Apparently, the original deal for his rights stated they reverted to Marvel 15 years after the release of the latest film. As his antagonistic nature was established in Wakanda Forever, Namor will likely be used in this capacity again. What they own is the "right of first refusal" for distribution of Hulk movies. 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. Paramount also distributed the first Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. To say Marvel Studios is unlikely to work with Universal to distribute a solo MCU film might be stating the obvious. 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. Iger, for example, is thought to own 500,000 Disney shares. Yet, now that Bob Iger is back in charge of Disney, maybe he can complete his Marvel Comics collection and work out a new deal. According to Broussard, the Incredible Hulk was the clear winner when it came to placing second. 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"). 5 Benefits of Comparing Top Products and Services Before Buying, EXCLUSIVE: DETAILS on Original Script For Black Panther Wakanda Forever, Casino Based On A True Story? New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Marvel Finally Explains Exactly How Its Hulk Deal with Universal Works, Only Two MCU Villains Have Made Hulk Bleed - and One of Them Is Dead, She-Hulk Fan Proves Tatiana Maslany Looks Just Like the MCU Superhero, REVIEW: Frank Miller Presents Ancient Enemies: The Djinni #1 Crafts a Compelling Origin Story, REVIEW: DC's Shazam! Based in London, he oversees a global news & features team based in NY, LA and beyond. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( listeners: [], In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and of course - Netflix and chill! For the Fantastic Four and X-Men, Fox pays Disney a licensing fee and receives a share of Disneys merchandise revenue on these properties. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. Hulk Hogan Signed Universal Champion Red Wrestling Belt. A password reset link will be sent to you by email. If, or when, Universal chooses to forgo distribution, Disney will immediately pick up those distribution rights for a solo Hulk movie. Home | They do own the distribution rights for Incredible Hulk (2008), currently, but not necessarily to Hulk as a franchise. Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures have had a long and complicated relationship. 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. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, also working against that are creative reasons as well as contractual. There appears to . Despite never getting a sequel, the character has remained a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 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. Well, its likely that Universal and Marvel could renew the contract like Marvel did with Sony in 2019. Neither Disney nor Universals theme parks have a single ride that can be used by both. 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. 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. Played by Tenoch Huerta, this interpretation is a massive hit with fans, both diehards and those unfamiliar with Namor. Marvel acquired the rights to the superhero theme park rights from Universal Studios in 1994. All Rights Reserved. Marvel Studios has finally explained its Hulk movie deal with Universal Pictures and how it affects the character's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. })(); 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. The Avengers Campus will be the first Avenger theme park in the United States. A sale that adds $13 to each of those puts roughly an extra $6.5 million in his pocket! However, these SEC filings may be the strongest evidence yet that the rights will be changing hands next year. The attractions at Universal Studios Florida, such as Harry Potter and Jurassic World, are already doing this. Captain America: Civil War takes place six decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. "As such, if Disney makes a Hulk or Namor film, Comcast can distribute the film on Peacock. 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. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. on: function(evt, cb) { Namors MCU introduction led to many calling for a solo film for the antihero, yet the character's rights are owned by Universal, similar to the Hulk. 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. The World-Famous Studio Tour. 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. 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. In light of this, they believed Universal was phoned in on the films marketing because the studio did not invest in the film. That being said, the three characters they dont own are still part of the MCU. forms: { 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. So, while Disney owns the rights to the characters Namor and the Hulk, Marvel's pre-existing deal with Universal locks down the distribution rights, possibly in perpetuity. 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. Yet, the same would've been said about the Sony and Disney partnership before it happened. The second reason is that Hulk has proven to be quite popular in Marvel's The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. With Marvel producer Nate Moore recently revealing that both still belong to Universal, it is unclear whether these rumors held any merit. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk. But with Comcast's NBCUniversal controlling the two superheroes' distribution rights, Bazinet suggested a deal could be in the offing. These movies are full of action, adventure, comedy, and drama, and they always leave audiences wanting more. Since the Marvel movies, Disney has earned more money from them than Universal. You can visit Forbes for an even more in-depth account of what is going on with this Marvel title. By Matt McGloin / Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 2:04AM. Disney (DIS) might let go of Hulu in favor of the Hulk, at least according to one media analyst. Spider-Man, Captain America, Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, and Rogue are just a few of the Marvel heroes and villains you can meet at the theme park. Both Planet Hulk and the long rumored World War Hulk would be incredibly expensive to pull off on the big screen the right way. From Spider-Man