‘The Incredible Hulk’ Sequel in the Works for After ‘The Avengers 2′?

Marvel’s The Avengers broke all kinds of box office records when it released in 2012, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time behind James Cameron’s Titanicand Avatar, but it also managed to reintroduce one of comics’ most iconic superheroes. After two films – Hulk and The Incredible Hulk – with two different stars – Eric Bana and Edward Norton – Bruce Banner at last returned to the big screen to thunderous applause as the Hulk, this time played by Mark Ruffalo.

 

 

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While Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk film is considered a standalone film, its mixed reviews prompted Marvel to reacquire the character’s rights from Universal Studios and make the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, which is definitely part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite later changing actors from Norton to Ruffalo, The Incredible Hulk features an appearance by Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, and there are also references to that film in The Avengers, thereby establishing it in the current canon.

The success of the big green dude in The Avengers has essentially returned the character into the limelight, and many have been wondering since then if another Hulk film could now be in the cards. Well, fans may be in luck. According to Latino Review, Lou Ferrigno (the former The Incredible Hulk TV star and current voice actor for the Hulk in the films) recently told a local radio station in Minnesota that Marvel is indeed planning another solo Hulk film, saying:

“Now because he saved the day they’re making another solo ‘Hulk’ movie after the second ‘Avengers’ comes out.”

This isn’t, however, the first time Ferrigno has made such a claim. Five months ago, the actor made the same statement in an interview, which was followed by Ruffalo and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige expressing their excitement about the idea, yet noting there were currently no plans in the works. And with half of Phase Three after The Avengers: Age of Ultron already taking shape with Ant-Man, Captain America 3, and The Avengers 3 on the schedule, we’re inclined to believe them for the time being.

The other slots in Phase Three could go to a mix of old and new Marvel properties, one of which is rumored to be Doctor Strange, but it’s still possible that the Hulk could get a solo film in Phase Four.

A year ago, Feige responded to rumors about turning Planet Hulk and World War Hulk into films as being really cool ideas, yet he also worried about the MCU being overwhelmed with continuity and mythology. At this point, it sounds like a solo film is just wishful thinking while Marvel continues to flesh out their many other films until they can nail down a storyline.

So would you be interested in a Hulk film starring Ruffalo? Which Hulk storyline do you think should be done on the big screen?

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Stay tuned for more news on a sequel to Hulk as it develops.

‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’: Andy Serkis Helping to Mo-Cap Hulk

Among Marvel’s pantheon of gods and heroes, everybody’s favorite green-skinned rage beast, the Hulk, has endured a decidedly troubled transition from the page to film; since his first movie appearance in 2003 (Ang Lee’s oft-maligned Hulk), the big guy has been portrayed by three different actors in as many movies, starting with Eric Banna, continuing on with Edward Norton for the eventual reboot, The Incredible Hulk, and ending with Mark Ruffalo, who found smashing pathos in the character in The Avengers.

 

 

 

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There’s more to Hulk than the leading man behind the monster, of course, namely the motion capture technology used to bring him to life. As a special effect, Hulk himself has just as storied a screen history as his human counterparts; Lee stepped in for mo-capping duties over a decade ago, while Norton and French martial artist Cyril Raffaelli gave their own individual mo-cap contributions to create Hulk’s look in 2008. Ruffalo, however, did all of the work himself in 2012, and if there’s a reason why he’s often considered the very best Hulk of all the modern Hulks, that could well be it.

But even a master Hulk needs a helping hand once in a while, especially considering that Ruffalo isn’t typically known for performances of this nature. So, with The Avengers: Age of Ultron looming, the The Kids Are All Right actor has reached out to the master of mo-cap himself, Andy Serkis, for help in building a better Hulk for the sequel. Word on this little partnership hails from Ruffalo himself, and if it’s not groundbreaking in terms of The Avengers 2‘s narrative, it’s certainly exciting in terms of its level of craft.

Nobody should take this news and cast doubt on Ruffalo’s turn in The Avengersretrospectively; Ruffalo found a solid balance between Bruce Banner’s humanity and the Hulk’s penchant for mayhem, ultimately creating a compelling portrait of one of Marvel’s more complex characters. But Ruffalo also isn’t the kind of guy audiences think of when they think of ambitious, blockbusting spectacles. He’s more at home in more dramatic roles and comedies, ranging from films like Zodiac to The Brothers Bloom. It’s not that he’s a poor mo-cap actor. It’s just not his usual milieu.

Andy Serkis, on the other hand, was born in a mo-cap suit, and has more or less defined what it means to act through mo-cap ever since showing the world how it’s done in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. His impressive efforts in making us sympathize with the twisted, pitiable, duplicitous Gollum garnered him great recognition during the 2002 and 2003 awards seasons; since then, he’s earned similar laurels for taking the titular role in 2005′s King Kong, portraying Captain Haddock and Sir Francis Haddock in 2011′s The Adventures of Tintin, and playing Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes the same year.

The latter film has a sequel coming out this summer, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and while no one can predict the future, odds seem to favor him drawing similar praise for that picture, too. That’s to say nothing of his mo-cap consultations for Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla, or his impending directorial stint on WB’s live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book (or his upcoming role in Star Wars: Episode VII,possibly as a mo-cap character), but the point here has been made in excess: Serkis knows motion capture like the back of his hand.

So the idea of having him lend that hand to Ruffalo for The Avengers: Age of Ultronis pretty exciting. It certainly can’t hurt production by having him consult on the Hulk, even if it merely amounts to Serkis giving Ruffalo a few simple tips and instructions to improve the latter’s performance; really, there should be no question that having him aboard on Joss Whedon’s next superhero rumpus will be a good thing.

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The Avengers: Age of Ultron arrives in theaters on May 1st, 2015.