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. Phase three of the film series will begin with Captain America: Civil War, followed by Doctor Strange (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. The movie rights of Hulk have always been dynamic unlike the character rights of the other superheroes. On September 23, 2003, a 34-year-old woman . Spider-Man remains a huge part of the MCU and Namor will appear in the upcoming film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Throughout the day, various Spider-Man and Marvel merchandise will be available for purchase. The Fabelmans. 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. That is exactly why Mark Ruffalo does not have a solo project of his own despite his character being so darn popular among even the most casual of moviegoers. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Disney will be able to make Marvel-based films with the deal. This means that the release of any Hulk/Namor solo film from the initial greenlighting of the film, to theatrical and home releases, as well as sorting out distribution revenue shares and so on falls solely on Universal's shoulders. What this means is Universal cannot make a 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. } Contact | Site Map | The opportunity to expand on Disneys involvement in the Marvel universe is one of the most promising things to come. 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. 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. And 2003's Hulk only made $245 million. 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. The rights of Hulk belonged to Universal similar to Spider-Man's rights in Sony Just because he's a supporting character, though, doesn't mean Hulk is being underserved. Power was fully restored, the . Disneys purchase of Marvel in 2009 had a big impact on Universal Studios. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. (The Culver Institue Laboratory) 2 of 2 found this interesting. 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. Sure, anything could happen if the deal ends, but whats most likely is they just renew the deal. 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. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. Disney has acquired the intellectual property rights to the characters, stories, and settings from Marvels comics. HULK Star Josh Lucas Has Nothing But Good Things To Say About Ang Lee's Divisive Marvel Movie While Marvel Studios is able to include The Hulk and Namor in movies, they've been restricted from. 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. Marvel Super Hero Island is part of Universals Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. 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. 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. The film audience for the title didn't grow between movies, which is seen as a bad sign. Yet, the same would've been said about the Sony and Disney partnership before it happened. The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. For removal of copyrighted images, trademarks, or other issues, Contact Us. Right now, we're still years away from that happening. 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. / 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. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. 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. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. Nope, The Batman Spinoff The Penguin Now Filming, Batman George Clooney Rumored For The Flash, Marvels Ant-Man 3 Breaks Batman vs Superman Record. Will a solo movie happen anytime soon? So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. Apex Legends vs Fornite which is better? Terms Of Service | window.mc4wp.listeners.push( The Reddit User then looked at the original Paramount deal which states that the deal is only good for 15 years after each picture. 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. Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. 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). Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. Enter the username or e-mail you used in your profile. So, any Hulk or Namor solo film would become the property of Universal. Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde where Hyde is typically mindless. If, or when, Universal chooses to forgo distribution, Disney will immediately pick up those distribution rights for a solo Hulk movie. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Sony will continue to produce all Spider-Man and Spidey films until at least nine months have passed. Following Disneys acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios and Marvel Television were formed. Marvel theme park rights are the exclusive rights to use Marvel intellectual property at an amusement park or other theme park setting. Its been more than a decade since fans first saw The Incredible Hulk sequel starring Mark Ruffalo. Hulk has been a member of the MCU for over a decade. So Universal has no claim at all to the. 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. He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real). Marvel Studios' Phase 4 and 5 slates may be filled to the brim for now, but there are still plenty of release opportunities left in Phase 6 and beyond. Disney has regained ownership of the Marvel Comics character after Universal Pictures gave up rights to him. If it does, that means that NBC or Peacock would have first right of refusal for a TV series with either character in the lead role. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger have all been acquired by Marvel Studios from Paramount. However, a stipulation with Hulk's rights allows Marvel to use the Hulk in its movies, albeit only in team-ups. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. Don't hold your breath. 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. In their 2018 financial report, Disney also confirms that Spider-Man is still licensed to Sony Pictures, and that the Fantastic Four and X-Men are currently with Fox Studios. 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. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. 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. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. 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. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. That means more production time and higher costs with the extensive effects necessary. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. They are the lowest earners in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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. Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? Learn More. This was typically Paramount, who released every film except Hulk up until The Avengers, by which point Disney had bought Marvel and set about distributing themselves. In 2018, Disney generated $20.3 billion in revenue, while Universal Theme Parks generated $5.7 billion. 