After Ang Lee's regrettable Hulk film in 2003, Universal agreed to let Marvel Studios make the next picture, distributing The Incredible Hulk. 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. 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. RELATED:The Marvel's Release Date Pushed Back To November. 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. Marvel won back the Hulk movie production rights in 2005, after Universal failed to put a sequel to 2003's Hulk into immediate production. The most notable example of a theme park operator holding Marvel theme park rights is Universal Parks & Resorts, which operates two theme parks with Marvel-themed attractions: Universal Studios Florida and Universals Islands of Adventure. When Disney bought Marvel, Universals contract to use Marvel characters expired, and they were forced to close the attraction. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. } 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. 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. Universal currently holds the rights to several Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk. So, while they can't do anything active with the rights, should Marvel decide to make a Hulk movie Universal must be approached first. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( The Greater World Wrestling organization will soon release a new Hulk series entitled World War Hulk.. } Like Thanos, Marvel did it themselves by starting a film production company. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. Photos not available for this variation. The past box office for these films does not justify that as a solid business plan. 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. Evidence Shows Hulk's Movie Rights Could Return To Marvel In 2023 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? They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? The Many Reasons Why Superman Never Gives Up. These findings just state that the deal is ending, it doesnt mean that Disney would get the rights back if the deal ends. While something vaguely similar happened with Spider-Man, there was a much clearer balance of rewards to either side. That means more production time and higher costs with the extensive effects necessary. Disneys $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019 is the largest acquisition in history. Namor will make his MCU debut inBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhich hits theaters on November 11. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. Along with a number of other Universal Studios attractions, Islands of Adventure includes a Marvel Super Hero Island. However, these SEC filings may be the strongest evidence yet that the rights will be changing hands next year. The Incredible Hulk Coaster. As part of any such package, the House of Mouse stands a chance tofinallyregain two key Marvel franchises. ComicBookMovie.com is a registered trademark and has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The last we heard on the matter came from Mark Ruffalo, who pointed the finger squarely at Universal not playing nice with Marvel. But Hulk is, shockingly, even more complex than that. Growing older though, Lewis had a newfound love for smaller. This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. 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. Despite Disneys purchase of Marvel Entertainment, the studio continued to produce Marvel films. 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. By Matt McGloin / Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 2:04AM. HULK: Marvel Studios May Finally Regain The Jade Giant's Theatrical Rights From Universal In 2023 The last time the MCU's Jade Giant starred in his own movie was 2008's The Incredible Hulk,. Paramount also distributed the first Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. 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). The movie rights of Hulk have always been dynamic unlike the character rights of the other superheroes. No, Universal does not own any Marvel characters. Why Marvel's Namor & Hulk Film Rights Are So Complicated While few details are on-the-record, the relationship between Universal and Disney is frosty at best. Played by Tenoch Huerta, this interpretation is a massive hit with fans, both diehards and those unfamiliar with Namor. 2 MCU Superheroes Are Still Stuck In Disney & Universal Rights Issues The future of both the Hulk and Namor rest solely on Universal. Planet Hulk could be as close as 2021.The real question is, are you willing to wait that long? 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. 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 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. There hasnt been a Hulk solo movie since 2008, which is because the film rights are tied up with Universal Pictures. 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. Although Marvel has the rights to Hulk back, it is unable to release a standalone Hulk movie thanks to . Disney would distribute a Hulk movie to Marvel Studios, allowing the studio to begin production. This situation is very similar to that of another longstanding MCU character: the Hulk. Disneys contract with Universal likely expires in a few years, so the company will most likely build their own Marvel-themed park. There hasn't been a Hulk solo movie since 2008, which is because the film rights are tied up with Universal Pictures. 27 Unearthed legal documents may suggest that Disney and Marvel Studios will regain theatrical distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk and other Hulk films in June 2023. 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. Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill introduce the Atlantean ruler, played by Tenoch Huerta, but his MCU future remains up in the air as of now. Site Map | In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. According to evidence shared on Reddit by u/vidoardes, Disney is in a position to regain distribution rights to the Hulk in 2023. Im Joel Watson and Im a content manager at veryaware.com, an entertainment website. 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. 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. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. Owns a dog who loves watching Milo and Otis on repeat. 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. Fans shouldn't take the newly-uncovered details of the agreement between Disney and Universal as a certainty the House of Mouse is about to reacquire the distribution rights to Hulk and Namor. Avengers Campus is named after the city of Tokyo (the location of Avengers Theme Park). However, it is clear that Universal still holds the rights to several important Marvel characters. It requires going against an ingrained idea and barreling into something more psychological than the MCU structure allows. RELATED: Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead. Despite a brief jaunt in Mathematics at Durham University, film writing was always his calling. How To Improve Netflix Viewing Experience, How Grand Theft Auto Became one of the Most Popular Brands Ever, Ranking Our Favourite Episodes of Extreme Home Makeover. As we said at the start, Hulk isn't the most popular of the main Avengers. In March 2008, a short teaser trailer for The Incredible Hulk was released. As his antagonistic nature was established in Wakanda Forever, Namor will likely be used in this capacity again. 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. The answer, it seems, dates back about 13 years to the start of the Disney and Marvel Studios relationship. All of the characters who appeared in Hulk comics during this time period are included. It's well known that characters' movie rights have a big influence on the Marvel films made. Still, Marvel Studios has plenty of options to get around this deal, some of which fans have already seen. This was the case with Universals film The Incredible Hulk, which was part of the MCU. 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. Copyright 2020 The Direct Media Group LLC. It's Marvel working around the restriction and. The Security and Exchange Commission filing from 2008 allows Universal to hold Hulk movie rights for 15 years, which would expire June 2023. Hulk will return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwhen it premieres on August 18, exclusively on Disney+. 