Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. 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. Universal seems unbending. But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. 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. There hasn't been a Hulk solo movie since 2008, which is because the film rights are tied up with Universal Pictures. The situation is more of a standoff between Disney and Universal where neither wants to give, and so Marvel are just dealing with it. This complicated legal issue has since led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and omit solo projects altogether. In addition to Sony still having the film rights to Spider-Man-related characters, Universal Pictures continues to hold the distribution rights to solo movies about The Hulk and Namor the. Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. The Hulk franchise even introduced the "shared universe" concept, with Thor and Daredevil showing up in those shows. The last we heard on the matter came from Mark Ruffalo, who pointed the finger squarely at Universal not playing nice with Marvel. 3 (2016). Disney CEO Bob Iger, in describing these contracts to his staff, stated that they were business-friendly. Planet Hulk could be as close as 2021.The real question is, are you willing to wait that long? 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. When Disney bought Marvel, Universals contract to use Marvel characters expired, and they were forced to close the attraction. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. 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. Besides Hulk, Namor, and Spider-Man, Disney owns the rights to almost every single character in Marvel Comics. And this is true of both in the 1960s and the 2000s. 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. Yet, the same would've been said about the Sony and Disney partnership before it happened. Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill introduce the Atlantean ruler, played by Tenoch Huerta, but his MCU future remains up in the air as of now. Phase three of the film series will begin with Captain America: Civil War, followed by Doctor Strange (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. RELATED: Why Were the Hulk's Pants Always Purple? 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. The Greater World Wrestling organization will soon release a new Hulk series entitled World War Hulk.. (The Culver Institue Laboratory) 2 of 2 found this interesting. The report notes that Sony and Fox have to pay to create and distribute the movies, while Disney still retains the merchandise rights. A cunning warrior, the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a good friend. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger have all been acquired by Marvel Studios from Paramount. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Why Marvel's Complex Namor & Hulk Rights Mean They'll Never Get Solo Movies. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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 important because it made Hulk a multimedia star at a time when Marvel was cautious of the big screen. Do you think we'll eventually see solo Hulk and Namor movies? Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. They have made great strides to do so and have been very successful in that regard. 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. In March 2008, a short teaser trailer for The Incredible Hulk was released. What this means is Universal cannot make a Hulk. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. Disneys purchase of Marvel in 2009 had a big impact on Universal Studios. The company is trying to overturn the decision of Marvel to grant Disney exclusive rights to the major Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. As such, if Disney makes a Hulk or Namor film, Comcast can distribute the film on Peacock. Disney has regained ownership of the Marvel Comics character after Universal Pictures gave up rights to him. { Universal currently holds the rights to several Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. The Avengers film rights have only been licensed to Universal by the company. 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. Disney paid $4 billion in 2009 for Marvel Entertainment, making it the largest acquisition in history. The relationship between Marvel and Universal is complicated, to say the least. 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. 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. Despite a brief jaunt in Mathematics at Durham University, film writing was always his calling. RELATED:MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'. Unlike other Marvel characters in the MCU, such as Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor, Namor and Hulk are not solely owned by Marvel Studios. Marvel acquired the rights to the superhero theme park rights from Universal Studios in 1994. 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. 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. 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. 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. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. 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. It's the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. But if Disney can partner with Sony for Spider-Man and buy 20th Century Fox outright for the Fantastic Four and the mutants, why can't it and Universal get their acts together? 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. The Hulk Surely Marvel owns The Hulk! All Rights Reserved. Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. This was evident in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Namor being used as the villain of that film. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. (function() { Right now, we're still years away from that happening. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. 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. Rumors have previously spread to suggest Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive. Condition: New. 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? 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. So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? } In addition, Universal is still the owner of the rights to this character. 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. 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 What do you think will happen regarding rights with The Hulk? 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. 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. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. Father, veteran, and storyteller. Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. RELATED: Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead. 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. 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. If for some reason Universal chose to forgo distribution, then Disney would immediately pick up the distribution rights for the Hulk movie. In 2009, Disney spent $4 billion on Marvel comics. The movie rights of Hulk have always been dynamic unlike the character rights of the other superheroes. Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. Hulk has been a member of the MCU for over a decade. 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. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. The Fabelmans. 7 Fantastic Animes You Need to be Watching Right Now. 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. KEEP READING:She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero, Source: The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 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. The Many Reasons Why Superman Never Gives Up. The Hulk will be back in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which premieres on August 18. That means that when Marvel Studios wants to make a Hulk movie, they are contractually obligated to ask Universal if they want the distribution rights. Index | All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. 