Apr 25, 2010 by Jami Philbrick

EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Studios Talks the Future of The Incredible Hulk

The future of The Incredible Hulk
The future of The Incredible Hulk
In 2008 Marvel Studios set out to do something that had never been done before on film, which was create one seamless world that several different film franchises would exist in ... essentially creating the "Marvel Film Universe." It began with the box office hit Iron Man, which featured an after the credits cameo by S.H.I.E.L.D. leader Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson and continued with The Incredible Hulk later that year, which featured an appearance by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, linking the two films together. That strategy continues with the new movie Iron Man 2, opening on May 7th and the upcoming Marvel film's Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, which are currently in various stages of production. The hope is that all of this will lead up to The Avengers in 2012, which will feature characters from all of those films. With the mixed reaction to The Incredible Hulk, it still remains to be seen how that character will be used going forward.

Yesterday, we had a chance to sit down with Marvel Studios President of Production, Kevin Fiege, while he was out promoting Iron Man 2. We began by asking Fiege if there were plans on making a sequel from The Incredible Hulk at this time?

"Not before The Avengers," Fiege confirmed.


We continued by asking Fiege if at this point the plan is just to wait and reintroduce the character into the Marvel Universe with The Avengers?

"We certainly plan on it. He was there in "The Avengers" #1 and in "The Ultimates" #1 so certainly the Hulk is a key part of these films leading up to The Avengers. Iron Man 2 has some clues to where these timelines take place as they relate to each other. So I certainly think Hulk will be a player on that team."


Finally, we pressed Fiege to find out if there was a chance that actor Edward Norton would return for The Avengers and reprise his role from The Incredible Hulk?

"A lot of it depends on the story, a lot of it depends on the schedule and a lot of it depends on the lofty ideas that we have. You also have to work with the realties of people's schedules as to when they are available and stuff like that. So we reserve the right to say Hulk will be in it for sure, we'll see about Banner."


The Incredible Hulk was released June 13th, 2008 and stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Christina Cabot, Peter Mensah. The film is directed by Louis Leterrier.


Sources: Jami Philbrick

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Comments (51)

  1. Monkeyclaw

    CAN'T WAIT

    2 years agoby @monkeyclawFlag

  2. Shadow Of The Day

    Great.

    2 years agoby @asifFlag

  3. RojoDiablo

    Unlike most, I enjoyed Ang Lee's film just as much as the version with Norton as Banner. I thought he could have trimmed it down a bit but other than that I didn't hate it like so many others seemed to. Maybe I'm too much of a Marvel fan but regardless both entertained me. I actually thought Eric Bana was better as Dr. Banner than Norton and he certainly didn't cause as many issues as Norton did when his film came out. I'd like to see Bana return to the role in any of the future films where the Hulk is involved even if there isn't another standalone Hulk film. I wouldn't hate it if Norton does return but nevertheless, it's going to be an exciting couple of years for comic book/Marvel fans for sure!

    2 years agoby @rojodiabloFlag

  4. CoolAzzz

    I can't see the hulk as ever really being a villain. That does not work for me. Misunderstood becasue of rage, maybe to a point? Of which always comes from people f*ckin with him. All in all, the Hulk(aka Bruce Banner!) always knows whats right. Its just to create a buzz, I am not worried about it, they'll get it right!

    2 years agoby @coolazzzFlag

  5. Gnyah123

    SOO all these films have something in common?....i didnt see the credits of iron man so i dnt kno how it goes...i saw the end of hulk..and i was wondering why Tony Stark was at the end...i saw the cartoon so it was obivous the Avengers was gon happen.......but i am AMPED!...i cant wait for Thor movie...i hope its good and Captain America!...sounds like thats goin to be good...then toppin it off wit The AvengerS!??...YES....life cant get no better!! hahah but i think Norton shud play banner again!!...and i tihnk hulk shud just stay hulk...angry motherf*cka!! lol not evil. but at least let him control it..like if he wants to transform easy just by gettin mad like that... then let it happen..and let him control his anger...

    2 years agoby @gnyah123Flag

  6. nightwatch1203

    i agree that marvel is much better than dc but the justice league is much better and more popular than the avengers so i think they should have made that one first

    2 years agoby @nightwatch1203Flag

  7. Remy72883

    (Insert Username Here) i guess the hulk would be an easy way out, i just don't want to see a story blown out of proportion, keep it simple and not to complex, and i would really like to see S.H.E.I.L.D. some how set him off a way to rally the troops so to speak, i just think it would be cool.

    2 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  8. The Narrator: The Better Man

    Definitely agree with all of Inserts posts.

    However, for a villain, as ejk pointed out, if there was a threat that Shield was aware of, theres the possibility it's not of our world. I was thinking Skrulls.

    2 years agoby @narratorFlag

  9. T.Clark

    Also, the idea that Banner would go "power happy" is way out in left field. Banner states in TIH that he doesn't want to control the Hulk, he just wants to get rid of it. So if he did ever have some control over his transformations, I doubt he would go "power happy," and he'd probably go the opposite, meaning he'd lay low. Banner is an intelligent man. I don't think he'd let power corrupt him so easily, especially power he doesn't want.

    2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  10. T.Clark

    I think Norton had more to do with the success of the Incredible Hulk than Leterrier did as far as characterization goes.

    @Remy72883: The Hulk as the villain is the easy way out. I think you guys keep forgetting about the idea introduced in TIH that if the Hulk can't be controlled, he can at least be aimed at a specific target. The Avengers could use that to their advantage against the actual threat. I won't be surprised if the Avengers end up fighting the Hulk for the sake of a cool action scene, but he shouldn't be the main antagonist. Where's the creativity in that?