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. Because it was the studios risky two-picture strategy, landing Iron Man was regarded as a personal sacrifice. Hulk Hogan Signed Universal Champion Red Wrestling Belt | eBay It is not possible to create Marvel-based versions of Universal characters. Disney Might Trade Hulu to Comcast for Hulk, Citi Analyst Says 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). 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. 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. "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor," the analyst wrote. Don't hold your breath. Member of the Marvel Studios brain trust Nate Moore revealed Namor's rights are, just like the Hulk's, tied up with a pre-Disney distribution deal with Universal. RELATED:MODOK Trends with Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'. 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). Hulk Movie Production and Distribution Rights - Collider Marvel characters were licensed to Universal Studios in 1994. So from all this, there's no official barrier to another MCU Hulk movie. Over the past few years, Marvel Studios has set out to acquire most of the rights to Marvel Comics characters. Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood Height Requirements 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. The Incredible Hulk - Owned By Universal. 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. The situation is that they didnt have much of an incentive to do somatically. Sure, anything could happen if the deal ends, but whats most likely is they just renew the deal. 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. Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. What's also unclear is if the distribution deal also extends to TV. 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. On September 23, 2003, a 34-year-old woman . 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. Marvel Entertainments acquisition by Universal is a significant acquisition for the company because it enters a highly competitive market for comic books and movies. Related: Marvel Was Right To Scrap Black Panthers Original Namor Credits Scene. You can see the excerpt from the SEC filings below: 6. Marvel Super Hero Island, a massive Marvel-themed attraction at Universal Orlando, is one of the many attractions in the park. In 2009, the CEO of Disney acknowledged the importance of Marvels intellectual property rights when Disney purchased Marvel. Let us know in the comments. The Fabelmans. I've been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. 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. There may be a more antagonistic side to this as well. The Marvel Universe is home to some of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Universal Could Be Considering Selling The Film Rights To THE HULK And He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real). 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. 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. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. 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. The rights of Hulk belonged to Universal similar to Spider-Man's rights in Sony Rumors have previously spread to suggest Disney may have regained the rights but have yet to be supported by anything definitive. 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. Forbes offers three reasons for Marvel and Disney not committing to a new Hulk movie. It is not possible for Disney or Universal to use the Marvel name in their parks because they have a long-term agreement. No standalone Hulk film has been in the works since 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which they produced. In addition to Disney and Marvel, Universal has the first right to distribute the Hulk movies. 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. 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 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. Is Superman Gay? Children 40-48 inches (102-122 cm) must be . 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. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. If Hulu is sold, Disney may use this as an opportunity to secure these distribution rights.". For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. With a budget of $8.25 million, the film has the lowest budget of any Marvel film. Marvel theme park rights are the exclusive rights to use Marvel intellectual property at an amusement park or other theme park setting. 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. Lewis Glazebrook is a Senior Features writer for Screen Rant. RELATED: Why Were the Hulk's Pants Always Purple? 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.. 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. 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. Learn More. The best course of action for Universal is to renew the contract for another 15 years and keep everything running smoothly. Similarly, with Namor, Marvel could make a TV series focused on Talokan, where the character appears but is not the protagonist. 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. RUMOR: Marvel Regains Hulk Rights From Universal (function() { 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. "As such, if Disney makes a Hulk or Namor film, Comcast can distribute the film on Peacock. All rights reserved. This may come as a shock to new age readers but no, Marvel Studios does not actually have the movie rights to The Hulk. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. In 2009, Disney paid $4 billion for Marvel, and the agreement is a long-term one, as long as Universal keeps paying Disney. This category includes She Hulk as well. 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. Because of this, and Tenoch Huerta's fantastic performance, many MCU viewers would like a Namor solo film - something that may not be happening anytime soon. These parks feature rides of the highest quality, in addition to Marvel movies long history with them. RELATED: Is the Disney+ MCU Cutting Into Marvel Studios' Box Office Performance? Apparently Disney Could Get The Full Rights To Marvel Characters Hulk These movies are full of action, adventure, comedy, and drama, and they always leave audiences wanting more. Marvel acquired the rights to the superhero theme park rights from Universal Studios in 1994. Who Owns The Rights Of Hulk? - Caniry So, any Hulk or Namor solo film would become the property of Universal. 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. This complicated legal issue has since led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and omit solo projects altogether. based on the reaction to the character since The Avengers, it's working. Disney paid $4 billion in 2009 for Marvel Entertainment, making it the largest acquisition in history. callback: cb Despite the fact that Marvel is housed at Universal Studios, it is not a part of the park. Disney intends to regain distribution rights to the character within 15 years, according to the 15-year period. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending established that Namor was almost using Wakanda to gain his long-awaited war on the surface world, meaning he could potentially appear in an antagonistic role again in a future Black Panther film. Universal Still Owns Movie Rights For The Hulk, Says Mark Ruffalo 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. 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. In this video, Sid reveals the possibility The Hulk & Namor Rights could go back to Marvel! Follow Sid On Social Media:Instagram: @therealdoomblazer ~ h. Universal Owns Namor's Rights, Too? All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Universal landed the film rights to Hulk and Namor in the early 2000s. Own It Now on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. He works better when surrounded by a team, with the character not having to shoulder a whole movie on his own. This isn't the main reason we haven't heard an announcement on Planet Hulk or any other Hulk movie, though. Worth a mention is that the Fantastic Four and X-Men will be returning to Marvel-Disney once the Disney-Fox deal goes through which could be within the next month or two. Condition: New. 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. 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. RELATED: Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. The actual Hulk character had limited screen time in the first two standalone movies, with Bruce Banner involved in much of the action.