and the X-Men to Iron Man and Captain America, the Marvel Universe is full of super-powered heroes and villains. Marvel licensed the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four characters to 20th Century Fox in the 1990s. The Incredible Hulk was marketed differently by the studio, Marvel Studios. There are many different types of movies that people can enjoy. The rights to any film starring Hulk or Namor in a leading role are currently owned by Universal. That may not seem like a big deal, but for investors, it sure would be. VeryAware document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); 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. The Incredible Hulk - Owned By Universal. Things getcomplicated here as The Wrap's report begins getting into the financial complications such a deal would involve. What's also unclear is if the distribution deal also extends to TV. From Wikipedia: 'In 2012, Marvel Entertainment CCO Joe Quesada believed Namor's rights had reverted to Marvel, but Feige said in August 2013 this was not so. The company could be waiting for Universal to terminate before making a decision on their future. 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. 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. 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. Marvel movies are based on comic books that were first published in the 1930s. Although Marvel has the rights to Hulk back, it is unable to release a standalone Hulk movie thanks to . 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. In 1994, Universal Studios obtained the rights to license the Marvel comic books theme parks. 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. 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. 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 While Hollywood filmmaking will always be his most knowledgeable area, Lewis still enjoys anything in the world of filmmaking. Why Bob Iger Returning to Disney May Be Bad for Marvel Fans. At Universals Islands of Adventure, you can find a wide range of Spider-Man toys. They are the lowest earners in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Obviously, that makes their usage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the more tricky. Marvel regained cinematic rights to the character in 2005 after Universal failed to make a follow-up to Ang Lee's Hulk movie. Hulk in particular is a character that has suffered a bit because Universal owns the movie rights. Doctor Doom and the Green Goblin are also on hand. Could this change? Copyright 2020 The Direct Media Group LLC. 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. This contract has the potential to be extended every four years by Universal. The Fabelmans. / 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. So, naturally, the question becomes, will the man they call Kulk'ulk'an get a solo film? Ive been working in the online publishing industry for over 10 years and have a passion for creating engaging, entertaining content. Disney has acquired the intellectual property rights to the characters, stories, and settings from Marvels comics. The Controversial Comic Book Reveal, 5 Superhero Games You Should Download Today. Avengers simulator rides are permitted in certain legal zones in other countries. Power was fully restored, the . Citi analyst Jason Bazinet explains, "While Disney owns all Marvel IP, Universal has distribution rights to Hulk and Namor. Marvel characters were licensed to Universal Studios in 1994. The Hulk. All logos and images used on this website are registered trademarks of their respective companies. Disney once again confirms they distribute all the Marvel-produced films except for The Incredible Hulk, which is distributed by Universal Pictures. Ruffalo explained the situation in a new interview with Collider: "As far as a Hulk movie, a standalone Hulk movie, Marvel doesn't really have the rights to that yet. Marvel Studios finally explains its Hulk movie deal with Universal Pictures and how it affects the character's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 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. Advertise, Funny Superhero (DC & Marvel) Shirts & Stickers. 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. A recent rumor has suggested that the solo film rights to the Hulk may be returning to Marvel Studios in 2023! Universal owns distribution rights, which means they have the right of "first refusal" to any Hulk film. While The Incredible Hulk did perform well on the home video market, it wasn't enough to cover marketing costs. Following Disneys acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios and Marvel Television were formed. About | The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019 brought home several big Marvel characters such as The X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool among others. As we said at the start, Hulk isn't the most popular of the main Avengers. So what does this mean for The Hulk and his future in the MCU? This deal was completed earlier this year between NBC Universal and The Blackstone Group, which owns 50% of Universal Orlando. 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. 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. Some people prefer action movies, while others might prefer comedies or dramas. And both films failed to break even against their budget. Monica Rambeaus Superhero Costume Leaks! Beyond opening the doors to Hulk taking on a bigger role, Marvel Studios may finally be able to give Namor his own solo movie. 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. 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 Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios are now open, and Marvels Super Hero Island is available there. 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. 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. 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? Also, given that Namor can be used as part of an ensemble, the character could make appearances in upcoming films like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars alongside the likely inclusion of Hulk in both. 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. Disney+s She Hulk: Attorney at Law starts streaming August 18. 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. 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.