Click here to revisit Part 1, which focuses on Bryan Singer's X-Men. Now onward to Louis Leterrier and The Incredible Hulk! Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to the character after the mixed reception to Ang Lee's Hulk, and writer Zak Penn began work on a loose sequel that would be much closer to the comics and the television series. Norton rewrote the script after he signed on to star, which clarified the film's new back-story. The film outgrossed its predecessor and received generally positive reviews. Despite this positive reception Marvel chose to put off a possible sequel until after 2012's The Avengers; Edward Norton was initially set to reprise his role, however after talks broke down he will be replaced by Mark Ruffalo for The Avengers and any subsequent sequels.
To dive into this movie, we must firs start with Ang Lee's Hulk. At the time of its release, screenwriter James Schamus was planning a sequel, featuring the Gray Hulk. He was also considering the Leader and the Abomination as villains. Marvel wanted the Abomination because he was the most famous [physical]enemy, and would pose an actual threat to the Hulk, unlike General Ross. During the filming of Hulk, producer Avi Arad had a target May 2005 theatrical release date. However, on January 18, 2006 Arad confirmed that the project would be exclusively moving over to Marvel Studios because Universal did not meet the deadline for filming a sequel. Marvel felt it would be better to deviate from Ang Lee's style to continue the franchise, arguing his film was like a parallel universe one-shot comic book, and their next film needed to be, in Kevin Feige's words, "really starting the Marvel Hulk franchise".
In early 2006, Louis Leterrier was in talks with Marvel Studios to direct Iron Man and was disheartened when the studio decided to go with Jon Favreau. However, both parties walked away impressed with one another and Leterrier was selected to direct The Incredible Hulk. Leterrier was initially reluctant as he was unsure if he could replicate Lee's style, but Marvel explained that was not their intent. Leterrier's primary inspiration was Hulk: Gray (a retelling of his first appearance) written by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. One of the first things Leterrier did was replicate every comic book panel from Hulk:Gray and pin them up on the pre-production wall. Leterrier said that he planned to show Bruce Banner's struggle with the monster within him, while Feige added the film would explore "that element of wish fulfillment, of overcoming an injustice or a bully and tapping into a strength that you didn't quite realize you had in yourself". Zak Penn was retained to continue developing a script but the writer ultimately left the project in early 2007 to pursue directorial opportunities. Edward Norton, now signed on to play Bruce Banner at this point, swooped in and re-wrote the script and received glowing praises from the studio. However, it was rumored that
Leterrier was not pleased by this decision and that he had his own thoughts about script changes. It was always rumored that the two were an intangible source of friction on the set and that this was the point of contention. Speaking about the script, Norton had the following to say:
"I don't even like the phrase origin story, and I don't think in great literature and great films that explaining the roots of the story doesn't [necessarily] mean it comes in the beginning. Audiences know this story, [so] deal with it artfully." [I'd like to] have revelations even in the third act about what set this whole thing in motion"
Some of the changes that Norton and Leterrier, reportedly disagreed upon were the deletion Rick Jones and toned down S.H.I.E.L.D. presence.
Fun Fact:Leterrier felt Ang Lee's Hulk had "too much fat [and] the proportions were a little off.
One of the things Leterrier did have control over was the Abomination's appearance. He changed the Abomination's design from the comics because he felt the audience would question why he resembled a fish or a reptile, instead of "an über-human" like the Hulk. Rather, his hideousness is derived from being injected multiple times into his skin, muscles and bones; creating a creature with a protruding spine and sharp bones that he can use to stab. His green skin is pale, and reflects light, so it appears orange because of surrounding fire during the climactic battle.
While the director was pretty much selected very early on, the same
can not be said for the cast. David Duchovny was a front-runner for the film before Norton's casting.Lou Ferrigno voices The Hulk, who was originally only to say "Betty" before rewrites. Jennifer Connelly was in early negotiations to reprise her role of Betty Ross before being replaced by Liv Tyler.
Ray Stevenson was originally the front-runner to play Emil Blonsky / Abomination before Leterrier campaigned for Tim Roth.
Fun Fact: Paul Soles, who voiced Banner in the 1966 The Marvel Superheroes cartoon, cameos as Stanley, a kindly pizza restaurant owner who helps Banner.
This movie definitely had it's share of internal controversy. Leterrier and Norton were at odds over the script, Leterrier and Marvel were at odds over the supporting cast, and everyone was at odds over the final run time off the movie [Seventy minutes of footage, mostly dealing with the origin, were not included in the final cut.]. Ultimately, this was the reason why Norton was not retained fro the Avengers and any plans for a sequel were put on hold despite the film's financial success. Still Leterrier, who's filmography list includes The Transporter, Transporter 2, Unleashed, and Clash of the Titans strove to make an action film in the style that he's known for, few surprises, escalating action, and adrenaline packed action scenes. It's definitely not a thinking man's movie and there's no subliminal messages or or undertones in this one. It's a pretty direct contrast to what Bryan Singer strove to achieve with X-Men. It raises the question of whether mainstream audiences want a message attached with their summer comic book movies or if they want a straightforward action romp? Leterrier's Hulk was simply a fun, popcorn flick. However, we comic book fans know that there's potential in the source material for a more serious story to be told. At the same time, with a director such as Leterrier, his particular approach makes it easier to stay closer to the source material. It's the director's like Singer, Matthew Vaughn, and Ang Lee, who put their personal intentions before that of the history of the source material, where we see the biggest deviations from comic book lore. It's interesting to think about what type of films we would've seen if Leterrier had directed X-Men and Singer were to direct a Hulk film. We definitely would've gotten the costumes, the original team, and most likely, no Wolverine from Leterrier. At the same time, a Singer Hulk film would've focused more on the story and probably given a portrayal of the Hulk phenomenon as a disease rather than something to try to control. But would these changes necessarily result in a better film?
MOVIE MAGIC CASE STUDY SERIES
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner/the Hulk. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is not a sequel to the 2003 film Hulk, but rather a reboot that establishes a new back-story where Banner became the Hulk as an unwitting pawn in a military scheme to reinvigorate the supersoldier program through gamma radiation. On the run, he attempts to cure himself of the Hulk before he is captured by General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt), but his worst fears are realized when power-hungry soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) becomes a similar but more bestial creature. Liv Tyler also stars as Betty Ross, Banner's girlfriend and General Ross' daughter.
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