A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! HULK: Marvel Studios May Finally Regain The Jade Giant's Theatrical Who Owns The Rights Of Hulk? - Caniry It would be a unique experience. It's the reason there is only one stand-alone Hulk film. The first is that 2008's The Incredible Hulk didn't perform well at the box office, with just $263 million worldwide. Marvel's rights are a complicated affair as the character's distribution rights belong to Universal. The deal between Universal and Disney is iron clad; however, it may have a time limit. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. 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. But with Comcast's NBCUniversal controlling the two superheroes' distribution rights, Bazinet suggested a deal could be in the offing. Disney will only own Marvels parks if it acquires the rights to them from Universal. Its been more than a decade since fans first saw The Incredible Hulk sequel starring Mark Ruffalo. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. The Incredible Hulk Coaster. She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. Phase three of the film series will begin with Captain America: Civil War, followed by Doctor Strange (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. In short, Marvel signed a contract with MCA Inc., which owned the Universal Studios theme parks at the time, before Disney acquired it. The past box office for these films does not justify that as a solid business plan. 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. 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 Marvel brand is not permitted by Disney to be used in the licensing of Marvel content to U.S. theme parks. 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. RUMOR: Marvel Regains Hulk Rights From Universal Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. Marvel acquired the rights to the superhero theme park rights from Universal Studios in 1994. Universal Pictures has the rights to produce and distribute a Hulk movie under a deal it struck with Marvel. The Return Of Superman: A Show That Positively Portrays Fathers, The 1978 Superman Film And Its Iconic Sequel Superman II. This was the case with Universals film The Incredible Hulk, which was part of the MCU. In 2009, Disney paid $4 billion for Marvel, and the agreement is a long-term one, as long as Universal keeps paying Disney. The Fabelmans. And as the past has shown, the previous two Hulk movies came nowhere close to those numbers. Disney CEO Bob Iger, in describing these contracts to his staff, stated that they were business-friendly. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. })(); 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. Just because he's a supporting character, though, doesn't mean Hulk is being underserved. 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. At least that would give Namor the freedom Hulk never had. Disney has the ability to use this property in a variety of ways, including making new movies, TV shows, and games. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. 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. 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 opportunity to expand on Disneys involvement in the Marvel universe is one of the most promising things to come. Apparently, the original deal for his rights stated they reverted to Marvel 15 years after the release of the latest film. Condition: New. In 2012, Marvel and Universal reached a deal that allowed Marvel to produce a new Hulk film, but the rights to the character still remain with Universal. 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. 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. Is Superman Gay? Things getcomplicated here as The Wrap's report begins getting into the financial complications such a deal would involve. Universal Pictures distribution rights for future Hulk - ResetEra Besides Hulk, Namor, and Spider-Man, Disney owns the rights to almost every single character in Marvel Comics. While Disney and Marvel hold the rights to develop films starring The Hulk, the companies announced an agreement with Universal and Marvel in June 2008 to distribute The Incredible Hulk. According to a 2008 SEC filing, Universal has the authority to hold Hulk for up to 15 years, which expires in June 2023. With a budget of $8.25 million, the film has the lowest budget of any Marvel film. Marvel characters were licensed to Universal Studios in 1994. As Mark Ruffalo, who took over playing Bruce Banner/Hulk from Edward Norton after The Incredible Hulk, explained in 2017, Marvel Studios President/Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige "pulled me aside before [Thor: Ragnarok], and said, If you were gonna do a if we were going to do a standalone Hulk movie, what would it be?" After Ruffalo told Feige what he had in mind, his ideas were integrated into not only Ragnarokbut also Infinity War and Endgame. 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. Exploring The Limits Of Supermans Power: Can The Man Of Steel Destroy An Entire Universe? The World-Famous Studio Tour. Since the opening of Universals Islands of Adventure in 2001, fans of Marvel have found familiar characters there. Played by Tenoch Huerta, this interpretation is a massive hit with fans, both diehards and those unfamiliar with Namor. The final reason given for no solo Hulk movie anytime in the near future is that it will cost a lot of money. 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. All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. / 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. Running from 1977 to 1982 (with three TV movies that joined David Banner with Thor and Daredevil), it reshaped how wider culture viewed the Green Goliath, popularising many essential elements (not least "don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry"). Marvel Finally Explains Exactly How Its Hulk Deal with Universal - CBR Why Marvel Can't Make a Standalone MCU Hulk Movie } Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. Yet, the same would've been said about the Sony and Disney partnership before it happened. RELATED: Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. . Thanks to the late co-creator of the Marvel Universe, cartoons and live-action series that featured Hulk, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange hit TV. } The Hulk deal between Marvel and Universal is explained in-depth, with no standalone movie planned for the immediate future. