Within the expansive narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,The Incredible Hulkstands out as a particularly mysterious chapter. The character’s journey, its cast, and even its acclaimed lead, Ed Norton, did not find continuity in subsequent MCU endeavors. The narrative’s baton was handed over to Mark Ruffalo, who revamped the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk for the debutAvengerssaga.
During a recent interaction, Louis Leterrier, the directorial mind behindThe Incredible Hulk, shed light on the expansive vision he once held for a potentialThe Incredible Hulksequel. Elaborating on his vision during an interview withComicBook, Leterrier unveiled a world where the MCU would welcome multiple facets of the Hulk character. Leterrier disclosed:
“Yeah there was like a whole sequel. There was like Grey Hulk, Red Hulks – there was a lot of good stuff that we were planning.”
It’s intriguing to picture an MCU where both the “Grey Hulk” – an alternative ego of Bruce Banner, and not just one, but an ensemble of Red Hulks co-existed. Post the 2008The Incredible Hulk, the MCU narrative didn’t dive deep into the layers of Hulk until the She-Hulk’s grand entrance in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Whispers are now making rounds aboutCaptain America: Brave New World, potentially spotlighting Harrison Forddonning the mantle of Red Hulk. Furthermore, murmurs suggest Liv Tyler’s anticipated return, this time, as Red She-Hulk. The choice to steer towards Mark Ruffalo’s “Smart Hulk” iteration left the Grey Hulk in the shadows, much to the dismay of ardent Marvel enthusiasts.
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Complexities & Contrasts: Leterrier’s Unique Perspective on The Hulk’s Evolution
In reflecting on the depth of the Hulk’s character, Leterrier mused,
“Hulk is a complex character within the Marvel Universe. You want the primeval Hulk… the rage Hulk. And then when you go Grey Hulk and Smart Hulk you lose that a little bit and you get a little bit more kiddish with it.”
While speaking of his approach towards this Marvel giant, Leterrier elaborated on the dichotomy he perceived between his vision and the existing portrayal.
“But that was the fun of where I was in my movie, with the access to consciousness and all that stuff. That was really fun. And that’s what I was aiming to do. But take my time with it. Because there’s so many characters they want it all fast [laughs]. I like She-Hulk, but then you know, yoga between Hulk and… I was like ‘Okay! yeah, we’re very far from my Hulk.’”
Leterrierbelieves that The Incredible Hulk “birthed” MCU. During a previous interview withComicBook, he recounted,
“It’s incredible. I was there at the beginning of Marvel. This was a very special time. We created this studio. We created… Yeah, the MCU was birthed out of The Incredible Hulk. Tony Stark walked into The Incredible Hulk and said, ‘I’m putting together a team,’ and which one is it? Obviously, the Avengers. That was the beginning. No one thought… We had hopes; Kevin and I had hopes that he would become something like this as fans. … It’s kind of like the same thing [with Fast X]. If you do movies, if you bring something as a fan to the fans, if you respect your audience, because you are one of them, it will go a long way. So yeah, I mean, I can’t wait for these characters, our new characters, to be 20 years from now in other movies.”
For those yearning for a nostalgic trip down this unique Marvel lane,The Incredible Hulkhas found a home on Disney+. Be it a nostalgic rewatch or a fresh dive, the film holds an unmissable spot in the MCU’s illustrious history.