    @Emmytt: It wasn't an "evil" smile, it was just a "teaser" device the director used to end the film on. If it has any real importance, it's to hint at the possibility that the Hulk can be controlled to a certain extent. Banner won't be going "evil."

    2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  11. Lycan

    damn right hulk will be in it, just wouldnt be right with out him

    2 years agoby @grand-makwaFlag

  12. Rufio

    translation: Marvel is still not happy with Norton's tiff with the studio/director over the film's direction during the film's post production/advertising campaigns. so therefore they will flex their studio muscle and demand better behavior and an apology from Norton, or replace him.

    2 years agoby @rufioFlag

  13. Emmytt

    @thesymbiote i am just saying he look kinda of evil to me i am just saying what if he goes power happy

    2 years agoby @emmyttFlag

  14. Dedpool

    Hulk should be part of the reason the Avengers are formed. I definitely think it should go along with the original storyline with Loki controlling or setting the Hulk on a rampage. The second part of the film should deal with Loki releasing all kinds of chaos on the world.

    2 years agoby @dedpoolFlag

  15. TheSymbiote

    @Emmytt. his smile didnt look evil to me it just looked like a smile,i think it was the eyes that made him look evil

    2 years agoby @thesymbioteFlag

  16. felipe-11

    The Incredible Hulk was great, I think I even liked it bit more than Iron Man. I think its a bit underrated, it should definitively have a sequel and Norton a role in the Avengers flick.

    2 years agoby @felipe-11Flag

  17. Escapist

    Thanks for the info guys. I agree with you ejk1, they should adopt the Marvel concept of the miniseries.

    2 years agoby @escapistFlag

  18. justinishulk

    YESSSSS!!!!! i love the HULK!!!

    2 years agoby @justinishulkFlag

  19. Reacyhar

    I am huge fan of hulk movie . I have watched both part of this movie . Hulk is the one of my favorite movie .http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/review-on-zetaclear-does-zetaclear-work-2178958.html

    2 years agoby @reacyharFlag

  20. Emmytt

    @remy72883 maybe Norton can control the hulk but he gets power happy and goes evil casue he had a evil smile at the end of hulk

    2 years agoby @emmyttFlag

  21. Remy72883

    i think that would be cool

    2 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  22. Remy72883

    P.S. part 2. it would also makes sense to have the hulk as the bad guy cause of the ending scene in the last Hulk where Robert meets with the general inside the bar, and seeing how they had that messed up version of the hulk already detained, it would make sense that Norton started loosing it again or something happened for him to loose it or S.H.E.I.L.D. purposely injected him by gun off course or some other way without him knowing to without his control turn into the Hulk and have the Norton side dormant with no influence to kinda test their team against him, Threw out the comics and cartoons they have been known to test their hero's here and their kinda use them to see what their capable of, kinda their own little experiment.

    2 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  23. Remy72883

    P.S. Norton needs to come back

    2 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  24. Remy72883

    if i remember right from the comics didn't The Avengers come together to fight the Hulk, i know it has been quite a few years since i read it but i swear that was one of the reason why they came together. That would be a cool to see on film all these great hero's coming together to fight this huge pissed off monster.lol.

    2 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  25. Brainiac

    watchmen isn't an indicator of DC being on the rise, that is a 20 year old comic from a writer who i don't believe writes anymore, at least not for DC.

    2 years agoby @thebdFlag

  26. Dr.Carter

    And when it comes to who's better Marvel vs DC I have to say DC. The stories are quite deep and expands through the whole universe of the heroes. Also the writers kick ass I mean look at Watchmen. DC is on the rise.

    2 years agoby @dr-carterFlag

  27. Dr.Carter

    Green Lantern now have Amanda Waller who plays a big role in matters of the JL. She basically wants the JL to work for the goverment at first but deems them as being too powerful. So DC might be going in that route. also Christopher Nolan is producing the new Superman. It makes most logical sense to have Darkseid as the key villian to bring all the heroes together.

    2 years agoby @dr-carterFlag

  28. ejk1

    Escapist, as far as I can tell the Justice League movie has been shelved. The idea for it was lame, using actors other than the ones already established in the role(in other words, Bale wouldn't have been Batman, and so on). I think they realized what a horrible idea this would have been, and scrapped it. The thing is, they could easily start doing what Marvel is doing with their Avengers miniseries. For instance, they could rope in a theme from Superman Returns, not so much the movie, but the fact that he was in space for five years. While out there, he meets the Guardians, learns of threats to Earth such as Darkseid, Anti-Monitor, Parallax, etc. Anyways, they could thread it like Marvel. Superman makes a cameo at the end of Green Lantern, and tells Hal that they need to talk of an important matter. Then move forward in the same manner through Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and anyone else they desire to add- I'm not sure if Martian Manhunter should be given his own movie to start, or arrive on Earth in the JL movie. Once they've decided on who's in, then the Justice League movie can be made. This may not be the model they want to do, but Marvel is looking to ride it to box-office success. It's not too late to make this happen in the GL movie, it's just a matter of if DC wants to do something, anything, like this.

    2 years agoby @ejk1Flag

  29. Emmytt

    the hulk rules and Norton needs to come back he learn how to control the hulk so he can defiantly team up with the avengers now

    2 years agoby @emmyttFlag

  30. yellowjacket1

    Norton NEEDS to be in Avengers. Please make nice, Marvel.

    2 years agoby @yellowjacket1Flag

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