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. Beyond opening the doors to Hulk taking on a bigger role, Marvel Studios may finally be able to give Namor his own solo movie. Dragon Ball Z Characters Who Could Defeat Superman. RUMOR: Hulk Movie Rights Could Be Returning to Disney in June 2023 In 2009, Disney spent $4 billion on Marvel comics. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. Why Marvel's Namor & Hulk Film Rights Are So Complicated There hasn't been a Hulk solo movie since 2008, which is because the film rights are tied up with Universal Pictures. Universal and Marvel reached an agreement in 2008 for the former to distributeThe Incredible Hulkwhich starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner before he was recast with Mark Ruffalo forThe Avengers. Universal owns distribution rights, which means they have the right of "first refusal" to any Hulk film. All of that makes a Hulk movie a tricky prospect. 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. A movie many fans hope is Planet Hulk. The company obtained film rights, intellectual property, and a production company in addition to Marvel movie rights. 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 Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. It requires going against an ingrained idea and barreling into something more psychological than the MCU structure allows. From Spider-Man and the X-Men to Iron Man and Captain America, the Marvel Universe is full of super-powered heroes and villains. While something vaguely similar happened with Spider-Man, there was a much clearer balance of rewards to either side. Despite the fact that Marvel is housed at Universal Studios, it is not a part of the park. Transformers: The Ride-3D: Must be 40 inches (102 cm) tall. Since then, there have been 22 movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with more planned for the future. RELATED: Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? The film would go on to gross $134 million in the United States and $264 million worldwide, bringing its total to $134 million. All Rights Reserved. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. This, therefore, means that the futures of both characters still rest on Universal. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. At this time, it's believed that Marvel and Disney don't want to invest between $150-200 million in a solo superhero movie that isn't going to make a very large return like their other recent releases. There are also Marvel villains such as Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin. It has not been agreed to at this time, according to sources. And since Universal appears to have just recently lost that fight, it's not inclined to work with Disney on rights to these characters. 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. 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 Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. Since 2008, Marvel Studios has also acquired the rights to Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, and a slew of others. However, as is known from the Hulk in the MCU since The Incredible Hulk, this is not to say Marvel Studios cannot use Hulk or Namor at all. In March 2008, a short teaser trailer for The Incredible Hulk was released. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, the two studios have had a strained relationship since then. Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde where Hyde is typically mindless. Marvel Studios Was Unhappy With How Universal Marketed Incredible Hulk Namor will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be released in theaters on November 11. The Hulk might be coming home as rumors are spreading that claim Marvel now completely owns the rights to the big, green and angry hero, which could potentially lead to a new series of standalone films for the Hulk. Moreover, Marvel has made a deal with Sony that allows them Spider-Man to exist in the MCU. Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. Disney has acquired the intellectual property rights to the characters, stories, and settings from Marvels comics. ); For those who don't know, the film rights to everyone's favorite big, green, rage monster are complicated. With the acquisition of Marvel in 2004, Disney increased its popularity even further among people who do not read comic books. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. 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. How much did Disney get for Marvel? Incidents at Universal parks - Wikipedia How His Situation Compares To Hulk, Black Panther 2 Repeats An Infinity War Trick To Make Namor More Powerful, Marvel Was Right To Scrap Black Panthers Original Namor Credits Scene, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk being such an integral MCU, Marvel Studios could make a solo Hulk movie, Groot's MCU Future Can Explain Vin Diesel's Exciting Hulk Fight Tease. The first installment of his superhero fiction book, TALES OF ADVENTURE & FANTASY, is available on Amazon in print and ebook! If, or when, Universal chooses to forgo distribution, Disney will immediately pick up those distribution rights for a solo Hulk movie. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. Evidence Shows Hulk's Movie Rights Could Return To Marvel In 2023 Hulk Movie Rights Still At Universal - Cosmic Book News 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. However, even under the Mouse House, Universal still has that "first refusal" clause. Those who own physical media copies of those early Marvel films will know both Paramount and Universal distributed those films. 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. Copyright 2020 The Direct Media Group LLC. Hulk will return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwhen it premieres on August 18, exclusively on Disney+. 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. 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. So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? It has over 6,000 characters and is one of the worlds most valuable comic book franchises. 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. Hulk Hogan Signed Universal Champion Red Wrestling Belt | eBay 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.