The Incredible Hulk
Edward Norton primitively design to make a subsequence to 2008’sThe unbelievable Hulk , and while it ultimately did n’t hail to realisation , a few inside information have get along out over the eld to uncover what it would have been about . After over a decade of record - breaking superhero blockbusters , it ’s well-to-do to assume the MCU was a guaranteed achiever . Rewind to 2008 , though , and in Sojourner Truth it was something of a gamble . Marvel was a cub plastic film studio that had previously only worked alongside others , with no proved racecourse record book of their own , and nobody had ever attempt to make a partake in cinematic macrocosm quite like the MCU before .
The forward-looking Marvel Studios has a report for long - term planning , but during Phase 1 they were frequently course - correcting . That ’s particularly evident if you spew a vital optic over the Phase 1 post - credit scenes because in the end only one of them actually give to the overarching narrative . Marvel literally raise their first one - shot in order toretconThe Incredible Hulk ’s post - credits setting . However , Marvel ’s Hulk programme changed even more radically than that . The first Hulk actor was Edward Norton , and over the years he ’s let out he was originally signed up for a two - film deal with a very specific character discharge for Bruce Banner . Unfortunately , it was n’t meant to be .
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Ed Norton’s Hulk Plan
Edward Norton first became call for withThe Incredible Hulkin 2007 , and he did n’t have a bun in the oven to just be an actor . The screenplay was unfinished when Norton amount on gameboard because writer Zak Penn had allow the labor to work onThe Grand . One of the reasons Norton get the part was he was a author as well as an actor , and he was captivated at the opportunity to figure out on the final draft . Norton had grown up jazz Hulk comic strip , and he think he could do with the Hulk what Christopher Nolan had done with Batman , make it " tenacious , dark , and serious , " anddrawing intake from the Dark Knight trilogy :
" If there was ever a affair that I thought had that in it , it was the Hulk . It ’s literally a Promethean myth . "
While this may seem like an peculiar conniption for the MCU , it ’s important to remember that Marvel Studios had yet to develop its house style . The first film was to limn Bruce as a dupe , the second as what Norton called the " conscious dreamer " who had study to live through the transformation . The terminate ofThe Incredible Hulkis quite equivocal . Banner is attempting to control the transformation , and his eyes snap heart-to-heart ; has he succeeded , or has he failed ?
This equivocalness was calculated on the part of Norton and conductor Louis Leterrier . At the metre , they had no style of knowing ifThe Incredible Hulk 2would come out before or afterThe Avengers . There ’s even some evidence Marvel was diddle with the idea of using theHulk as the villaininThe Avengers , a concept lift directly from their Ultimate mirthful Scripture range .
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What We Know About The Incredible Hulk 2’s Story
In an consultation with Norton has referred toThe Incredible Hulkas " Chapter 1 " in a multiple - part story , which is central to understandingThe Incredible Hulk 2 , because it means the film was in all likelihood going to build on everything that had been set up in the first movie . Secondary characters like Betty Ross and her father " Thunderbolt " Ross would presumably come back , and Dr. Samuel Sterns , aka the Leader , would most likely have been the main scoundrel . Tim Blake Nelson confirmed he had sign a multi - picture contract with Marvel for precisely that aim . Ty Burrell was also expecting to fall as Doc Samson .
Why The Incredible Hulk 2 Didn’t Happen & Why The Hulk Was Recast
The relationship between Norton and Marvel Studios , unluckily , turn during the editing ofThe Incredible Hulkbecause it became remove the histrion and studio apartment had very unlike visual modality . A lot of grapheme development was cut , and theatre director Louis Leterrier believed there could be up to 70 minutes of delete scenes . Norton was n’t happy , and a confluence with Marvel execs turned into a shouting match .
do matters worse , details leak to the press . It did n’t take long for conjecture to start circle that Norton would n’t be reprising the role of Bruce Banner ; members of the cast were literally fielding questions about this duringThe Incredible Hulk ’s public press term of enlistment . In 2010 , briefly before cinematography began onThe Avengers , Marvel substantiate they had parted room with Norton . Even that was n’t especially amicable , with their statement containing what seemed to be a parting shot target straight at him , say their decision was"rooted in the motivation for an doer who embodies the creativity and collaborative feeling of our other talented cast fellow member . "
How Captain America 4 Continues The Incredible Hulk’s Story Instead
Banner and the Hulk have since acquire together in the MCU with a journey that ’s been run into in theAvengersmovies , Thor : Ragnarok , and the seriesShe - Hulk : Attorney at Law . However , it ’s been support that fictional character fromThe Incredible Hulkwill be featured in the upcomingCaptain America : Brave New Worldmovie . Liv Tyler is mark to reprise her function as Banner ’s love interest Betty Ross ( who has n’t appeared in the MCU since the 2009 moving picture ) . The same is true for Tim Blake Nelson ’s Samuel Sterns who will have probably develop into the Leader as he was mean to in the subsequence that never was .
Although the late William Hurt ’s General Ross has had a continued role with multiple visual aspect in the MCU , it does look as thoughBrave New Worldwill be his biggest character yet sinceThe Incredible Hulkas he ’s confirmed to be the President of the United States . remold with Harrison Ford , Ross may even transmute into the Red Hulkas he does in the original comics . At least whereTheIncredible Hulk’scast is worry , it come out as though their tarradiddle are continue withBrave New Worldas an unofficial sequel .
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Will The MCU Make Another Solo Hulk Movie?
Marvel Studios was purchased by Disney in 2009 , elaborate any chance of another solo Hulk film in the MCU as the distribution rights to Hulk films ride with Universal . Back in 2008 , that was a good affair for Marvel , because they lacked any statistical distribution mesh of their own . When they were take by Disney , though , they take in the House of Mouse ’s own distribution channel . And there was no way Disney would pay to produceThe unbelievable Hulk 2 , but allow Universal to profit from the distribution . Even Edward Norton ’s replacement , Mark Ruffalo , has concededthe difficulty of another Hulk solo movie .
That said , She - Hulkdid tease a unexampled plot of land yarn for the Hulk involve his new Word and a return toThor : Ragnarok’splanet Sakaar where the Hulk had a abbreviated calling as a galactic gladiator . sparkle rumors for aWorld War Hulkadaptation in the near futurity , it ’s unclear if a moving picture or series is in the works , or if this plot will be integrate into another character ’s movie as a means of circumventing the oecumenical distribution issue . While the MCU is clear interested in continue Banner and the Hulk ’s story , they do n’t really needThe Incredible Hulk 2given all the other story avenues at their electric pig .
