Wikipedia

Hulk(film)

This article is about the 2003 film. For the 2008 reboot, seeThe Incredible Hulk(film).

Hulk(also known asThe Hulk) is a 2003 Americansuperhero filmbased on theMarvel Comicscharacter of the same name,created byStan LeeandJack Kirby.Produced byUniversal Picturesin association withMarvel Enterprises,Valhalla Motion Pictures,andGood Machine,and distributed by Universal, it was directed byAng Leeand written byJames Schamus,Michael France,and John Turman, from a story conceived by Schamus. The film starsEric Banaas Bruce Banner and Hulk, alongsideJennifer Connelly,Sam Elliott,Josh Lucas,andNick Nolte.The film explores Bruce Banner's origins. After a lab accident involvinggamma radiation,he transforms into a giant green-skinned humanoid withsuperhuman strengthknown as the Hulk whenever stressed or emotionally provoked. TheUnited States militarypursues him, and he clashes with his biological father, who has dark plans for his son.

Hulk
A large green person has his hand outstretched, obscuring his face.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAng Lee
Screenplay by
Story by
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyFrederick Elmes
Edited byTim Squyres
Music byDanny Elfman
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures[1]
Release date
  • June 20, 2003(2003-06-20)
Running time
138 minutes[4]
CountryUnited States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$137 million[5]
Box office$245.3 million[5]

Development started in 1990. At one time,Joe Johnstonand thenJonathan Hensleighwere to direct. Hensleigh, John Turman,Michael France,Zak Penn,J. J. Abrams,Michael Tolkin,David Hayter,andScott Alexander & Larry Karaszewskiwrote more scripts before Ang Lee andJames Schamus's involvement. The project was filmed primarily inCaliforniafrom March to August 2002, mainly in theSan Francisco Bay Area.

Hulkwas released byUniversal Pictureson June 20, 2003. The film grossed $245.4 million worldwide and received mixed reviews. A planned sequel which would have been released in May 2005 was repurposed as a reboot titledThe Incredible Hulkand released on June 13, 2008, as thesecond filmin theMarvel Cinematic Universe.

Plot

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In 1969,David Banneris ageneticsresearcher for the government trying to improve human DNA. His supervisor, ColonelThaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross,forbids human experimentation, so David experiments on himself. His wife Edith gives birth to their son,Bruce Banner.David realizes Bruce inherited his mutant DNA and attempts to find a cure. After discovering his experiments, Ross shuts down David's research; in a fit of psychotic rage, David rigs Desert Base's gamma reactor to explode as revenge. Believing he is dangerous, David tries to kill Bruce but accidentally murders Edith when she gets between them; the trauma causes the subconscious suppression of Bruce's early childhood memories. Ross arrests and sends David to a mental hospital, putting the 4-year-old Bruce into foster care. Mrs. Krenzler adopts him, and Bruce assumes the surname, growing up believing his birth parents are dead.

Thirty years later, Bruce is a brilliant scientist working at theBerkeley Labwith his ex-girlfriend and Ross's estranged daughter,Betty Ross.Representing the private research company Atheon, the shadyGlenn Talbotbecomes interested in the scientists'nanomedsresearch to create regenerating soldiers for themilitary-industrial complex.David reappears as a janitor in the lab building to infiltrate Bruce's life. The now-General Ross investigates, becoming concerned for Betty's safety around Bruce.

Bruce saves a colleague named Harper from an accident with a malfunctioninggammasphere.Bruce awakens in a hospital bed and tells Betty he feels better than ever, but Betty cannot fathom his survival since the nanomeds killed everything else; unknown to them, the radiation merged with Bruce's altered DNA. Later, David meets Bruce, revealing their relationship and hinting at Bruce's mutation. He later uses samples of Bruce's DNA for animal experimentation. At the lab, Bruce realizes that David is his father, triggering flashes of his repressed traumatic memories. Increasing rage from the realization activates his gamma-radiated DNA; he becomes theHulkand demolishes the lab. Betty finds Bruce unconscious in his home the following day, who barely remembers the previous night. Ross arrives later to question Bruce and, after hours of interrogation, seizes the lab and places him underhouse arrest.Betty locates David and investigates him. David calls Bruce that night, revealing he mutated his three dogs and sent them to attack Betty, enraging Bruce. Bemoaning the lab's destruction, Talbot attacks Bruce, who transforms and injures Talbot and Ross'sMPs.The Hulk finds Betty in her forestcabin,saves her from the dogs, and changes back.

