribution rights for the Hulk movie. 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. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. Spider-Man remains a huge part of the MCU and Namor will appear in the upcoming film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Mark Ruffalo has now played Bruce Banner in four movies (counting his cameo in Iron Man 3), yet none have been a full-on Hulk standalone - and that doesn't look like it'll change in future. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. 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. Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. Owns a dog who loves watching Milo and Otis on repeat. However, it was not until the release of the first Iron Man movie in 2008 that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was truly born. Universal and Marvel reached an agreement in 2008 for the former to distributeThe Incredible Hulkwhich starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner before he was recast with Mark Ruffalo forThe Avengers. ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Namors MCU introduction led to many calling for a solo film for the antihero, yet the character's rights are owned by Universal, similar to the Hulk. As his antagonistic nature was established in Wakanda Forever, Namor will likely be used in this capacity again. Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. 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 Incredible Hulk - Owned By Universal. event : evt, This was the case with Universals film The Incredible Hulk, which was part of the MCU. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. "We believe Disney may sell its 67% stake in Hulu," Citi analyst Jason Bazinet wrote in a new note . Apex Legends vs Fornite which is better? 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. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. However, this only happened after Universal failed to get a sequel to Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk movie in active development by the contracted date (at which point the rights would revert to Marvel). These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. Marvel and Sony Strike a Deal in 1998 to License the Film Rights to Spider-Man and 900 Related Characters Back when superheroes were still in their infancy, Sony and Marvel struck a deal to license the film rights to Spider-Man and 900 related characters. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. Nope, The Batman Spinoff The Penguin Now Filming, Batman George Clooney Rumored For The Flash, Marvels Ant-Man 3 Breaks Batman vs Superman Record. It is not possible to create Marvel-based versions of Universal characters. 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. 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. This situation is very similar to that of another longstanding MCU character: the Hulk. Photos not available for this variation. Ang Lee's Hulk made $245M at the worldwide box office, a fair enough sum for the time that saw it pretty much break even, but considerably lower than X-Men 2's $407M that same summer and well below Spider-Man's $821M a year earlier. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. The relationship between Marvel and Universal is complicated, to say the least. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. Home | Universal Namor rights : r/marvelstudios - reddit.com Hulk in particular is a character that has suffered a bit because Universal owns the movie rights. 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. While Disney and Marvel hold the rights to develop films starring The Hulk, the companies announced an agreement with Universal and Marvel in June 2008 to distribute The Incredible Hulk. According to a 2008 SEC filing, Universal has the authority to hold Hulk for up to 15 years, which expires in June 2023. })(); The Security and Exchange Commission filing, Mickeys Premium Ice Cream Bar Crocs and Scented Loungefly Arrive at Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction Enchanted Tiki Room Ears Arrive At Walt Disney World. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. Since the Marvel movies, Disney has earned more money from them than Universal. Dragon Ball Z Characters Who Could Defeat Superman. Could this change? 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. The rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. The scrappy little movie company led by Kevin Feige could make movies, but it had no way to get them into theaters. College of the Canyons - 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA. Citi Thinks Disney Could Trade Hulu for Hulk - thewrap.com 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. 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. What this means is Universal cannot make a Hulk. But with Comcast's NBCUniversal controlling the two superheroes' distribution rights, Bazinet suggested a deal could be in the offing. 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 is important because it made Hulk a multimedia star at a time when Marvel was cautious of the big screen. The film production company is a joint venture between Disney and Marvel. callback: cb Disney has exclusive rights to Marvel theme parks through a deal between the two companies. Contact | It really all comes down to contracts. However, these SEC filings may be the strongest evidence yet that the rights will be changing hands next year. 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. What they own is the "right of first refusal" for distribution of Hulk movies. A cunning warrior, the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a good friend. Prior to the Companys acquisition of Marvel in fiscal year 2010, Marvel had licensed the rights to third-party studios to produce and distribute feature films based on certain Marvel properties including Spider-Man (licensed to Sony Pictures Entertainment), The Fantastic Four (licensed to 21CF) and X-Men (licensed to 21CF). window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Despite the fact that Marvel is housed at Universal Studios, it is not a part of the park. