The thing to remember is that with the majority (if not all?) of Marvel's "A-list" tiered characters having their film rights at other studios (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, etc...), Marvel Studios' only option - if they wanted to make their own films - was to make movies out of their lower tiered characters, out of B-List, or C-List characters. Popularity (or any possible lack there-of) in the comics doesn't really have anything to do with it. He's a character they had available to them, so they decided to see what they could do with him film wise while creating this overarching connected Marvel universe.
Nillindeiel
Agent Hill: ...Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back, by among others, a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the 40's.... and a god.
Agent Ward: I don't think Thor is technically a god.
Hill: Well...you haven't been near his arms.
~Agents of SHIELD; Season 1 Episode 1 "Pilot"
reply
share
LetThemEatCake01
8 years ago
Which Marvel characters do they not own? How did that happen?
reply
share
haxemon
8 years ago
Marvel has barely missed going bankrupt several times.
They sold off Blade to make some cash and that went a long way to helping comic book movies become "a thing" again.
The key sales though were X-Men (and related characters) to Fox and Spider-Man to Sony. Also Hulk to Universal but those rights have (partially) come back already. Fantastic Four were also sold to Fox but they haven't done much to help the CBM genre. Though I think the FF would be the best fit for the MCU of all the characters Marvel doesn't own.
X-men films by Fox helped really propel the CBM genre into the 2000s and basically showed Marvel that they could really have something if they made their own films. Without the X-films we wouldn't have an MCU or maybe we would have but later on. Or (worst case) if the X-films had flopped Marvel probably would have slowly sold off the other characters too. Actually I guess worst, worst case would be Marvel actually going bankrupt.
Disney buying Marvel helps but probably never happens if they didn't see the $$$ for CBMs.
Daredevil and Punisher rights were sold but came back. Same with Elektra. Hulk rights as mentioned came back (but Universal still gets distribution rights for solo films). Marvel made a deal with Sony to allow Spider-Man to be folded into the MCU. So he can be in "team" films and Sony can make solo films that fit within the MCU.
There are probably some characters I'm forgetting but those are the main ones.
Reading my signature constitutes admission that I am correct. (Too late)
reply
share
LetThemEatCake01
8 years ago
Interesting, they obviously retained the right to publish comics right?? The superhero phenomenon is truly insane in my opinion and it's like when will it stop? All the movies look the same.
reply
share
haxemon
8 years ago
Yes, sorry. All the above was strictly about the movie/live-action rights.
The animated films/shows are different and yes they have yet to sell any character outright in terms of comics themselves.
Reading my signature constitutes admission that I am correct. (Too late)
reply
share
justanicknamed
8 years ago
All the movies look the same.
They're not. They are obviously all comic book movies, but the Iron Man movies have a different tone than the Thor movies, and the Captain America movies have a grittier feel than the rest. Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy are kind of lighthearted romps.
reply
share
LetThemEatCake01
8 years ago
Not really, they are literally the same.
reply
share
justanicknamed
8 years ago
It is your right to be wrong, no matter how stupid it makes you look. And, you look especially stupid when you say "they are literally the same" and yet you admit you've not seen them all.
reply
share
LetThemEatCake01
8 years ago
you are the imbecile here who thinks any of those films has anything that sets them apart.
reply
share
justanicknamed
8 years ago
Again, you've admitted to not seeing them all, but you are convinced they are all the same.
Are you trying to look stupid, or does it just come naturally?
reply
share
tjlamb0518
8 years ago
Oh, I'm seeing an anti-Marvel agenda between this and his posts on the BvS board.
Let's see, OP...what's your age and nationality?
reply
share
dylank381
8 years ago
Are you sure about that? Is Sony really making Homecoming? I thought it was just another Disney MCU
reply
share
nillindeiel
8 years ago
Are you sure about that? Is Sony really making Homecoming? I thought it was just another Disney MCU
Sony is the one footing the bill and has final approval on the film. Yes, Marvel Studios has creative control, per reports, (primarily to ensure that it fits within the MCU), but Disney is not actually spending the money to make it (nor are they taking any of the box office from it). Financially, it's all Sony.
NillindeielAgent Hill: ...Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back, by among others, a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the 40's.... and a god.
Agent Ward: I don't think Thor is technically a god.
Hill: Well...you haven't been near his arms.~Agents of SHIELD; Season 1 Episode 1 "Pilot"
reply
share