In 2009, Disney spent $4 billion on Marvel comics. Overseas, Hulu titles are added to the Disney+ library, but the two streaming platforms remain completely separate in the U.S. Having two of these services to contend with has become something of a financial burden, and selling its 67% share could be highly beneficial to the company. The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. 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. Yes, you read that right! In 2021, Lewis graduated from university with a Film and TV Studies degree, earning First Class Honours. 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. 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 Complicated Relationship Between Marvel And Universal 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. 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 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. 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. In this video, Sid reveals the possibility The Hulk & Namor Rights could go back to Marvel! Follow Sid On Social Media:Instagram: @therealdoomblazer ~ h. HULK: Marvel Studios May Finally Regain The Jade Giant's Theatrical ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After the events of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the hints at Bruce Banner's MCU story, there were some rumors that Marvel Studios could make a solo Hulk movie after 2023. 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. A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! 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. Because it was the studios risky two-picture strategy, landing Iron Man was regarded as a personal sacrifice. The situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. All of that makes a Hulk movie a tricky prospect. Now, it could be simply the company wasn't going to give up their ability to call on the powerful clause rather than actual disagreement, but it's clear the whole situation comes down to that. 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. In 2009, Disney paid $4 billion for Marvel, and the agreement is a long-term one, as long as Universal keeps paying Disney. Disney paid $4 billion in 2009 for Marvel Entertainment, making it the largest acquisition in history. So Universal has no claim at all to the. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real). Disney has the ability to use this property in a variety of ways, including making new movies, TV shows, and games. However, Marvel could attempt to regain the rights to the characters for Phase 5 and beyond. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. 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. What To Expect From Hulk in Avengers 3 and 4, Ruffalo's contract originally ran for six movies, Why Marvel Movies Always Release A Week Later in The US, Why Obi-Wan Didnt Use Force Speed To Save Qui-Gon Jinn From Darth Maul, The New Mad Max Might Break A Decades Old Series Rule, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Broke The MCU's Threequel Rule. This complicated legal issue has since led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and omit solo projects altogether. 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. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. 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. The rights of Hulk belonged to Universal similar to Spider-Man's rights in Sony Privacy | Marvel Could Get Back The Hulk & Namor Rights From Universal?!? A new Hulk movie would have to be given over to the Green Goliath, with the story revolving around an entirely CGI Hulk. Home | 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. User Vidoardes on Reddit posted some interesting findings regarding the deal that indicate it may end in June of 2023. As his antagonistic nature was established in Wakanda Forever, Namor will likely be used in this capacity again. Hulk Movie Production and Distribution Rights - Collider Apparently, the original deal for his rights stated they reverted to Marvel 15 years after the release of the latest film. 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. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. event : evt, Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. 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. As such, if Disney makes a Hulk or Namor film, Comcast can distribute the film on Peacock. "The Incredible Hulk" The Incredible Hulk (TV Episode 1977) - IMDb So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. The second reason is that Hulk has proven to be quite popular in Marvel's The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. While it is unconfirmed if there will be a sequel to The Incredible Hulk or if rights are going to go to Disney, the SEC filing is the base of the rumor from The Direct that rights for The Hulk will be given to Disney. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. He works better when surrounded by a team, with the character not having to shoulder a whole movie on his own. A film starring Hulk was first floated in 1990, with Universal having bought the movie rights. Universal Still Owns Movie Rights For The Hulk, Says Mark Ruffalo 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. Based out of North East England, Lewis has a deep passion for all kinds of media that began at a young age. 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. It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. The Avengers film rights have only been licensed to Universal by the company. Many fans have been wondering if this is true, and what is going on with the rights between Universal and Marvel. Disney purchased Marvel Universal to ensure the continuation of their partnership. Universal May Not Be Holding Up Marvel's Future Plans For Hulk After The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. Trademark | Indie-made films and has learned to love film from all walks of life. 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. There appears to . Exploring The Possibility Of Superman Growing Up With Parents: What Could Have Been? The rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. 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. This also ensured that Marvel Studios could use Hulk in "future multicharacter films," beginning with The Avengers in 2012 and continuing on to Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). What do you think will happen regarding rights with The Hulk? Disney will only own Marvels parks if it acquires the rights to them from Universal. This follows how Hulk has been utilized in the MCU. The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. But they did not obtain the distribution rights, which Universal still has today. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. The Hulk deal between Marvel and Universal is explained in-depth, with no standalone movie planned for the immediate future. This is similar to how Namor can be used in the future. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. This is important because it made Hulk a multimedia star at a time when Marvel was cautious of the big screen. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! } However, it's not like there's no Hulk in the MCU. Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. 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. so what's up with hulk rights? : r/marvelstudios - Reddit Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. Related: Marvel Was Right To Scrap Black Panthers Original Namor Credits Scene. Universal owns distribution rights, which means they have the right of "first refusal" to any Hulk film. 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. The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. The World-Famous Studio Tour. So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? Marvel theme park rights are the exclusive rights to use Marvel intellectual property at an amusement park or other theme park setting. Marvel Has One Path to Regain Full Hulk, Namor Rights, Analyst Believes Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. Prior to Disney acquiring Marvel, they had a distribution agreement with Paramount for Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. 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. Disneys $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 is the largest acquisition in history. Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! Why Marvel Can't Make a Standalone MCU Hulk Movie Back then, Marvel Entertainment were an independent company and so the Studios operated as just production, working with outside distributors. 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. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. This could fall on the relationship between the two studios not being as close as Sony and Marvel, or more simply be that Kevin Feige is in no rush to make a Hulk solo 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. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Before the days of the MCU, the characters from the many Marvel Comics were almost shared out among other Hollywood studios. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. This Marvel attraction is only at Universal Orlando, so you dont have to be a fan of the movies to enjoy it. 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? A recent rumor has suggested that the solo film rights to the Hulk may be returning to Marvel Studios in 2023! All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. The Hulk will be back in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which premieres on August 18. The film production company is a joint venture between Disney and Marvel. RELATED: Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead. The final reason given for no solo Hulk movie anytime in the near future is that it will cost a lot of money. Hulk Movie Rights Still At Universal - Cosmic Book News Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). New Rumors Indicate Hulk Solo Film Rights May Be Coming Back To Marvel However, it was not until the release of the first Iron Man movie in 2008 that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was truly born. College of the Canyons - 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA. 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. Will a solo movie happen anytime soon? If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure these distribution rights.". Photos not available for this variation. 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. 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. RUMOR: Hulk Movie Rights Could Be Returning to Disney in June 2023 Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. 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. According to evidence shared on Reddit by u/vidoardes, Disney is in a position to regain distribution rights to the Hulk in 2023. Its the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. Since then, there have been 22 movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with more planned for the future. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. The past box office for these films does not justify that as a solid business plan. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. Some of the content presented on our sites has been provided by fans, other unofficial websites or online news sources, and is the sole responsibility of the source from which it was obtained. 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. If Marvel feels there is enough interest to justify a solo movie, they will definitely jump at the chance. Universal currently holds the rights to several Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk. 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. With Marvel producer Nate Moore recently revealing that both still belong to Universal, it is unclear whether these rumors held any merit. Rumors have previously spread to suggest Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive. Those who own physical media copies of those early Marvel films will know both Paramount and Universal distributed those films. 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. Exploring The Limits Of Supermans Power: Can The Man Of Steel Destroy An Entire Universe?