Rumors suggest that there may be plans for the Incredible Hulk to finally get a solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will follow up on Mark Ruffalo’s appearance in the upcoming Disney+ She-Hulk series and will allegedly involve adapting the famous World War Hulk storyline from the comics.
This would be a major change for the Hulk in the MCU, as the last time that the Hulk had his own film, it was before Marvel was purchased by Disney and Marvel Studios had distribution deals set up at different studios, with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk being distributed by Universal Studios, who distributed and produced 2003’s Hulk.
The problem was that Universal Films had a deal where it maintained he distribution rights to the Hulk even after Marvel Studios regained the distribution rights for the other characters that had distribution deals done before Disney purchased Marvel (Iron Man, Captain America and Thor). Disney is not interested in producing films that another studio has distribution rights over, so that has precluded Disney from doing a Hulk solo film (which is why the Hulk has only appeared as a character in the Avengers films or in other MCU films, like Thor: Ragnarok).
However, according to website, TheGWW, Universal might have finally either agreed to a deal with Disney or Universal’s distribution rights simply expired. That possibly has a connection to Disney doing a She-Hulk series.
Ruffalo will be appearing in the upcoming She-Hulk series, and the rumor is it that whatever happens in that show will set up the upcoming Hulk film. Of course, this being the MCU, it will be a surprise how the film actually adapts the original comic book storyline (where a group of Marvel heroes sent Hulk to a peaceful planet to get rid of him but he ended up on a gladiator planet instead. That storyline was called “Planet Hulk.” After the Hulk conquered that planet, he returned to Earth for revenge in “World War Hulk.” Hulk’s appearance in Thor: Ragnarok featured a number of aspects of “Planet Hulk,” particularly the gladiator aspect of the story).
Allegedly, the film will begin production in 2022, which means that it line up for a possible 2023 or 2024 release.
Source: TheGWW
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