Making a Hulk solo movie isn’t quite as simple as it looks… as Mark Ruffalo reveals that Marvel Studios doesn’t have the film rights.
During an interview with Collider, the Avengers star revealed that Universal Pictures still has the rights to any Hulk solo film.
“Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to [a solo Hulk movie] yet,” he said. “That’s still Universal’s property, so there’s that issue. That’s a big impediment to moving forward with that.”
Of course, another studio holding the rights to a Hulk solo film is no small thing… and while it’s clearly an issue that’s forcing Marvel not to move forward with a solo movie, it does give us a hint that it’s something that is being discussed.
After all, they wouldn’t be discussing it if Marvel didn’t have plans for the property.
And thankfully, it looks as though the studios might be able to come to some kind of deal.
“Now I don’t think that’s insurmountable, by the way,” he added. “But I don’t know where it’s going from here for me.”
Back in the early days of Marvel Studios, the comic book studio worked very closely with Universal to create The Incredible Hulk – the latest Hulk solo film, starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. But while Universal owned the rights then too, things have changed a lot…
In the years since The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Studios has pulled out all the stops to create a Marvel Cinematic Universe… and with the sudden surge in popularity of The Avengers it isn’t too surprising to imagine Universal asking a higher price for co-operation.
And that might be what’s stalling any proposed Hulk movies.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t see Mark Ruffalo hulking out on the big screen. And the 47-year-old Avengers star reveals that there’s still a few films left on his contract.
“I think it’s four now, but that could always go further,” he said. “That could include different – I could show up in another character’s movie; I could do Avengers 3 and 4; I could do a Hulk standalone; I could do a combination of those things.”
But will he appear in the upcoming Civil War?
“I don’t know if I’m in it yet,” he said. “I don’t know. Sometimes these things happen at the last minute in this world. I really don’t know where I fit in from here on out, and I’m not sure they do.”
Obviously, he’s trying not to give too much away when it comes to Age of Ultron… and what happens to the Hulk after the film concludes.
But one thing’s for certain – we will be seeing the Hulk on the big screen again. But perhaps not in his own solo movie… at least, not for a while.
Avengers: Age of Ultron heads to cinemas on 23 April 2015.
Do you think we’ll see a Hulk solo movie eventually? Will he appear in the upcoming Civil War? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
