HULK: Marvel Studios May Have Finally Regained The Rights To The Jade Giant's Solo Franchise From Universal

HULK: Marvel Studios May Have Finally Regained The Rights To The Jade Giant's Solo Franchise From Universal

It appears The Incredible Hulk's arrival on Disney+ is also a sign that Marvel Studios has fully regained the theatrical distribution rights to the franchise, something which bodes well for World War Hulk.

By JoshWilding - Jun 16, 2023 06:06 AM EST
Filed Under: The Incredible Hulk
Source: Variety

Prior to Disney's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, movies like Captain America: The First Avenger and Iron Man were distributed by Paramount Pictures. That all changed with The Avengers in 2012, though The Hulk has remained tied to Universal Pictures (the studio which released 2003's Hulk and The Incredible Hulk in 2008).

While the Green Goliath has been able to co-star in movies like Avengers: Endgame and Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel Studios and Disney are prohibited from releasing a Hulk movie...unless it's through Universal. 

Yesterday, we learned that The Incredible Hulk has suddenly been added to Disney+, news which has been welcomed by MCU fans. 

According to a new report from Variety, there's a good reason the blockbuster has a new streaming home. As expected, Universal's original deal with Marvel Entertainment has now ended. The Incredible Hulk was released on June 13, 2008 with the rights to that title held by the studio for an agreed-upon 15-year period. 

As the trade explains, "in a notable shift, the rights have reverted to Marvel Studios, leading to the film’s release on Disney+."

This almost certainly means that Marvel Studios can now forge ahead with a new movie as Universal's right to distribute the franchise has also ended. We're sure Kevin Feige knew this was coming, hence why Captain America: Brave New World will feature General Ross, The Leader, and Betty Ross.

The stage is clearly being set for that long-rumoured World War Hulk project, though how it will fit into plans for the wider Multiverse Saga remains to be seen. Don't be surprised if some details are shared at Comic-Con next month, though!

What are your hopes for The Hulk in theaters moving forward? Is it time for him to once again take on a lead role after being relegated to a supporting player? Share your thoughts below.

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TempleRod
TempleRod - 6/16/2023, 6:30 AM
So sad.
Too little Too Late.

I guess this means we are going to see a Dumb Down of HULK,
Just like Thor after this new Disneyfication.

He'll probably be all about his kids and family now all of a sudden.

So Pathetic.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/16/2023, 6:49 AM
@TempleRod - They already dumbed Hulk down about as low as it can go.

At least with Hulk I have a shred of hope. His entire character throughout decades of comics has been about change. He's been a savage monster. A dapper bouncer that can think. A professor. Back to a savage. To a world breaker. To completely separated from both physically and mentally from Banner. To an immortal savage.

They CAN fix him very easily....if they want to.
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 6/16/2023, 6:30 AM
Make Skaar look better and then show Him and Hulk together in a movie

ChrisRed
ChrisRed - 6/16/2023, 6:33 AM
@SimplyAz - Great redesign
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 6/16/2023, 6:36 AM
@ChrisRed -

One of Boss Logic's better works.

My kids used to watch Hulk and the Agents of Smash and Skaar looked cooler in that then he did in She Hulk

Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 6/16/2023, 9:49 AM
@SimplyAz - That definitely looks better. I am not sure how they adapt WW Hulk at this point though. He has nothing to be THAT mad about in the MCU. Maybe they should still banish him back to Sakar after an outburst on earth and then when he gets there everything starts playing out more like the comic did. I really wish they would do something like that and make it the next big saga instead of this boring multiverse nonsense. Drop Majors, and the Kang storyline and build hulk up for the huge crossover saga.
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 6/16/2023, 10:58 AM
@Shivermetimbers -

Definitely will be interesting to see and something a lot of fans wanted for a while.

Hope we see a good version of it and not half hearted
TempleRod
TempleRod - 6/16/2023, 6:31 AM
I mean as if Hulk wasn't already Dumbed Down enough from Endgame and Infinity Wars.

You can't trust Disney with any of these characters.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/16/2023, 7:04 AM
@TempleRod - Hulk was fine in Infinity War. They were starting a new story arc of showing that Hulk was really his own personality, even when Banner was in control. The problem was AFTER Infinity War.

They could have really taken Hulk somewhere interesting with what happened in Infinity War. They could have explored how Banner and Hulk were two very distinct personalities and that Hulk couldn't just be controlled the way Banner had been doing. This could have led to Hulk coming out in Infinity War and then not letting Banner back out. They could have really dug into the Hulk vs Banner side of their relationship. Then eventually split the two physically for a period of time.

But turning him into a joke was just a horrible move. But at the same time, I think all it will take is Hulk taking over and being a savage again and fans will be right back for it.

But it's the same situation as with Thor. Marvel has to be willing to do it. Which should be a no-brainer. You can't do stories like World War Hulk or Hulk vs Wolverine with a funny, wise cracking Hulk. But I just don't know what Marvel is doing anymore. They've become so inconsistent that I just don't have the faith I used to.
Lilvic92
Lilvic92 - 6/16/2023, 6:37 AM
It’s crazy how Marvel managed to take 11 years of the goodwill they gained from their fan base and butchered that sht within only two years. Disney has always been a children/girl brand, Star Wars was infected immediately and now we’re seeing it infect the MCU
Supercat6376
Supercat6376 - 6/16/2023, 6:54 AM
They’ve regained the rights to a property they’ve destroyed 🥱
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 6/16/2023, 6:55 AM
Good for them. They got back a product that they have destroyed.

Hulk is easily one of the more complex characters in comics and they have butchered him turning him into a comic foil as they did with Thor.

They have already ruined Planet Hulk and World War Hulk.
And now that he is “Smart Hulk” they have pushed him to what should be a point of no return.

But wait….In She Hulk, what was a generic fusion of Banner and Hulk on Endgame, is now reversible with an inhibitor?

Just ridiculous.
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 6/16/2023, 7:07 AM
How much longer do they keep signing checks for the middle-aged Mark Ruffalo to show-up on set and, well, act like Mark Ruffalo in CGI green-face? Is Bruce Banner even a legitimate character any longer??? Really hasn't been since maybe Age of Ultron IMO. 🤨
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 6/16/2023, 7:22 AM
IronMan616
IronMan616 - 6/16/2023, 7:25 AM
Too bad Disney has the rights now.
Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 6/16/2023, 7:30 AM
Kinda make you wish he didn’t go through about 3 movies worth on character deployment off screen between other movies huh?
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/16/2023, 7:36 AM
As huge Hulk fan, the way they've mistreated The Hulk is criminal. The Hulk was fine from The Incredible Hulk-Avengers:Infinity War (Fight with Thanos) they ruined every other appearance afterwards.

My favourite comic book characters are Hulk and Thor and they've ruined Thor as well.

Well done Disney Marvel
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