Rumor: Marvel to get "Hulk" & "Namor" rights back

[y4j1981]

comicbook.com/marvel/2020/01/05/marvel-studios-rumored-regain-control-hulk-namor-film-rights/

Marvel Studios Rumored to Regain Full Control of Hulk and Namor Rights

Throughout the last few years, Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Company have steadily been reassembling their roster of superheroes, whether through lapsed deals that brought Daredevil and Ghost Rider back into the fold or through the purchase of 20th Century Fox, which gave them control of the X-Men and Fantastic Four. But despite the Hulk appearing in Avengers films, there aren't any plans for the Jade Giant to get a solo movie because the film rights belong with Universal Pictures. However, those plans might be changing if a new rumor about the Incredible Hulk's film rights is to be believed.

As indicated by fan site MCU Cosmic, Universal Pictures' film rights to The Hulk and Namor might have finally reverted to Marvel Studios, meaning they wouldn't have to bend over backwards to work with a rival studio and distributor to make new movies featuring those characters. This might be why rumbles of Namor appearing in the Black Panther 2 movie have gained steam, as well as why Marvel Studios is allowed to make a She-Hulk series for Disney+.

Hulk has been one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since Mark Ruffalo took over the role from Edward Norton; that film was initially part of Marvel Studios' push to create a shared universe. The Incredible Hulk even featured Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in a post-credits scene, and William Hurt's General Thunderbolt Ross has since appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, with a role to come in this year's Black Widow.

But that film was released before Disney purchased Marvel, and Marvel Studios itself made multiple deals to get the shared universe off the ground. Since then, there has been rumblings about a Hulk movie, though none of them came together because of the complicated film rights.

Last year, Marvel creative boss Kevin Feige teased that he spoke with Ruffalo about future ideas for the Hulk, indicating that they could come together.

“Many years ago, Mark came in for a meeting with us at Marvel Studios to discuss ways in which the Hulk could grow and evolve in upcoming films,” Feige said during a Reddit AMA thread. “He pitched a lot of cool ideas, some of which led to what you saw in Thor: Ragnarok, Infinity War and Endgame, and some of which would still be cool to see someday.”

Avengers: Endgame is now streaming on Disney+.

[Mozenrath]

I am not keen on Disney getting more IP rights, generally speaking, but it's not like anyone else is really in any position where they would or could do a Hulk or Namor movie. Like, this is an instance where it really doesn't make a big difference one way or another if Disney/Marvel get it.

[G✇JI☈A]

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

I mean Fox and Sony kept making X-men and Spider-Man films to keep the rights. There was that Corman Fantastic Four Movie that was only made so a studio could keep the rights. And that Hellraiser movie.

And it’s been over a decade since The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Namor has never been seen in live action... so why is this so?

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

I mean Fox and Sony kept making X-men and Spider-Man films to keep the rights. There was that Corman Fantastic Four Movie that was only made so a studio could keep the rights. And that Hellraiser movie.

And it’s been over a decade since The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Namor has never been seen in live action... so why is this so?

My guess atleast in Namors case is that his rights were aquired prior to Disney owning Marvel so that might have something to do with it and as Marvel was pretty desperate back then licensing all their stuff out to multiple places maybe whoever got Namor got an insane deal that simply has lasted this long.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

I mean Fox and Sony kept making X-men and Spider-Man films to keep the rights. There was that Corman Fantastic Four Movie that was only made so a studio could keep the rights. And that Hellraiser movie.

And it’s been over a decade since The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Namor has never been seen in live action... so why is this so?

Production rights, generally, have a "use it or lose it" clause. Distribution rights are more complicated, and that is what Universal have with the Hulk characters. Marvel can make a Hulk movie any time they want, but Universal are believed to have first refusal on distributing it, which would entitle them to the bulk of the box office profits, and as such there is no time limit on when those rights expire unless one was agreed upon in the original licensing agreement.

[G✇JI☈A]

Jan 4, 2020 21:14:00 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

I mean Fox and Sony kept making X-men and Spider-Man films to keep the rights. There was that Corman Fantastic Four Movie that was only made so a studio could keep the rights. And that Hellraiser movie.

And it’s been over a decade since The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Namor has never been seen in live action... so why is this so?

Production rights, generally, have a "use it or lose it" clause. Distribution rights are more complicated, and that is what Universal have with the Hulk characters. Marvel can make a Hulk movie any time they want, but Universal are believed to have first refusal on distributing it, which would entitle them to the bulk of the box office profits, and as such there is no time limit on when those rights expire unless one was agreed upon in the original licensing agreement.

Long term movie IP licensing agreements hurt my head

[Mozenrath]

Jan 4, 2020 21:25:09 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Jan 4, 2020 21:14:00 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Production rights, generally, have a "use it or lose it" clause. Distribution rights are more complicated, and that is what Universal have with the Hulk characters. Marvel can make a Hulk movie any time they want, but Universal are believed to have first refusal on distributing it, which would entitle them to the bulk of the box office profits, and as such there is no time limit on when those rights expire unless one was agreed upon in the original licensing agreement.

Long term movie IP licensing agreements hurt my head

When Marvel was in its desperation phase, they made some VERY bad business decisions just to stay alive.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Jan 4, 2020 21:14:00 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

I mean Fox and Sony kept making X-men and Spider-Man films to keep the rights. There was that Corman Fantastic Four Movie that was only made so a studio could keep the rights. And that Hellraiser movie.

And it’s been over a decade since The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Namor has never been seen in live action... so why is this so?

