The Incredible Hulk was launched in 2008 and was the second movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Hulk has been probably the most iconic Marvel heroes, and of the unique Phase 1 lineup of heroes was seemingly probably the most well-known and fashionable resulting from his long-running tv collection starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Yet whereas Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor all bought a number of sequels The Hulk didn’t. This actually comes as a shock not solely given the Hulk’s reputation but additionally how large the character has grow to be within the MCU and was the breakout character of The Avengers.
The Incredible Hulk is underrated in some ways and definitely has its followers, however the truth that the principle star Edward Norton was recast with Mark Ruffalo meant it was a movie that was destined to be missed. One has to marvel why Marvel Studios has by no means gone forward with a direct sequel to The Incredible Hulk, although, as an alternative selecting to proceed Bruce Banner’s story in different movies. Here is a breakdown of why there has not been a sequel to The Incredible Hulk and the way Marvel Studios has discovered a approach to preserve the character’s legacy going.
The Lowest Grossing MCU Box Office
The Incredible Hulk opened the identical summer season as Iron Man and kicked off the MCU, but regardless of the Hulk being a extra fashionable and well-known character, Iron Man drastically outperformed The Incredible Hulk on the field workplace. The Incredible Hulk grossed $134 million on the home field workplace which was simply $2 million greater than the 2003 Hulk movie, which was seen as a disappointment. Even worldwide, The Incredible Hulk grossed $264 million, which barely beat out Hulk’s $245. The Incredible Hulk was crushed out by Mamma Mia as Universal Pictures’ highest grossing movie that summer season.
As of this writing, The Incredible Hulk continues to be the lowest-grossing movie of the MCU. While the Hulk is fashionable, his two solo movies have proven he has not fairly been the field workplace draw that different heroes are. It might be advised that the 2003 Hulk impacted audiences’ enthusiasm for The Incredible Hulk and the brand new model within the MCU has seemingly rebranded his picture to audiences. However, there may be one other matter that will get in the best way of The Incredible Hulk sequel and that’s rights points.
Complicated Film Rights with Universal Pictures
The movie rights round The Hulk are difficult, as Universal Pictures held the rights for years and launched director Ang Lee’s Hulk in 2003. Universal Studios would have misplaced the rights to the character if a brand new deal wasn’t renegotiated. The deal was that Marvel Studios would finance The Incredible Hulk in alternate for Universal Pictures distributing the movie. Since Marvel was financing the movie this allowed them to make use of the Hulk in different initiatives just like the deliberate movie The Avengers. Universal retains the fitting of first refusal to distribute any future solo Hulk films.
While this won’t have been a problem at first since Marvel Studios was an unbiased studio, in 2009 they grew to become acquired by Walt Disney Pictures. Unlike Spider-Man, which has a shared revenue between Sony Pictures and Disney, Universal Pictures would retain a lot of the income from distributing The Incredible Hulk.
If a sequel have been to be made, Universal Pictures would technically have the choice in the event that they needed to distribute it or cross it to Disney. The character is probably going extra worthwhile now so Universal Pictures would seemingly distribute the movie, however Disney doesn’t need to assist a competitor generate income and the previous two Hulk movies have proven them the funding is probably not price it.
The Hulk Has Worked as a Supporting Character
Disney
While the Hulk’s solo movies have struggled on the field workplace, his look as a supporting character within the MCU has been very profitable. Part of the problem with Bruce Banner as a personality for a lot of diversifications is he’s a personality actively avoiding conditions, making him a passive protagonist and in addition combating to not remodel into the Hulk which is what audiences need to see. Making him carry a movie has been a tough activity, however letting him be a supporting participant has been useful.
The Avengers establishes the Hulk as one thing scary as seen by means of the eyes of different heroes, but additionally one thing triumphant. Avengers: Age of Ultron confirmed him throughout the context of a group and a gaggle of superheroes, one thing few diversifications have given him since they have an inclination to stay with the person on the run angle.
Thor: Ragnarök showcased an developed Hulk in addition to a enjoyable comedic buddy comedy duo with him and Thor. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has proven him as a mentor determine who the viewers accepts due to the build-up of tales they’ve seen him on. Marvel Studios has discovered nice use of the Hulk even with out making him the lead of his personal sequel.
Marvel Has Found Workarounds for Hulk Sequels
Disney
While Marvel Studios has not made a direct sequel to The Incredible Hulk, they’ve discovered loads of methods throughout the MCU to proceed the character’s storyline. Bruce Banner and The Hulk’s story has primarily been advised within the 4 Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarök however plotlines and characters from The Incredible Hulk have popped up in different initiatives.
William Hurt reprised his function as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Black Widow and regardless of the actor passing away the character will proceed on with Harrison Ford entering into the function for Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts, with the rumor being he will grow to be the Red Hulk.
Plot factors from The Incredible Hulk have additionally lived on in different MCU franchises. One of the longest unanswered plot factors revolved round Samuel Sterns aka The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) who will make his return to the franchise in Captain America: New World Order, which is able to arrive 16 years after The Incredible Hulk. The movie’s major villain, Abomination, appeared in a cameo function in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings earlier than getting his full storyline taken in a daring new course in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
In truth, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law could be very a lot the way forward for the Hulk franchise within the MCU, as Marvel Studios has full inventive management over the character and have used it to not solely proceed the Hulk’s storyline, but additionally introduce a brand new recent character to the franchise that may carry it shifting ahead. In some ways, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Captain America: New World Order is a inventive means of creating a sequel to The Incredible Hulk.