Betty calls Ross the following day; the army tranquilizes and takes Bruce to Desert Base. Deeming him doomed to follow in David's footsteps, Ross doubts helping Bruce, but Betty persuades Ross to let her try. David subjects himself to the nanomeds and gamma sphere, becoming able to meld with and absorb the properties of anything he touches. Talbot wrestles control from Ross, forcing Betty to return home. Seeking to profit from the Hulk's power, Talbot fails to provoke Bruce and puts him in anisolation tank.David confronts Betty at her house, offering to surrender himself yet asking to speak to Bruce "one last time." Talbot induces a nightmare from Bruce's repressed memories and triggers a transformation. Following an unsuccessful attempt to take a sample of the Hulk, Talbot gets himself killed when he fires an explosive round that backfires; Ross resumes command. The Hulk escapes the base, battles the army in the desert, and leaps toSan Franciscoto find Betty. She convinces Ross to take her to the Hulk, returning Bruce to normal.

Bruce and David talk at a base in the city while Ross watches, threatening to incinerate them. David has descended intomegalomania,wanting Bruce's power to stabilize his unstable molecules so he may successfully destroy all his enemies. After Bruce refuses, David bites into ahigh-voltage cablewhen Ross powers it, absorbing the energy and mutating into a powerful electrical entity. Bruce becomes the Hulk and fights and overpowers him; they are presumed dead after Ross orders a Gamma Charge Bomb to end the battle. A year later, Ross constantly monitors Betty, as numerous Hulk sightings get reported, and reconciles with her. In exile in theAmazon Rainforest,Bruce is alive as a medical camp doctor. His camp gets overrun by soldiers who try to steal their supplies; after Bruce unsuccessfully warns their commander not to make him angry, the Hulk roars in rage.

Cast

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  • Eric BanaasBruce Banner / Hulk:
    A gamma radiation research scientist. After exposure to elevated gamma radiation levels, he becomes an enormous green humanoid monster when enraged or agitated, and also has the ability to grow larger in size and become stronger when angered in his Hulk form. He is legally known as"Bruce Krenzler"throughout the film. Bana was cast in October 2001, signing for an additional two sequels.[6]Ang Lee felt obliged to cast Bana upon seeingChopperand first approached the actor in July 2001.[7]Other actors heavily pursued the role. Bana was also in heavy contention forGhost Riderbut lost out toNicolas Cage.[6]Bana explained, "I was obsessed withthe TV show.I was never a huge comic book reader when I was a kid but was completely obsessed with the television show. "[8]It was widely reportedBilly Crudupturned down the role.Johnny DeppandSteve Buscemiwere reportedly under consideration for the lead.[9]David DuchovnyandJeff Goldblumauditioned for the role.[10]Edward Norton,who went on to play Bruce inThe Incredible Hulk,expressed interest in the role but turned it down as he was disappointed with the script.[11][12]Tom Cruisewas also offered the role but he turned it down.[10]
  • Jennifer ConnellyasBetty Ross:
    Bruce's ex-girlfriend and colleague, General Ross's estranged daughter, and possibly the only one who can make the Hulk revert into Bruce. Director Ang Lee attracted Connelly to the role. "He's not talking about a guy running around in green tights and a glossy fun-filled movie for kids. He's talking along the lines of tragedy and psychodrama. I find it interesting, the green monster of rage and greed, jealousy and fear in all of us."[13]
  • Sam ElliottasThaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross:
    A four-star general and Betty's estranged father. Ross was responsible for prohibiting David Banner from his lab work after learning of his dangerous experiments. Elliot said his performance was similar to his portrayal ofBasil L. PlumleyinWe Were Soldiers.[14]Elliott accepted the role without reading the script, being excited to work with Ang Lee, and researchedHulkcomic books for the part.[15]
    • Todd Tesen as young Thaddeus Ross
  • Josh LucasasGlenn Talbot:
    A ruthless and arrogant former soldier who has a history with Betty. He offers Bruce and Betty a chance to work for him at the research company Atheon and make self-healing super soldiers.
  • Nick NolteasDavid Banner:
    Bruce's mentally unstable biological father who's also a genetics research scientist. He spent several years locked away for causing a gamma reactor explosion and accidentally killing his wife, Edith. David eventually gains absorbing powers, reminiscent of the comic book characterAbsorbing Man,which first appeared in the film's early scripts. At one time, he also becomes a towering creature composed of electricity, reminiscent ofZzzax,one of the Hulk's enemies in the comic series.[16]Nolte agreed to participate in the film when Lee described the project as a "Greek tragedy."[17][18]
  • Cara BuonoasEdith Banner:
    Bruce's biological mother, whom he cannot remember. She is heard but mostly appears in Bruce's nightmares.
  • Celia Westonas Mrs. Krenzler:
    Bruce'sadoptivemother, who cared for him after Edith's death and David's incarceration.
  • Kevin Rankinas Harper:
    Bruce's colleague, whom he saved from the gamma radiation.