Production rights, generally, have a "use it or lose it" clause. Distribution rights are more complicated, and that is what Universal have with the Hulk characters. Marvel can make a Hulk movie any time they want, but Universal are believed to have first refusal on distributing it, which would entitle them to the bulk of the box office profits, and as such there is no time limit on when those rights expire unless one was agreed upon in the original licensing agreement.

All in all just cutting out the middle man

The price to get the name back is worth it when you consider the profits they have and could have gained already if they weren't sharing 

[Joe Neglia]

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

Depends on the contract, not all are uniform. Some can be signed in-perpetuity, if the seller is hard-up enough.

[Kevin Hamilton]

I'm curious how they'd do Namor now that Aquaman was such a big hit money wise. Feels like they'd need a very different take

[A Platypus Rave]

Jan 4, 2020 21:38:38 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

I'm curious how they'd do Namor now that Aquaman was such a big hit money wise. Feels like they'd need a very different take

I mean Namor is more of an asshole than Arthur>_>

Namor and Aquaman are vastly different characters.

I mean they have the "Atlantean King" in them... but that's about where the similarities end.

Since they are doing Fantastic four maybe a rise of Atlantis thing?

[Natural Born Farmer]

If I recall this whole mess started because Marvel was in dire financial straits and started selling off its properties individually. Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, these I get companies purchasing.

Who the hell thought a few milli for the rights to Namor was a good idea?

[mattperiolat]

We also have to remember the deal regarding Hulk and Universal is VERY old, going back to the 70s. Why Universal did the Hulk TV show, TV movies and had the film distribution rights for Hulk and Incredible Hulk. I’d be most interested, if true, to see what Marvel has worked out here. But maybe that there is a Disney+ show with She-Hulk already in preproduction should have been a sign.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jan 4, 2020 21:41:36 GMT -5 Natural Born Farmer said:

If I recall this whole mess started because Marvel was in dire financial straits and started selling off its properties individually. Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, these I get companies purchasing.

Who the hell thought a few milli for the rights to Namor was a good idea?

Universal.

the same people that have the production rights to solo Hulk Movies.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

Jan 4, 2020 20:42:29 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I am not keen on Disney getting more IP rights, generally speaking, but it's not like anyone else is really in any position where they would or could do a Hulk or Namor movie. Like, this is an instance where it really doesn't make a big difference one way or another if Disney/Marvel get it.

I think in regards to Marvel at least, Disney will always have my back because this stuff should really all be in house.

[A Platypus Rave]

oh, my friend gave an idea other than the Fantastic Four for Namor's appearance.

Have him show up in a Black Panther Sequel.

T'challa and Namor are similar in a lot of ways and different in one major ways.

Both are kings, that care about their people and are willing to do some morally questionable shit sometimes to those ends.

The big difference.

However, T'challa is a good person or at least wants to be.

Namor in his heart is a royal dick.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Jan 4, 2020 21:25:09 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Long term movie IP licensing agreements hurt my head

The Hulk rights in particular. Universal can't make a Hulk movie without Marvel's co-operation, Marvel can't distribute a Hulk movie without Universal's co-operation, but they can put Hulk in any movie they want and distribute it as long as Hulk isn't the lead character. They can make a Hulk TV show or cartoon without Universal, though, but have no claim on the Lou Ferrigno Hulk show.

Jan 4, 2020 21:34:16 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Jan 4, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Isn’t there a “use it or lose it” thing with cinema rights?

Depends on the contract, not all are uniform. Some can be signed in-perpetuity, if the seller is hard-up enough.

Which is what the Universal deal appeared to be. That may not be the case after all, but we shall see.

[mattperiolat]

Jan 4, 2020 23:16:17 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Jan 4, 2020 21:25:09 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Long term movie IP licensing agreements hurt my head

The Hulk rights in particular. Universal can't make a Hulk movie without Marvel's co-operation, Marvel can't distribute a Hulk movie without Universal's co-operation, but they can put Hulk in any movie they want and distribute it as long as Hulk isn't the lead character. They can make a Hulk TV show or cartoon without Universal, though, but have no claim on the Lou Ferrigno Hulk show.

Jan 4, 2020 21:34:16 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Depends on the contract, not all are uniform. Some can be signed in-perpetuity, if the seller is hard-up enough.

Which is what the Universal deal appeared to be. That may not be the case after all, but we shall see.

See, now THAT is the wrinkle I’m interested in. IF Marvel has the rights to Hulk back (A VERY big ‘if’), did they somehow get the rights to Ferrigno Hulk? If they did, that’s huge, especially for either Disney+ or Hulu.

Open mind and with caution, let’s just see.

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2020 21:27:14 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Jan 4, 2020 21:25:09 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Long term movie IP licensing agreements hurt my head

When Marvel was in its desperation phase, they made some VERY bad business decisions just to stay alive.

If it helped them survive, were they bad decisions?

I mean yeah long term use of the characters it’s restrictive but if they hadn’t made those sucky deals would they even be around now to complain about them?

Note this is a genuine question as I don’t know too much about Marvels situation at the time apart from what I’ve picked up here that they had several difficulties

[Mozenrath]

Jan 5, 2020 4:55:25 GMT -5 @cyclonechyno said:

Jan 4, 2020 21:27:14 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

When Marvel was in its desperation phase, they made some VERY bad business decisions just to stay alive.

If it helped them survive, were they bad decisions?

I mean yeah long term use of the characters it’s restrictive but if they hadn’t made those sucky deals would they even be around now to complain about them?

Note this is a genuine question as I don’t know too much about Marvels situation at the time apart from what I’ve picked up here that they had several difficulties

No, it's a legitimate question. They probably did what they had to, it's just one of those things they've been paying for ever since, so you know they've got to be pulling their hair over it sometimes. It's still better than if they had shuttered, though, obviously.