Everyone who has read the
Planet Hulk series from Marvel comics know that the Hulk faces off against a captured and de-powered Silver Surfer in his final battle.
Now it seems that the
Planet Hulk animated movie has a surprise in store for fans. The Silver Surfer
WILL NOT be featured in the film. This is contradictory to the film's synopsis that was posted everywhere from Amazon.com to IMDB. The change is apparently due to copyright restraints between Mavel and Fox; since Fox owns the Silver Surfer's film rights. Rather than drag the dispute out, Marvel chose to replace the Surfer's role in the animated film with an unlikely character. Who is it, you ask?
Beta Ray Bill
Here's a little info for those of you not too familiar with the character: Beta Ray Bill's life force and consciousness were transferred by scientists of his race into the body of an alien carnivorous equine-like beast that had been bionically restructured into a cyborg. Courtesy of highly advanced genetic engineering, the character possesses superhuman strength; reflexes; stamina, and durability and a highly extended lifespan. Beta Ray Bill's weapon, Stormbreaker, also has the same properties as Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, and includes the ability to transform into a cane when struck upon the ground and return Bill to his unaltered Korbinite form.
Well, there you have it.
This brings up something interesting to consider: Since Marvel couldn't use the Silver Surfer because of legal limitations, we shouldn't expect to see Marvel Animation tackle any properties currently owned by other studios. Which is rather confusing considering the last Marvel Animation film was
Hulk Vs. Thor/Wolverine, and Wolverine is a Fox property.