Hulk co-creator/executive producerStan Leeand formerHulkactorLou Ferrignomade acameo appearanceassecurity guards.Johnny KastlandDaniel Dae Kimhave small roles as soldiers.

Production

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Development

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Jonathan Hensleigh

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ProducersAvi AradandGale Anne Hurdbegan developingHulkin 1990,[19]the same year of the airing of the final TV movie based on the 1970s TV series,Death of the Incredible Hulk.They set the property up atUniversal Picturesin 1992.[20]Michael Franceand Stan Lee were invited into Universal's offices in 1993, with France writing the script. Universal's concept was to have the Hulk battleterrorists,an idea France disliked. John Turman, a Hulk comic book fan, was brought to write the script in 1994, getting Lee's approval. Heavily influenced by theTales to Astonishissues, Turman wrote ten drafts and pitted the Hulk against General Ross and the military and[21]theLeader,also includingRick Jonesand the atomic explosion origin from the comics[22]along withBrian Banneras the explanation for Bruce's inner anger.[23]Universal had mixed feelings over Turman's script, but future screenwriters would use many elements.[21][24]

Hurd brought her husbandJonathan Hensleighas co-producer the following year, and Universal hiredIndustrial Light & Magicto create the Hulk withcomputer-generated imagery.Universal was courting France once more to write the screenplay[9]but changed whenJoe Johnstonbecame the director in April 1997.[25]The studio wanted Hensleigh to rewrite the script due to his successful results on Johnston'sJumanji.Universal fired France before he wrote a single page but gave him a buy-off.[9]Johnston dropped out of directing in July 1997 in favor ofOctober Sky,and Hensleigh convinced Universal to make theHulkhis directing debut. Universal brought Turman back a second time to write two more drafts.Zak Pennthen rewrote it.[9][26]His script featured a fight between the Hulk and a school of sharks,[22]and two scenes he eventually used for the 2008 film: Banner realizing he cannot have sex, and triggering a transformation by falling out of a helicopter.[27]Hensleigh rewrote from scratch, coming up with a brand new storyline[9]featuring Bruce Banner, who, before the accident which turns him into the Hulk, experiments with gamma-irradiated insect DNA on three convicts, transforming them into "insect men"[28]that cause havoc.[9][29]

Concept art for Jonathan Hensleigh's script

Filming was to start in December 1997 inArizonafor a mid 1999 release, but filming was pushed back for four months.[29][30]Hensleigh subsequently rewrote the script withJ. J. Abrams.Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewskiwere also brought on board to rewrite, with Hensleigh still attached as director.[9]In October 1997,[31][32][33]Hulkhad enteredpre-productionwith the creation ofprosthetic makeupandcomputer animationalready underway.Gregory Sporlederwas cast as "Novak", Banner's archenemy, whileLynn "Red" Williamswas cast as a convict who transforms into a combination of human, ant, and beetle.[30]In March 1998, Universal putHulkonhiatusdue to its escalating $100 million budget and worries of Hensleigh directing his first film. $20 million was already spent on script development, computer animation, and prosthetics work. Hensleigh immediately went to rewrite the script to reduce the budget.[34]

Michael France

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Hensleigh found the rewriting process too complicated and resigned, saying he "wasted nine months inpre-production".[35]It took another eight months for France to convince Universal and the producers to let him try to write a script for the third time. France claimed, "Someone within the Universal hierarchy wasn't sure if this was ascience fictionadventure,or acomedy,and I kept getting directions to write both. I think that at some point when I wasn't in the room, there may have been discussions about turning it into aJim CarreyorAdam Sandlermovie. "[9]France was writing the script on the fast track from July—September 1999. Filming forHulkwas to start in April 2000.[36][37]

