The Ultimate Addition to MCU: Coming Soon to Disney Plus
Get ready, MCU fans! The previously missing movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe will finally be available to stream on Disney Plus Joining the roster of other beloved MCU films, this early gem is sure to satisfy your superhero cravings
The solo movie featuring the Incredible Hulk was initially absent from the Marvel Studios collection on Disney Plus, but it has now made its way onto the streaming service. Following Disney's acquisition of Marvel, they obtained the rights to characters that Marvel had not yet sold to other studios. Sony had purchased the rights to Spider-Man for $7 million in 1999, with Marvel receiving a 5% cut of their movie revenue and a 50/50 split on merchandise. However, after Disney bought Marvel, they renegotiated the deal with Sony, which now grants Sony full revenue while Disney takes full control of merchandise. Currently, Disney and Sony collaborate to include Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Additionally, Marvel sold the rights to the X-Men and The Fantastic Four to Fox, which merged with Disney in 2019.
The 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton, will be available to stream on June 16, 2023, as announced by Disney Plus on Twitter. Despite featuring in several films, fans never got another solo Hulk film following The Incredible Hulk, which was the second film in the MCU. This is due, in part, to the agreement between Marvel and Universal regarding the Hulk's appearance in films. In 2006, Marvel granted Universal the rights to The Hulk, which required them to produce a sequel to the 2003 Hulk film by a certain date, which didn't happen. To make The Incredible Hulk, Marvel produced the film, with Universal distributing it. Under the agreement, Marvel could use The Hulk in any other film or TV series, such as The Avengers or She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. However, Universal retained the right of first refusal to distribute any future solo Hulk movies, resulting in no solo Hulk films since 2008.
It is uncertain whether Disney has regained the solo film rights to The Incredible Hulk, as it could simply be a deal to feature the film on their streaming service temporarily. Nonetheless, the recent surge of Hulk-related content in the MCU has sparked speculation that the theory could hold some truth. Fans will have the opportunity to watch The Incredible Hulk on Disney Plus from June 15, 2023.
Source: Disney Plus
