Was there ever a Hulk vs. Thing movie planned?

Yes, Michael Chiklis, who played The Thing in the Fantastic Four movies, revealed that a spinoff pitting his character against the Hulk was pitched.

Why was the Hulk and Thing movie not made?

The proposed Hulk and Thing movie did not move forward primarily due to studio rights issues, with 20th Century Fox holding Fantastic Four rights and Universal Pictures holding Hulk rights.

Will the Hulk and Thing fight in the MCU?

With Ebon Moss-Bachrach cast as The Thing and Mark Ruffalo potentially returning as Hulk, the MCU offers a more tangible possibility for this crossover to eventually occur.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Hulk vs. Thing: The Canceled Fox Spinoff

Hulk vs. Thing: The Canceled Fox Spinoff

7 Apr

•

Summary

Michael Chiklis revealed a Hulk vs. Thing spinoff pitch.
Studio rights issues prevented the Hulk/Thing crossover film.
New MCU Fantastic Four casting sparks MCU Hulk/Thing hopes.

Hulk vs. Thing: The Canceled Fox Spinoff

Actor Michael Chiklis, known for portraying Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing, in the mid-2000s Fantastic Four movies, recently disclosed a pitched spinoff concept. This idea involved a cinematic rivalry between The Thing and the Hulk. Talks at 20th Century Fox explored this potential crossover, capitalizing on the established animosity between the characters dating back to Marvel comics.

However, the proposed Hulk and Thing movie failed to materialize due to complex studio rights. Fox held the rights to the Fantastic Four franchise, while Universal Pictures controlled the rights for Hulk-related solo films. This ownership division, prior to the current era of studio collaborations facilitated by Marvel Studios, made a joint project highly improbable.