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. That's still Universal . Next: Groot's MCU Future Can Explain Vin Diesel's Exciting Hulk Fight Tease. All Rights Reserved. Privacy | They have made great strides to do so and have been very successful in that regard. Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). Despite never getting a sequel, the character has remained a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hulk will return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwhen it premieres on August 18, exclusively on Disney+. Both Namor and the Incredible Hulk are characters Disney owns the rights to use in stories, films or television. 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. 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). Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. These parks feature rides of the highest quality, in addition to Marvel movies long history with them. There appears to . RELATED:MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. A cunning warrior, the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a good friend. Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill introduce the Atlantean ruler, played by Tenoch Huerta, but his MCU future remains up in the air as of now. The scrappy little movie company led by Kevin Feige could make movies, but it had no way to get them into theaters. Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. The film would go on to gross $134 million in the United States and $264 million worldwide, bringing its total to $134 million. 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. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course Netflix and chill! Marvel characters were licensed to Universal Studios in 1994. 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 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. Now Open - Get Details. Universal Pictures has the rights to produce and distribute a Hulk movie under a deal it struck with Marvel. Growing older though, Lewis had a newfound love for smaller. The Avengers film rights have only been licensed to Universal by the company. 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. KEEP READING: She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? 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. 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. The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. { Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. 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. Spider-Man is one of the Marvel Villains on hand, so dont miss out on the chance to meet him. RUMOR: Hulk Movie Rights Could Be Returning to Disney in June 2023 August 14, 2022 Haley Dalton 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." Image source: The Direct Despite a brief jaunt in Mathematics at Durham University, film writing was always his calling. This follows how Hulk has been utilized in the MCU. 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. The Incredible Hulk - Owned By Universal. Universal was the first studio to release a Marvel movie, with the 2003 film Hulk. This was evident in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Namor being used as the villain of that film. 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. Based out of North East England, Lewis has a deep passion for all kinds of media that began at a young age. Since the Marvel movies, Disney has earned more money from them than Universal. What do you think will happen regarding rights with The Hulk? Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. Hulk movies are not proven at best, unpopular at worst. 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. 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. Moreover, Marvel has made a deal with Sony that allows them Spider-Man to exist in the MCU. 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. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. As such, if Disney makes a Hulk or Namor film, Comcast can distribute the film on Peacock. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. 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. The Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. 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. The second reason is that Hulk has proven to be quite popular in Marvel's The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It requires going against an ingrained idea and barreling into something more psychological than the MCU structure allows. It is not possible for Disney or Universal to use the Marvel name in their parks because they have a long-term agreement. The Security and Exchange Commission filing from 2008 allows Universal to hold Hulk movie rights for 15 years, which would expire June 2023. "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. All of that makes a Hulk movie a tricky prospect. I'm Joel Watson and I'm a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. In 2009, Disney paid $4 billion for Marvel, and the agreement is a long-term one, as long as Universal keeps paying Disney. The company obtained film rights, intellectual property, and a production company in addition to Marvel movie rights. 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. Despite Disneys purchase of Marvel Entertainment, the studio continued to produce Marvel films. 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. 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. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. 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. This may come as a disappointment to many, who wish for a Namor solo film after his fantastic debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure these distribution rights.". 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. Best Little Sites is not liable for inaccuracies, errors, or omissions found herein. 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. 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. User Vidoardes on Reddit posted some interesting findings regarding the deal that indicate it may end in June of 2023. 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. During their stay, attendees can attend superhero training sessions with Iron Man and Black Widow. 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? An SECfiling from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distribute The Incredible Hulk under the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: A consistently evolving entertainment industry landscape where Marvel is the biggest game in town means the only certainty is that one can never say never. However, Universal does still hold the right of first refusal with . From Spider-Man and the X-Men to Iron Man and Captain America, the Marvel Universe is full of super-powered heroes and villains. Now with Disney about to buy Fox, all the characters have returned to the Marvel comics and are now also being used in licensing, merchandise and gaming. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. 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. 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. 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.