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. Why Marvel Can't Make a Standalone MCU Hulk Movie But why? Thiswould ultimately be a very small part of any deal, but outside of combining Disney+ and Hulu,a potential sale - the streamer is valued between$19.8 billion and $27.5 billion - has the potential to add as much $13 to stock prices. Universal seems unbending. The Marvel brand is not permitted by Disney to be used in the licensing of Marvel content to U.S. theme parks. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. Marvel can't make a Hulk standalone, but they probably wouldn't want to even if they could. All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. The situation is more of a standoff between Disney and Universal where neither wants to give, and so Marvel are just dealing with it. There hasnt been a Hulk solo movie since 2008, which is because the film rights are tied up with Universal Pictures. Its speculated that either storyline would cost over $200 million. However, a stipulation with Hulk's rights allows Marvel to use the Hulk in its movies, albeit only in team-ups. A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! 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. 27 Unearthed legal documents may suggest that Disney and Marvel Studios will regain theatrical distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk and other Hulk films in June 2023. What's also unclear is if the distribution deal also extends to TV. However, Marvel could attempt to regain the rights to the characters for Phase 5 and beyond. As we said at the start, Hulk isn't the most popular of the main Avengers. . Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. Also, after She-Hulk introduced Skaar, Hulk's son, and began planting seeds of a Hulk story many have longed to see, it is no secret that solo films for both characters would be welcome in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 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.) Universal Owns Namor's Rights, Too? 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. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Counting in marketing costs and everything else that goes along with it, a solo Hulk movie would have to break $750 million worldwide to be economically viable. Universal Pictures distribution rights for future Hulk - ResetEra 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. Im Joel Watson and Im a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real). 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. Since 2008, Marvel Studios has also acquired the rights to Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, and a slew of others. Is Superman Gay? Disney may sell its 67% stake in Hulu for more Marvel rights: Citi 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. If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure these distribution rights.". It has not been agreed to at this time, according to sources. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. That Darn Marvel Contract - What Rights Does Universal and Disney Own They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. 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. 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? Member of the Marvel Studios brain trust Nate Moore revealed Namor's rights are, just like the Hulk's, tied up with a pre-Disney distribution deal with Universal. A movie many fans hope is Planet Hulk. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. Hulk Movie Reportedly Changing Hands from Universal to Disney Soon 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. This was evident in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Namor being used as the villain of that film. 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. Universal/Marvel Hulk Sequel Rights Clarified - IGN 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. There has been speculation about a Marvel-themed park at Disney in the past, but nothing has come to fruition. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Hulk has been a member of the MCU for over a decade. He works better when surrounded by a team, with the character not having to shoulder a whole movie on his own. RUMOR: Marvel Regains Hulk Rights From Universal Its known that Marvel Chairman Ike Perlmutter had the Fox-Marvel characters killed off in the comics (Fantastic Four, Wolverine, etc.) What do you think will happen regarding rights with The Hulk? Marvel Studios and Sony have mutually terminated their Spider-Man franchise. The company is trying to overturn the decision of Marvel to grant Disney exclusive rights to the major Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. Because it was the studios risky two-picture strategy, landing Iron Man was regarded as a personal sacrifice. 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. / 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. Marvel's rights are a complicated affair as the character's distribution rights belong to Universal. The rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. The second reason is that Hulk has proven to be quite popular in Marvel's The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Forbes has a new report explaining the movie rights shared between the two studios, and what it means for a standalone sequel with Hulk at the center. So Universal has no claim at all to the. This Marvel attraction is only at Universal Orlando, so you dont have to be a fan of the movies to enjoy it. Hulk Movie Rights Explained, Solo Movie Still Years Away Marvel regained cinematic rights to the character in 2005 after Universal failed to make a follow-up to Ang Lee's Hulk movie. The final reason given for no solo Hulk movie anytime in the near future is that it will cost a lot of money. A new Hulk movie would have to be given over to the Green Goliath, with the story revolving around an entirely CGI Hulk. and not used in merchandise, licensing or video games because Fox owned the characters. Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. Another has more recently been revealed to be Namor. Disney has the option to produce and distribute any future Marvel movies that it acquires as a result of its Marvel movie rights. All Rights Reserved. It's well known that characters' movie rights have a big influence on the Marvel films made. } Post-Homecoming, anything's possible. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016), Thor: Ragnarok (2017, Black Panther 2018), Avengers: Infinity War (Fall 2018), Ant-Man and the Wasp (Fall 2018), Captain Marvel (2019), and Avengers: Marvel rides are some of the most popular rides at theme parks around the world. 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 Marvel has the rights to Hulk back, it is unable to release a standalone Hulk movie thanks to . 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. Based out of North East England, Lewis has a deep passion for all kinds of media that began at a young age. So from all this, there's no official barrier to another MCU Hulk movie. Who Owns The Rights Of Hulk? - Caniry Universal was the first studio to release a Marvel movie, with the 2003 film Hulk. It's Marvel working around the restriction and. Copyright 2020 The Direct Media Group LLC. If Marvel feels there is enough interest to justify a solo movie, they will definitely jump at the chance. However, the two studios have had a strained relationship since then. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. An SEC filing from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distributeThe Incredible Hulkunder the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: "Universal Studios has agreed to distribute Marvels film The Incredible Hulk and sequels on essentially the same terms as those on which Paramount has agreed to distribute the other films financed and produced under the film facility. And as the past has shown, the previous two Hulk movies came nowhere close to those numbers. The Fabelmans. How long until Marvel gets the full rights for Hulk? 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 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. However, even under the Mouse House, Universal still has that "first refusal" clause. Apparently, the original deal for his rights stated they reverted to Marvel 15 years after the release of the latest film. Site Map | Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. Thor: Ragnarok is the MCU's way of getting around making a proper Hulk movie, but why actually can't Marvel make a standalone for Bruce Banner? Universal Could Be Considering Selling The Film Rights To THE HULK And NAMOR Back To Disney, A new report suggests there's a good chance Universal Pictures might finally sell the rights to the, During the recent D23 expo, we learned that Tim Blake Nelson would reprise the role of Dr. Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, in, Mark Ruffalo talks more about that big reveal in the latest episode of. Universal Owns Namor's Rights, Too? How His Situation Compares To Hulk 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. This category includes She Hulk as well. Index | All rights reserved. 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. As is evident with Marvel Studios' deal with Sony, there are ways the two studios could come together and work out a mutually beneficial deal for Marvel Studios to release solo films for the characters. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. Universal Could Be Considering Selling The Film Rights To THE HULK And See original listing. 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. Disney paid $4 billion in 2009 for Marvel Entertainment, making it the largest acquisition in history. Marvel movies are based on comic books that were first published in the 1930s. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. Condition: New. According to Broussard, the Incredible Hulk was the clear winner when it came to placing second. Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood Height Requirements Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. The last we heard on the matter came from Mark Ruffalo, who pointed the finger squarely at Universal not playing nice with Marvel. Privacy | Disney will only own Marvels parks if it acquires the rights to them from Universal. 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. 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. 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. It is not possible for Disney or Universal to use the Marvel name in their parks because they have a long-term agreement. But that doesn't mean a solo movie won't ever happen. 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. forms: { Citi analyst Jason Bazinet explains, "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor. 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. For the Fantastic Four and X-Men, Fox pays Disney a licensing fee and receives a share of Disneys merchandise revenue on these properties. Father, veteran, and storyteller. 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. Analyst says Comcast looking to sell Hulk/Namor movie rights back to The World-Famous Studio Tour. 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. 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. (function() { In addition to Marvels Super Hero Island, Universal Studios has not provided any updates on the future of the park, but as a result of the recent closure and removal of Shrek 4-D from Universal Studios Orlando, Universal is repositioning attractions as flagship rides for Guests. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! And this is true of both in the 1960s and the 2000s. So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? For now, Marvel and Disney think the character works better as part of an ensemble. RELATED:MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'. Price: US $499.99. Transformers: The Ride-3D: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. } To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. 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?