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. From Spider-Man and the X-Men to Iron Man and Captain America, the Marvel Universe is full of super-powered heroes and villains. This is why The Incredible Hulk, the character's only solo outing in the MCU, was distributed by Universal. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. 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. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. A password reset link will be sent to you by email. Spider-Man is one of the Marvel Villains on hand, so dont miss out on the chance to meet him. However, it is clear that Universal still holds the rights to several important Marvel characters. Children 40-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion (14 years or older). But with Comcast's NBCUniversal controlling the two superheroes' distribution rights, Bazinet suggested a deal could be in the offing. 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. Captain America: Civil War takes place six decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted. based on the reaction to the character since The Avengers, it's working. This may come as a disappointment to many, who wish for a Namor solo film after his fantastic debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Im Joel Watson and Im a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. 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. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Marvel's rights are a complicated affair as the character's distribution rights belong to Universal. And Universal is confirmed to have the right of first refusal on the distribution of any Hulk movie planned for the future. And since Universal appears to have just recently lost that fight, it's not inclined to work with Disney on rights to these characters. "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. 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. 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. 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. See original listing. Don't hold your breath. 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. Universal's Film Rights Dictate The Future Of Namor & The Hulk The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. However, Universal does still hold the right of first refusal with . 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. 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). Learn More. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. We also see why Disney never created any merchandise for the Fox Studios Marvel movies as they didnt want Fox getting a share of the revenue. Universal owns distribution rights, which means they have the right of "first refusal" to any Hulk film. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. Dragon Ball Z Characters Who Could Defeat Superman. Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. The Security and Exchange Commission filing from 2008 allows Universal to hold Hulk movie rights for 15 years, which would expire June 2023. 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. and not used in merchandise, licensing or video games because Fox owned the characters. 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. Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde where Hyde is typically mindless. 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. A recent rumor has suggested that the solo film rights to the Hulk may be returning to Marvel Studios in 2023! Here Universal's the only ones who win. Marvel Studios has also been reported to bedeveloping aWorld War Hulkmovie following on from the events of Disney+'sShe-Hulkwith plans to shoot this year for a late 2023 or early 2024 release. This category includes She Hulk as well. As we said at the start, Hulk isn't the most popular of the main Avengers. He works better when surrounded by a team, with the character not having to shoulder a whole movie on his own. 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. 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. It is exciting to speculate on what an Marvel-themed park at Disney World would look like. Played by Tenoch Huerta, this interpretation is a massive hit with fans, both diehards and those unfamiliar with Namor. For the Fantastic Four and X-Men, Fox pays Disney a licensing fee and receives a share of Disneys merchandise revenue on these properties. 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. Geeks WorldWidepreviously reported in October 2021 thataWorld War Hulkmovie is in development with a 2022 production date, butupdates have since been scarce. Exploring The Limits Of Supermans Power: Can The Man Of Steel Destroy An Entire Universe? 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. Well, unfortunately, probably not. This follows how Hulk has been utilized in the MCU. There is a chance that Marvel will lose the rights to major characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, and others in the near future due to their copyright expirations. Its speculated that either storyline would cost over $200 million. All rights reserved. Things getcomplicated here as The Wrap's report begins getting into the financial complications such a deal would involve. Published Nov 30, 2022 Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. According to a 2002 report, Walt Disney was in talks to purchase archrival Universal. 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. 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. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. The deal between Universal and Disney is iron clad; however, it may have a time limit. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course Netflix and chill! However, if Disney decided against buying out Comcast's 33% stake, then that company might choose to acquire the entire service. 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. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. })(); 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. The actual Hulk character had limited screen time in the first two standalone movies, with Bruce Banner involved in much of the action. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. So from all this, there's no official barrier to another MCU Hulk movie. "We believe Disney may sell its 67% stake in Hulu," Citi analyst Jason Bazinet wrote in a new note . Despite the fact that Marvel is housed at Universal Studios, it is not a part of the park. 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! 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. 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. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. Since then, there have been 22 movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with more planned for the future. 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. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). Universal Orlando Resort. 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. After Ang Lee's regrettable Hulk film in 2003, Universal agreed to let Marvel Studios make the next picture, distributing The Incredible Hulk. That's still Universal . However, a stipulation with Hulk's rights allows Marvel to use the Hulk in its movies, albeit only in team-ups. The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. Yes, you read that right! RELATED:The Marvel's Release Date Pushed Back To November. 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. Marvel regained cinematic rights to the character in 2005 after Universal failed to make a follow-up to Ang Lee's Hulk movie. So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. And 2003's Hulk only made $245 million. 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. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 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). They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. Children 40-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be . Let us know in the comments.
Dominic Miller Illness,
Supreme Scream Height Requirement,
Articles H
