And 2003's Hulk only made $245 million. 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? Now Lewis spends his time watching endless amounts of film and TV, gaming, and reading, all to further his work as a Screen Rant Features Writer as he tries to widen his knowledge to write about all aspects of film and TV. But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. And since Universal appears to have just recently lost that fight, it's not inclined to work with Disney on rights to these characters. Universal seems unbending. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. Index | 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. Disney has acquired the intellectual property rights to the characters, stories, and settings from Marvels comics. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Geeks WorldWidepreviously reported in October 2021 thataWorld War Hulkmovie is in development with a 2022 production date, butupdates have since been scarce. Sure, anything could happen if the deal ends, but whats most likely is they just renew the deal. At least that would give Namor the freedom Hulk never had. 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. In March 2008, a short teaser trailer for The Incredible Hulk was released. 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. Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. 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. Universal was the first studio to release a Marvel movie, with the 2003 film Hulk. 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. Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). Its speculated that either storyline would cost over $200 million. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. Despite being one of the founding Avengers, the Hulk has had an arguably small role to play in the MCU as the only member of the team not to lead a solo project since Phase 1. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. Price: US $499.99. 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. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. The Hulk's appearances in other films and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law continue his story and make him the connective tissue for a number of these discrete stories. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. 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). Disney has the option to produce and distribute any future Marvel movies that it acquires as a result of its Marvel movie rights. Let us know in the comments. However, it was not until the release of the first Iron Man movie in 2008 that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was truly born. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Why Marvel's Complex Namor & Hulk Rights Mean They'll Never Get Solo Movies. The World-Famous Studio Tour. 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. 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. An SECfiling from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distribute The Incredible Hulk under the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: Marvel Studios has finally explained its Hulk movie deal with Universal Pictures and how it affects the character's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Post-Homecoming, anything's possible. "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. According to a 2002 report, Walt Disney was in talks to purchase archrival Universal. Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. When Disney bought Marvel, Universals contract to use Marvel characters expired, and they were forced to close the attraction. Since the Marvel movies, Disney has earned more money from them than Universal. While the Hulk has existed in live-action since the late 1970s, Namor only recently made his debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 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. Hulk will return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwhen it premieres on August 18, exclusively on Disney+. 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. What's also unclear is if the distribution deal also extends to TV. 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. The report notes that Sony and Fox have to pay to create and distribute the movies, while Disney still retains the merchandise rights. Home Movie News Hulk Movie Rights Still At Universal. About | 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. Marvel has been trying to get the rights to these characters back for years, but has had little success. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Beyond opening the doors to Hulk taking on a bigger role, Marvel Studios may finally be able to give Namor his own solo movie. Universal had been working with Marvel on a number of projects, including a theme park attraction based on The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Islands of Adventure. 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. Screen Rant's Managing Editor, Alex Leadbeater has been covering film online since 2012 and been a permanent fixture of SR since 2016. Next: Groot's MCU Future Can Explain Vin Diesel's Exciting Hulk Fight Tease. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course Netflix and chill! Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! 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. 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 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. Hulk Hogan Signed Universal Champion Red Wrestling Belt. { 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. So Universal has no claim at all to the. 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. 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. 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? Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! The opportunity to expand on Disneys involvement in the Marvel universe is one of the most promising things to come. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. When the Mouse bought Marvel, Disney and Universal went to war in the courts in order to free up not just film distribution rights but Marvel characters appearing in Universal's Orlando theme park. } I would love to see another stand-alone Hulk film, but it just doesnt seem likely. In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. That being said, the three characters they dont own are still part of the MCU. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. 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. So from all this, there's no official barrier to another MCU Hulk movie. The Incredible Hulk was the second film in the MCU, released just one month after Iron Man. Disney will only own Marvels parks if it acquires the rights to them from Universal. 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? This is similar to how Namor can be used in the future. Things getcomplicated here as The Wrap's report begins getting into the financial complications such a deal would involve. 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 situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. It's well known that characters' movie rights have a big influence on the Marvel films made. Privacy | With Marvel producer Nate Moore recently revealing that both still belong to Universal, it is unclear whether these rumors held any merit. The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. Universal currently holds the rights to several Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); 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. During their stay, attendees can attend superhero training sessions with Iron Man and Black Widow. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. The rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. in a statement, a spokesperson for Universal Studios Hollywood said the park experienced a "brief power dip which resulted in exiting guests from some attractions", due to a "power interruption" from the utility Southern California Edison. Advertise, Funny Superhero (DC & Marvel) Shirts & Stickers. 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. However, these SEC filings may be the strongest evidence yet that the rights will be changing hands next year. Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. In recent years, Marvel has been trying to get the rights to its characters back from Universal, but has had little success. 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. 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. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? This makes it so that Namor can only be used in the MCU similar to how Hulk has been since 2008, something that may come as a disappointment to many. Avengers simulator rides are permitted in certain legal zones in other countries. callback: cb 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 answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. Planet Hulk could be as close as 2021.The real question is, are you willing to wait that long? 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. 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. This complicated legal issue has since led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and omit solo projects altogether. 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. 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! 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. Disney CEO Bob Iger, in describing these contracts to his staff, stated that they were business-friendly. Why Marvel Can't Make a Standalone MCU Hulk Movie, it's been proven that supposed leaks suggesting development were false, Why Marvel Put Planet Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel wasn't able to wrangle Galactus and the Silver Surfer back from Fox, Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno The Incredible Hulk TV series, first refusal on distributing any Hulk films. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. 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. College of the Canyons - 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA. Its known that Marvel Chairman Ike Perlmutter had the Fox-Marvel characters killed off in the comics (Fantastic Four, Wolverine, etc.) Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. 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. Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. Paramount also distributed the first Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. 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.