For over thirty years, Stan Lee made cameos in almost every show and movie that was based on Marvel Comics. Even though his death meant those cameos sadly came to an end, Marvel Studios has struck a deal to ensure that his image remains a part of the Marvel story for at least the next two decades. In a new announcement by Genius Brands, Marvel Studios has come to an agreement that secures the rights to use the name, image, signature and voice of the comic book legend in movies and TV shows for the next 20 years. The deal also includes the use of existing footage and voice recordings of Lee, and exclusive rights to use the same in all of Disney’s theme parks, cruise ships and merchandise.

"As Stan's longtime business partner and friend, I'm looking forward to commemorating his work in this new way," said Gill Champion, President of POW! Entertainment. "Building a connection with his fans is important to us and it's a privilege to get to do that on his behalf."

"We are proud to be the stewards of the incredibly valuable rights to Stan Lee's name, likeness, merchandise, and intellectual property brand," said Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands. "And, there is no better place than Marvel and Disney where Stan should be for his movies and theme park experiences. As we enter the centennial year of Stan's birthday, December 28, 2022, we are thrilled to see his memory and legacy will continue to delight fans through this new long-term agreement with Marvel.”

Related: Stan Lee Honored With Avengers Campus Plaque at Disneyland California

Many Fans Believe Stan Lee is Marvel

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While there are many creators involved in the world of Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios, it is not unfair to say that most fans would say that Stan Lee was and always will be the heart of everything Marvel does. Having created some of their most iconic characters, it is not surprising that Marvel wants to keep Lee’s memory alive through future projects. There is no word on exactly how Marvel Studios and Disney will use his name and image in the future.

While it has been said that Marvel Studios have no intention of resurrecting Lee through the use of CGI technology, there are still several fun ways to reference the icon, such as the inclusion of GLKH in the new She-Hulk trailer. For fans of the newer She-Hulk comics, the initials relate to the fictional law firm Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg and Holliway, for whom Jennifer Walters is asked to head up the superhero law division by Holden Holliway. The other partners in the firm are Goodman, in reference to Marvel publisher Martin Goodman, Kurtzberg, referencing artist’s Jack Kirby’s original surname, and Lieber, as you may guess, was the original surname of Stan Lee. This shows that even when not featuring Lee on screen, Marvel has plenty of ways of ensuring he is part of everything they do.