France stated his vision of the film was different from the other drafts, which based Bruce Banner on his "amiable,nerdygenius "incarnation in the 1960s. France cited inspiration from the 1980sHulkstories, which introducedBrian Banner,Bruce's abusive father who killed his mother. His script had Banner trying to create cells with regenerative capabilities to convince himself that he is not like his father.[9]However, he hasanger managementissues before the Hulk is born, which makes everything worse. The "Don't make me angry..." line from the 1978 TV seriesThe Incredible Hulkbecame the dialogue that Banner's father would say before beating his son.[38]Elements such as the "Gammasphere", Bruce and Betty's tragic romance, and theblack opsmade it to the final film. France turned in his final drafts in late 1999 – January 2000.[9]

Ang Lee

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Michael TolkinandDavid Hayterrewrote the script even after the producers' positive response to France's script. Tolkin was brought in January 2000, and Universal brought Hayter in September. Hayter's draft featuresThe Leader,Zzzax,and theAbsorbing Manas the villains, who are depicted as Banner's colleagues and get caught in the same accident that creates the Hulk.[9][16][39]DirectorAng Leeand his producing partnerJames Schamusbecame involved with the film on January 20, 2001.[40]Lee chose not to directTerminator 3: Rise of the Machinesand instead began work on the film.[41]He was dissatisfied with Hayter's script and commissioned Schamus for a rewrite, merging Banner's father with the Absorbing Man.[9][42]Lee cited influences fromKing Kong,Frankenstein,Jekyll and Hyde,Beauty and the Beast,Faust,andGreek mythologyto interpret the story.[43]Schamus said he had found the storyline that introduced Brian Banner, allowing Lee to write a drama that again explored father-son themes.[44]

Schamus was still rewriting the script in October 2001.[6]In early 2002, as filming was underway, Michael France read all the scripts for theWriters Guild of Americato determine who would get final credit. France criticized Schamus and Hayter for claiming they were aiming to make Banner a more in-depth character, saddened they had denigrated his and Turman's work in interviews. Schamus elected to get solo credit. France said, "James Schamus did a significant amount of work on the screenplay. For example, he brought in the Hulk dogs from the comics and he made the decision to use Banner's father as a real character in the present. But he used quite a lot of elements from John Turman's scripts and quite a lot from mine, and that's why we were credited."[9][45][46]France, Turman, and Schamus received final credit. In December 2001, a theatrical release date for June 20, 2003, was announced, with the title ofThe Hulk.[47]Schamus admitted that he was worried about making the film after seeingSpider-Man.[48]

Filming

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Filming began on March 18, 2002, in Arizona and moved on April 19 to theSan Francisco Bay Area.Locations includedAdvanced Light Source,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,Oakland,Treasure Island military base,and the sequoia forests ofPorterville,before several weeks in theUtahandCaliforniadeserts. The penultimate battle scene between Hulk and his father used the real Pear Lake inSequoia National Parkas a backdrop. Filming then moved to the Universal backlot inLos Angeles,using Stage 12 for the water tank scene, and finished in the first week of August. Filming ofHulkconstituted hiring 3,000 local workers, generating over $10 million in the local economy.[49][50][51][52]Mychael Danna,who previously collaborated with Lee onRide with the DevilandThe Ice Storm,was set to compose thefilm scorebefore dropping out.Danny Elfmanwas then hired.[53]

Eric Bana commented that the shoot was "Ridiculously serious... a silent set, morbid in a lot of ways." Lee told him that he was shooting a Greek tragedy and that he would be making a "whole other movie" about the Hulk atIndustrial Light & Magic.An example of Lee'sarthouseapproach to the film was taking Bana to watch abare-knuckle bo xingmatch. Bana would later disfavorably reflect on his experience making the film as the majority of the time he was working indoors while the rest of the cast interacted with a CGI recreation of the Hulk, somewhat limiting his screen time.[44][54]Computer animation supervisorDennis Murenwas on the set every day.[19]One of the many visual images that presented an acting challenge for Bana was Lee'ssplit-screentechnique to mimic comic book page panels cinematically. This technique required many more takes of individual scenes than usual.[55]Muren and other ILM animators used previous technology fromHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(for theDobbycharacter) to create the Hulk withcomputer-generated imagery.Additional software includedPowerAnimator,Softimage 3D,Softimage XSI,andPixar'sRenderMan.ILM started computer animation work in 2001 and completed it in May 2003, just one month before the film's release.[56]Lee provided somemotion capturework inpost-production.[7]Gary Rydstromhandledsound designatSkywalker Sound.[57][58]

Music

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Main article:Hulk (soundtrack)

