So from all this, there's no official barrier to another MCU Hulk movie. Its just not a smart move. 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? 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. This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. This is why the one truly successful outing for Hulk is the TV series, which by its nature focused on Banner's conflict and internal drama - things that are great for episodic TV but not really a big blockbuster movie. Power was fully restored, the . Despite never getting a sequel, the character has remained a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. That being said, the three characters they dont own are still part of the MCU. Those of you who are Disney fans will be perplexed as to why there are no Marvel-themed rides at Walt Disney World, particularly since Disneylands Avengers Campus is a huge hit. Rumors have previously spread to suggest Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive. Universal Pictures has the rights to produce and distribute a Hulk movie under a deal it struck with Marvel. Hulk has had his own solo movie and appeared in several Marvel Studios films. Photos not available for this variation. From Spider-Man and the X-Men to Iron Man and Captain America, the Marvel Universe is full of super-powered heroes and villains. 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. However, it's not like there's no Hulk in the MCU. 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. The company is trying to overturn the decision of Marvel to grant Disney exclusive rights to the major Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. An SECfiling from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distribute The Incredible Hulk under the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: The film audience for the title didn't grow between movies, which is seen as a bad sign. 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. Sony will continue to produce all Spider-Man and Spidey films until at least nine months have passed. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() );
These deals with Sony and Universal are beneficial for Marvel but it stands to reason they would rather have all their characters under the same roof. As part of any such package, the House of Mouse stands a chance tofinallyregain two key Marvel franchises. As the Fox-Disney deal goes to completion and Marvel Studios versions of the Fantastic Four and X-Men movies are released, Disney will now get all the revenue from merchandise and doesnt have to share with Fox. It is true that Universal still holds the distribution rights to any future Hulk movies, but the character rights and licenses firmly belong to Marvel after Universal didn't act on a. Namor will make his MCU debut inBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhich hits theaters on November 11. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. Marvel Super Hero Island is part of Universals Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. 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). based on the reaction to the character since The Avengers, it's working. 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. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. With a budget of $8.25 million, the film has the lowest budget of any Marvel film. Disney has the ability to use this property in a variety of ways, including making new movies, TV shows, and games. Hulk movies are not proven at best, unpopular at worst. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's relationship with the Incredible Hulk has been relatively awkward since the film was released in 2008. Is Superman Gay? Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. Running from 1977 to 1982 (with three TV movies that joined David Banner with Thor and Daredevil), it reshaped how wider culture viewed the Green Goliath, popularising many essential elements (not least "don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry"). "We believe Disney may sell its 67% stake in Hulu," Citi analyst Jason Bazinet wrote in a new note . How His Situation Compares To Hulk, Black Panther 2 Repeats An Infinity War Trick To Make Namor More Powerful, Marvel Was Right To Scrap Black Panthers Original Namor Credits Scene, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk being such an integral MCU, Marvel Studios could make a solo Hulk movie, Groot's MCU Future Can Explain Vin Diesel's Exciting Hulk Fight Tease. If for some reason Universal chose to forgo distribution, then Disney would immediately pick up the distribution rights for the Hulk movie. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. 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? Because it was the studios risky two-picture strategy, landing Iron Man was regarded as a personal sacrifice. 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. Still, Marvel Studios has plenty of options to get around this deal, some of which fans have already seen. Its the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. 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. listeners: [], All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. Marvel won back the Hulk movie production rights in 2005, after Universal failed to put a sequel to 2003's Hulk into immediate production. There are also Marvel villains such as Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin. However, even under the Mouse House, Universal still has that "first refusal" clause. 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. Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters, 10 Marvel Movies That Were Set Up To Fail, 10 Sci-Fi Films That Bombed At The Box Office But Became Cult Classics, Quantumania's MODOK Actor Defends His Ant-Man Role After Fan Backlash. 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. Big changes have been taking place behind the scenes at Disney ever since Bob Iger returned as CEO, with one popular theory being that the company will sell its 67% stake in Hulu. They are the lowest earners in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney has the option to produce and distribute any future Marvel movies that it acquires as a result of its Marvel movie rights. The film production company is a joint venture between Disney and Marvel. But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. The rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. 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. When Disney bought Marvel, Universals contract to use Marvel characters expired, and they were forced to close the attraction. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! 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. Hulk has been a member of the MCU for over a decade. This is similar to how Namor can be used in the future. 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. Universal was the first studio to release a Marvel movie, with the 2003 film Hulk. What makes Marvel movies so special is that they are able to appeal to a wide range of people. Just because he's a supporting character, though, doesn't mean Hulk is being underserved. A new Hulk movie would have to be given over to the Green Goliath, with the story revolving around an entirely CGI Hulk. And as part of that negotiation process, Comcast -- relegating to a non-controlling shareholder with a 33% ownership stake -- gained the right, starting in 2024, to demand that Disney buy it out at a minimum Hulu valuation of $27.5 billion. Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. 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! These parks feature rides of the highest quality, in addition to Marvel movies long history with them. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. Condition: New. 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. Based out of North East England, Lewis has a deep passion for all kinds of media that began at a young age. 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. You can visit Forbes for an even more in-depth account of what is going on with this Marvel title. 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. If Marvel feels there is enough interest to justify a solo movie, they will definitely jump at the chance. 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 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. 3 (2016). Disney will be able to make Marvel-based films with the deal. Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. Disneys $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 is the largest acquisition in history. There are many different types of movies that people can enjoy. Despite Disneys purchase of Marvel Entertainment, the studio continued to produce Marvel films. For removal of copyrighted images, trademarks, or other issues, Contact Us. Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. However, there is one type of movie that seems to be universally enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life, and that is the Marvel movie. 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. The relationship between Marvel and Universal is complicated, to say the least. } Under the licensing arrangement for Spider-Man, the Company pays the third-party studio a licensing fee based on each films box office receipts, subject to specified limits. All rights reserved. But that doesn't mean a solo movie won't ever happen. Universal seems unbending. 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 Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. Learn More. A recent rumor has suggested that the solo film rights to the Hulk may be returning to Marvel Studios in 2023! Since 2008, Marvel Studios has also acquired the rights to Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, and a slew of others. 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. 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. This is because Universal's option only relates to explicit Hulk films and, as Bruce Banner is clearly part of an ensemble in these cases, they have no say in them. And Universal is confirmed to have the right of first refusal on the distribution of any Hulk movie planned for the future. Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? About | The Hulk might be coming home as rumors are spreading that claim Marvel now completely owns the rights to the big, green and angry hero, which could potentially lead to a new series of standalone films for the Hulk. In 2009, Disney paid $4 billion for Marvel, and the agreement is a long-term one, as long as Universal keeps paying Disney. The Avengers film rights have only been licensed to Universal by the company. Despite the success of the Phase 4 and 5 releases, there are still plenty of opportunities for Marvel Studios to release movies in Phase 6 and beyond. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. 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. . Trademark | That means more production time and higher costs with the extensive effects necessary. According to Broussard, the Incredible Hulk was the clear winner when it came to placing second. Disney and Marvel made Iron Man 2 with Paramount distributing the movie. Over the past few years, Marvel Studios has set out to acquire most of the rights to Marvel Comics characters. 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');". Indie-made films and has learned to love film from all walks of life. 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. Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In 2021, Lewis graduated from university with a Film and TV Studies degree, earning First Class Honours. Captain America: Civil War takes place six decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted. } This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. Similarly, with Namor, Marvel could make a TV series focused on Talokan, where the character appears but is not the protagonist. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. There are numerous characters from films and TV shows that are based on Universal Studios properties. 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. 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. Disney will only own Marvels parks if it acquires the rights to them from Universal. Like with Spider-Man, there is scope for some agreement, although the current terms don't leave much room for negotiation. 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. 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. 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. Namor can be used in the same manner as the Hulk in the MCU, namely as part of an ensemble, antagonistic role, or cameo. Back then, Marvel Entertainment were an independent company and so the Studios operated as just production, working with outside distributors. Well, its likely that Universal and Marvel could renew the contract like Marvel did with Sony in 2019. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Father, veteran, and storyteller. / 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. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. But why? "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. 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. Children 40-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion (14 years or older). 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. 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). At least that would give Namor the freedom Hulk never had. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). forms: { While Disney and Marvel hold rights to develop movies starring The Hulk, Universal and Marvel reached an agreement in June 2008 to distribute The Incredible Hulk.. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. I'm Joel Watson and I'm a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( There appears to . The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. 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. 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. The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. Hulk Movie Rights Explained, Solo Movie Still Years Away, 10 Movies That Were Rated R for Basically No Reason, 10 Greatest Classic Movies of All Time, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes, 15 Critically Panned Movies that Somehow Got Sequels. 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.