Enter the username or e-mail you used in your profile. This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. Namor can be used in the same manner as the Hulk in the MCU, namely as part of an ensemble, antagonistic role, or cameo. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. 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. Disney consolidated Fox and Warner's ownership in the Hulu joint venture in 2019. Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. Growing up in the English countryside on a mixture of Star Wars, The Simpsons and Aardman, Alex is a lifelong movie obsessive. Disney+s She Hulk: Attorney at Law starts streaming August 18. } 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. Never, Universal Studios permanently owns the distribution rights to any film in which Hulk portrays himself as the main character, as well as his related friends in his universe. 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? Marvel Studios and Sony have mutually terminated their Spider-Man franchise. 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. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. 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. With the current state of Hulk's distribution rights sitting up in the air, new evidence has been uncovered to suggest when Disney will reacquire the rights. Copyright 2020 The Direct Media Group LLC. 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. 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? The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. 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 rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! A cunning warrior, the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a good friend. Its been more than a decade since fans first saw The Incredible Hulk sequel starring Mark Ruffalo. 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. Yet, over time, the rights to characters came back to Marvel from studios like New Line and Paramount. So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? Another has more recently been revealed to be Namor. According to evidence shared on Reddit by u/vidoardes, Disney is in a position to regain distribution rights to the Hulk in 2023. As The Incredible Hulk was released in 2008, this would mean that Marvel could use Hulk again from 2023 onwards. 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. 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. 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. 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. Universal landed the film rights to Hulk and Namor in the early 2000s. This is why The Incredible Hulk, the character's only solo outing in the MCU, was distributed by Universal. Like with Spider-Man, there is scope for some agreement, although the current terms don't leave much room for negotiation. What makes Marvel movies so special is that they are able to appeal to a wide range of people. Both Planet Hulk and the long rumored World War Hulk would be incredibly expensive to pull off on the big screen the right way. Disney and Marvel made Iron Man 2 with Paramount distributing the movie. This is similar to how Namor can be used in the future. Terms Of Service | The rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. 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. There are also Marvel villains such as Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin. While Hollywood filmmaking will always be his most knowledgeable area, Lewis still enjoys anything in the world of filmmaking. Hulk has had his own solo movie and appeared in several Marvel Studios films. 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. 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. The ensembles allow the character to show his strengths, and not focus on the weaknesses that would come out in a movie devoted solely to Hulk. Apex Legends vs Fornite which is better? Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. 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. For those who don't know, the film rights to everyone's favorite big, green, rage monster are complicated. Because it was the studios risky two-picture strategy, landing Iron Man was regarded as a personal sacrifice. And this is true of both in the 1960s and the 2000s. 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 rights to both characters are currently tangled up with Universal. Marvel confirmed rights involving Hulk and Namor are still with Universal, meaning the Disney-owned characters will probably never get solo movies. The film production company is a joint venture between Disney and Marvel. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. The Hulk Surely Marvel owns The Hulk! VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); 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. 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. Universal Owns Namor's Rights, Too? Especially if Marvel and Disney go the Planet Hulk route. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. In recent years, it has been widely speculated as to why Disney and Marvel Entertainment havent worked together on a Marvel-themed theme park. 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. 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. Geeks WorldWidepreviously reported in October 2021 thataWorld War Hulkmovie is in development with a 2022 production date, butupdates have since been scarce. It is exciting to speculate on what an Marvel-themed park at Disney World would look like. While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. The Marvel trend is extremely profitable for Disney. Trademark | Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. 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. But that doesn't mean a solo movie won't ever happen. 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. The Hulk deal between Marvel and Universal is explained in-depth, with no standalone movie planned for the immediate future. So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. 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. 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 report notes that Sony and Fox have to pay to create and distribute the movies, while Disney still retains the merchandise rights. It requires going against an ingrained idea and barreling into something more psychological than the MCU structure allows. 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. If you have never seen a Marvel movie, I highly recommend you check one out. 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. 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. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. Owns a dog who loves watching Milo and Otis on repeat. However, even under the Mouse House, Universal still has that "first refusal" clause. There are numerous characters from films and TV shows that are based on Universal Studios properties. Universal Pictures has the rights to produce and distribute a Hulk movie under a deal it struck with Marvel. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. Marvel can't make a Hulk standalone, but they probably wouldn't want to even if they could. 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. In this video, Sid reveals the possibility The Hulk & Namor Rights could go back to Marvel! Follow Sid On Social Media:Instagram: @therealdoomblazer ~ h. An SECfiling from 2006 notes Universal Studios' agreement to distribute The Incredible Hulk under the same terms as a similar deal with Paramount: 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. 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. Although Marvel has the rights to Hulk back, it is unable to release a standalone Hulk movie thanks to . In 1994, Universal Studios obtained the rights to license the Marvel comic books theme parks. Avengers simulator rides are permitted in certain legal zones in other countries. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. 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. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. 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. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! The company obtained film rights, intellectual property, and a production company in addition to Marvel movie rights. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. I'm Joel Watson and I'm a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. 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. 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. For the Fantastic Four and X-Men, Fox pays Disney a licensing fee and receives a share of Disneys merchandise revenue on these properties. 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). / 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. The film audience for the title didn't grow between movies, which is seen as a bad sign. 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? However, these SEC filings may be the strongest evidence yet that the rights will be changing hands next year. Disney has the option to produce and distribute any future Marvel movies that it acquires as a result of its Marvel movie rights. The best course of action for Universal is to renew the contract for another 15 years and keep everything running smoothly. "We believe Disney may sell its 67% stake in Hulu," Citi analyst Jason Bazinet wrote in a new note . 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. Based in London, he oversees a global news & features team based in NY, LA and beyond. This may come as a disappointment to many, who wish for a Namor solo film after his fantastic debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. That means more production time and higher costs with the extensive effects necessary. 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. 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 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. Home | forms: { User Vidoardes on Reddit posted some interesting findings regarding the deal that indicate it may end in June of 2023. This may come as a shock to new age readers but no, Marvel Studios does not actually have the movie rights to The Hulk. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. RELATED:MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 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. Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. 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. Although, Disney may need to be quick to get started on a Hulk-centric project as Mark Ruffalo may well be looking to move on from the role soon after over ten years as Bruce Banner. 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. 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. Following Disneys acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios and Marvel Television were formed. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. 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. If Marvel feels there is enough interest to justify a solo movie, they will definitely jump at the chance. One of these is Bruce Banner/Hulk, explaining why The Incredible Hulk is still the only MCU solo film for the character. The Greater World Wrestling organization will soon release a new Hulk series entitled World War Hulk.. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. This was the case with Universals film The Incredible Hulk, which was part of the MCU. Moreover, Marvel has made a deal with Sony that allows them Spider-Man to exist in the MCU. After all, Ruffalo's contract originally ran for six movies, so assuming that hasn't changed he still has one more to go (Iron Man 3 is unlikely to have counted); rounding things off with a Hulk movie would a fitting finale to the character's time in the MCU. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. At the same time, Universal retains "the right of first refusal to distribute any future solo Hulk movies," which accounts for the lack of a second Hulk solo movie in the MCU. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's relationship with the Incredible Hulk has been relatively awkward since the film was released in 2008. Marvel acquired the rights to the superhero theme park rights from Universal Studios in 1994. It would be a unique experience. 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.