Danny Elfmancomposed thefilm scoreforHulkas a replacement forMychael Danna,whose score was rejected by the studio executives for its non-traditional approach and did not suit the film's tone.[59]Elfman's involvement was confirmed nearly three months ahead of the film's release and composed over two hours of music within 37 days.[60]The soundtrack album was released on June 17, 2003, byDecca Records;the album features Elfman's score as well as the song "Set Me Free"byVelvet Revolver,which plays during the end credits.[61]

Release

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Marketing

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A 70-secondteaser trailerdebuted in theaters with the release ofSpider-Manon May 3, 2002.[62]This trailer was later attached to the home video releases ofThe Scorpion King.[63]Universal Pictures spent $2.1 million to market the film in a 30-secondtelevision spotduringSuper Bowl XXXVIIon January 26, 2003.[64]A new trailer would premiere on February 14, 2003, in front ofDaredevil's screenings.[65]Another trailer debuted on May 2, 2003 with the opening ofX2.[66]Just weeks before the film's release, severalworkprintsleaked on the Internet. The public already criticized the visual and special effects, although it was not the film's final editing cut.[67]The film received a novelization written byHulkcomic writer,Peter David.[68]Thetie-inHulkvideo game was developed byRadical Entertainmentand released byVivendi Universal Gameson May 28, 2003, and features a narrative that acts as a sequel to the film.[69][70]

For the promotional campaign, Universal hiredNabisco,Post Consumer Brands,Pepsi,Hershey's,Kraft Foods,Conagra Brands,Glad,andSnack Foods Limited.[71]

Home media

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Hulkwas released onVHSandDVDon October 28, 2003.[72]The DVD includes behind-the-scenes footage, enhanced viewing options that allow users to manipulate a 3-D Hulk model, and cast and crew commentaries.[73]The film earned $61.2 million in DVD sales during 2003.[74]Hulkwas released onHD DVDon December 12, 2006, onBlu-rayon September 16, 2008,[75]and onUltra HD Blu-rayon July 9, 2019.[76]

Reception

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Box office

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Hulkwas released on June 20, 2003, grossing $24.3 million during its opening day. On its second day of release, it made $21.3 million. The film then earned $62.1 million in its opening weekend, which made it the 16th highest-ever opener at the time.[77]It managed to top the box office upon opening, beating outFinding Nemo.[78]Moreover, it surpassedAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Meto score the biggest June opening weekend.[79]That record would last until 2004 when it was surpassed byHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.[80]Hulkwent on to score the fourth-highest opening weekend for a Universal film, behindThe Lost World: Jurassic Park,The Mummy Returns,andBruce Almighty.It also achieved the fifth-highest opening weekend for a 2003 film, trailing only behind the latter film,Finding Nemo,X2,andThe Matrix Reloaded.[81]Also, the film joined2 Fast 2 FuriousandBruce Almightyto become one of three Universal films to make $50 million opening weekends.[77]With a second-weekend drop of 70%, it was the first opener above $20 million to drop over 65%.[82]At the time, the film had the second-highest second weekend decline of any superhero film, behindSteel.[83]It eventually made $18.8 million during its second weekend, ranking in second place belowCharlie's Angels: Full Throttle.[84]The film grossed $132.2 million in North America on a budget of $137 million. It made $113.2 million in foreign countries, coming to a worldwide total of $245.4 million.[5]With a final North American gross of $132.2 million, it became the largest opener not to earn $150 million.[85]

Internationally,Hulkhad box office runs in several countries. It made $3.1 million from five Asian countries during its opening weekend, scoring a Hong Kong opening of $700,000 while doublingGladiator.It grossed $122,000 in Malaysia, making it the country's second-highest opening of a Universal film, afterThe Lost World: Jurassic Park.[86]In the UK, the film had made $5.6 million during its opening weekend, combined with $2.1 million from previews.[87]In Mexico,Hulkbecame Universal's biggest opening in the country, generating $4.6 million and surpassingJurassic Park III.[88]In total, the international grosses include Argentina ($1.2 million), Australia ($6.4 million), France ($9.6 million), Germany ($4.1 million), Italy ($8 million), Japan ($7.6 million), Mexico ($11.6 million), South Korea ($2.5 million), Spain ($7.7 million), Taiwan ($3.7 million), and the United Kingdom ($13.9 million).[5]

Critical response

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Upon opening,Hulkreceived mixed reviews from critics.[89]Onreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,Hulkholds a 63% approval rating based on 239 reviews and an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critics' consensus reads, "While Ang Lee's ambitious film earns marks for style and an attempt at dramatic depth, there's ultimately too much talking and not enough smashing."[90]Metacritic,which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[91]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[92]

