Movie Legal: Mark Ruffalo Reveals Universal Owns Rights to Hulk Solo Films

[playahaitian]

Mark Ruffalo Reveals Universal Owns Rights to Hulk Solo Films

Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe has kicked into full gear, we've seen Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor all have multiple films, and while the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk was the second film in the MCU, many are wondering why there hasn't been a sequel.

In an interview with Collider, Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, revealed that Marvel doesn't own the rights to a solo Hulk film and that's why he can't go out and smash on his own:

As far as a Hulk movie, a standalone Hulk movie, Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to that yet. That’s still Universal’s property, so there’s that issue. That’s a big impediment to moving forward with that. Now I don’t think that’s insurmountable, by the way, but I don’t know where it’s going from here for me.​

Ruffalo has four films left on his contract and that he could do more as well, depending on what is needed from him. He's not sure if he's going to be in Captain America: Civil War as of yet but there is a possibility of him being in that film or another character's solo film as well.

This is quite the bummer for Hulk fans seeing as interest in the character has really taken off since the last Avengers film. Could Marvel and Universal work out some sort of deal just like Marvel and Sony did for Spider-Man? What do you think?

 

[CptMARVEL]

Yeah, but the Incredible Hulk movie is already part of the MCU. So it's not totally inconceivable that a new one can be made starring Ruffalo.

 

[playahaitian]

Yeah, but the Incredible Hulk movie is already part of the MCU. So it's not totally inconceivable that a new one can be made starring Ruffalo.

that's why I need bgol legal on this one.

 

[slam]

money talks...if it makes sense Universal coming up off that shit...

 

[smz]

Was surprised to hear this. And with the amount of times Kevin Feige has been asked in interviews about a solo Hulk film, he never mentioned that Universal still had the exclusive solo Hulk film rights.

So it was def deliberately kept on a hush by Marvel (it also likely helps from a negotiating standpoint to not have all that attention on the fact)

Mark Ruffalo is now probably thinking "oops..." lol

 

[playahaitian]

money talks...if it makes sense Universal coming up off that shit...

Was surprised to hear this. And with the amount of times Kevin Feige has been asked in interviews about a solo Hulk film, he never mentioned that Universal still had the exclusive solo Hulk film rights.

So it was def deliberately kept on a hush by Marvel (it also likely helps from a negotiating standpoint to not have all that attention on the fact)

Mark Ruffalo is now probably thinking "oops..." lol

^^^^

co signing all this.

 

[HAR125LEM]

Speaking of "THE INCREDIBLE HULK",

I have to share this with some long-time fans here.

Herb Trimpe passed yesterday.
For me, this guy was the definitive HULK artist when I was growing up...

http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/incredible-hulk-gi-joe-artist-herb-trimpe-passes-away-at-age-75

 

[playahaitian]

rest in peace to that man brilliant artist...

just seeing that brought me back yo my childhood

 

[J Storm]

This ain't new NEWS. I been knew that.
HULK has the same deal SPIDER-MAN just got. The INCREDIBLE HULK film begins with UNIVERSAL / MARVEL STUDIOS because UNIVERSAL still had their contract with the HULK. All the other films began with PARAMOUNT / MARVEL STUDIOS but Paramount was just for Distribution. Disney brought out Paramount.

All Solo Films are officially part of the MCU - Co-Produced by Marvel Studios but Distributed by the companies that have the contract. (Universal, Sony)

 

[HotSauce161]

that's why I need bgol legal on this one.

I've mentioned this a few times over the years. Universal has distribution rights to any solo Hulk movies. Marvel has him in a group film like the Avengers. Universal has Marvel characters in its theme parks and wasn't giving the Hulk back for nothing.

Marvel can make a Hulk film, but Universal Pictures would have to distribute it and that means less $$ for Marvel. They don't want to give Universal any $. In the wake of the Sony deal, attitudes may change.

 

[eagle force]

i know it'll never happen but i would love to see a live action movie based on this

 

[playahaitian]

I've mentioned this a few times over the years. Universal has distribution rights to any solo Hulk movies. Marvel has him in a group film like the Avengers. Universal has Marvel characters in its theme parks and wasn't giving the Hulk back for nothing.

Marvel can make a Hulk film, but Universal Pictures would have to distribute it and that means less $$ for Marvel. They don't want to give Universal any $. In the wake of the Sony deal, attitudes may change.

i hope so...because the train is just gaining more momentum and the the public is getting more knowledgeable and WANTS a unified universe.

Somehow I can't believe this but Disney/Marvel has made this a good guy bad guy thing in the eyes of the public.

To the point where the public KNOWS if you don't support this other projects they will be forced to come to us.

Disney is actually appearing as the good guy?!?!

 

[HotSauce161]

i hope so...because the train is just gaining more momentum and the the public is getting more knowledgeable and WANTS a unified universe.

Somehow I can't believe this but Disney/Marvel has made this a good guy bad guy thing in the eyes of the public.

To the point where the public KNOWS if you don't support this other projects they will be forced to come to us.

Disney is actually appearing as the good guy?!?!

Disney doesn't care what the public wants that much. It's a numbers game. They get enough $ out of the Hulk via his use in the Avengers. Neither of the solo films did that well financially. WW Hulk needs characters they still don't have the rights to like Reed Richards, Namor & Wolverine. Marvel has shown they can tell profitable stories even without all their major characters; they'll keep doing that.

 

[playahaitian]

Disney doesn't care what the public wants that much. It's a numbers game. They get enough $ out of the Hulk via his use in the Avengers. Neither of the solo films did that well financially. WW Hulk needs characters they still don't have the rights to like Reed Richards, Namor & Wolverine. Marvel has shown they can tell profitable stories even without all their major characters; they'll keep doing that.

great point

 

[playahaitian]

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