Details of Marvel's Hulk Contract with Universal Revealed
We've already heard that Marvel is unable to move forward with another solo Hulk film because Universal Pictures still has a hold on the property. A couple months ago, Mark Ruffalo was asked about a new Hulk film and replied:
“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.”
Thanks to Forbes, we now have some details on Marvel Studio's Hulk contract that sheds some interesting light on a few things.
The report states that Universal no longer has the production rights to the Hulk. Marvel currently has them, and has had them since 2005. But Universal still holds the distribution rights on a solo Hulk movie. So if Marvel were to make a new Hulk film, Universal would be given the option of "First Refusal." Only if they passed on the project would Disney be allowed to take over the distribution rights of that movie.
There are a few other factors that play into the reason why Marvel isn't looking to make another solo Hulk movie yet. The real issue doesn't lay with Marvel not being able to work something out with Universal. Forbes points out that the high cost of production and marketing for a Hulk film, mixed with the disappointing box office results of the two previous films, are a huge reason a Hulk solo film isn't happening anytime soon. They also point out the obvious, and that is that the character simply works better as a ensemble team player with the Avengers.
I can understand all of that, but at the same time, the Hulk has become so much more popular with the fans since The Avengers was released. If they were to make yet another Hulk movie, I can't help but think it would explode at the box office, especially if they jumped into the Planet Hulk storyline. It'd be absolutely crazy if they never move forward on that. As much as I have enjoyed seeing Hulk in the Avengers films, I'm ready to see a new solo film. I'm sure one day it will happen, but it's not going to be anytime soon.
Are you happy with how Marvel is handling the Hulk at the moment, or would you like to see him get a new solo film done right?