Roger Ebertgave a positive review, explaining, "Ang Leeis trying to actually deal with the issues in the story of the Hulk, instead of simply cutting to brainlessvisual effects."Ebert also liked how the Hulk's movements resembledKing Kong.[93]AlthoughPeter TraversofRolling StonefeltHulkshould have been shorter, he heavily praised the action sequences, especially theclimaxandcliffhanger.[94]Paul ClintonofCNNbelieved the cast gave strong performances, but in an otherwise positive review, criticized thecomputer-generated imagery,calling the Hulk "a ticked-off version ofShrek".[95]

Mick LaSalleof theSan Francisco Chronicleconsidered "the film is more thoughtful and pleasing to the eye than any blockbuster in recent memory, but its epic length comes without an epic reward."[96]Ty BurrofThe Boston Globefelt "Jennifer Connellyreprises her stand-by-your-messed-up-scientist turn fromA Beautiful Mind."[97]Lisa Schwarzbaum ofEntertainment Weeklystated, "a big-budget comic-book adaptation has rarely felt so humorless and intellectually defensive about its own pulpy roots."[98]

Hulkreceived retrospective praise from critics for its artistic difference from other superhero films such as those by Marvel and DC comics. In 2012,Matt Zoller Seitzcited it as one of the few big-budget superhero films that "really departed from formula, in terms of subject matter or tone", writing that the film is "pretty bizarre... in its old-school Freudian psychology, but interesting for that reason".[99]In Scout Tafoya's 2016 video essay on another film directed by Ang Lee,Ride with the Devil,he mentionedHulkas "Lee's ill-fated but quietly soulful and deeply sad adaptation ofThe Incredible Hulkcomics ".[100]In 2018, Peter Sobczynski ofRogerEbertwrote that the film is "a genuinely great example of cinematic pop art that deserves a reappraisal".[101]One article calls it a "road not taken" in comic book adaptations. The author praisedPopeye,Dick Tracy,andHulkfor their use of comic techniques such as "masking,paneling,andpage layout"in ways theDC Extended UniverseandMarvel Cinematic Universedo not.[102]

Accolades

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Connelly andDanny Elfmanreceived nominations at the30th Saturn AwardswithBest ActressandBest Music.The film was nominated forBest Science Fiction Filmbut lost out toX2,another movie based on Marvel characters.Dennis Muren,Michael Lantieri,and thespecial effectscrew were nominated forBest Special Effects.[103]

Award Category Nominee Result
30th Saturn Awards Best Science Fiction Film Hulk Nominated
Best Actress Jennifer Connelly Nominated
Best Music Danny Elfman Nominated
Best Special Effects Dennis Muren,Michael Lantieri Nominated

Future

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Cancelled sequel

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In March 2002, during filming forHulk,producerAvi Aradtargeted a May 2005 theatrical release date for a sequel.[104]Upon the film's release, screenwriterJames Schamusstarted to plan a sequel featuring Hulk's Grey Hulk persona and considered using theLeaderand theAbominationas villains.[105]Marvel asked for Abomination's inclusion to be an actual threat to Hulk, unlike General Ross.[106]The project ultimately never launched due to Universal’s failure to meet the 2004 deadline to begin filming.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Main article:The Incredible Hulk (film)

In January 2006,Marvel Studiosreacquired the film rights to the character, and writerZak Pennbegan work on a sequel titledThe Incredible Hulk.[107]However,Edward Nortonrewrote Penn's script after signing on to star, retelling the origin story in flashbacks and revelations, to establish the film as areboot;directorLouis Leterrieragreed with this approach.[108]Leterrier acknowledged that the only remaining similarity between the two films was Bruce hiding in South America.[109]

Amid the rumors ofTobey MaguireandAndrew Garfieldreturning to reprise their roles inSpider-Man: No Way Homewhich later turned out to be true, Bana was interviewed by Jake Hamilton to promote his new filmThe Dry.When asked if he would be willing to reprise his role as his version of Bruce Banner in a future MCU project alongside Ruffalo's version of the character, Bana replied:

When I went and did that film, I mean, that was kind of, like, pre-Marvel universe, right? That universe didn't even really exist. So, it always just felt like a one-time film for me, y'know? That world of, 'You go off and do a movie and there are gonna be sequels and you're going to be doing it for a bit.' That, actually, that framework didn't even exist back then. So I guess the answer, the short answer, is no, I never felt like it was something I was going to reprise or do again and I still feel, I mean after all this time, that's definitely... yeah, I can't see that happening.[110]

References

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