Finally a Hulk Franchise?

[L0ngsh0t]

Is there any chance we can get Hulk going on a good foot now?

I really like Mark Ruffalo, I think he is close enough to the quality of serious actors Norton and Bana were but at the same time he does have that kinda fun-loving vibe about him that can hopefully make for a more human Bruce Banner.

I'm a Hulk homer. I don't know why, but he's the guy I'm always rooting for in this Marvel Universe, maybe it's cause he is the only one without a slam dunk film so far....

I'd really like to see a Hulk movie where the Leader is kind of in the shadows and the Leader experiments with Doc Samson etc and so it's Samson vs Hulk the whole movie, but at the end Samson chooses to fight with Hulk and they team together to take down Leader's giant robot crap but Leader ditches before we get a good look at him saving him for the sequel

something like that. Give Hulk an equal who is also a human physical enemy would be neat with Samson


Anyone have any thoughts on Hulk? I think it sounds like Ruffalo is interested in continuing the character at least. Which is nice

[cherokeesam]

I'm going to wait and see how the Hulk TV show turns out. If the show ever gets off the ground and becomes successful, I seriously doubt there'll be a solo movie franchise coexisting with that. If the TV show falls through, then yeah, Hulk needs a film franchise.

[MarvelKnight]

Yep, everything hinges on the TV show. Though I haven't heard much about it. It does plan on having Ruffalo and being tied into the MCU, correct?

[DrCosmic]

The problem with Hulk is that the expectation is that Bruce Banner is the main character, and Hulk the first antagonist/rival. The satisfaction comes from Hulk being the main character, and Banner being supporting. But Hulk doesn't have a lot of depth to carry a film, and he's too expensive to bring to life constantly to give him that depth.

But it works fine in an ensemble when you can just bring out the Hulk and have the other heroes carry the arc.

[Blader5489]

Yep, everything hinges on the TV show. Though I haven't heard much about it. It does plan on having Ruffalo and being tied into the MCU, correct?

Nope. New Banner, no ties to the MCU.

[Kirmit]

The problem with Hulk is that the expectation is that Bruce Banner is the main character, and Hulk the first antagonist/rival. The satisfaction comes from Hulk being the main character, and Banner being supporting. But Hulk doesn't have a lot of depth to carry a film, and he's too expensive to bring to life constantly to give him that depth.

I agree it is an expensive feat but saying Hulk doesn't have enough depth to carry a movie is wrong, people don't realise he is so much more than just 'Hulk smash'. A good example is Caesar in ROTPOTA, a fully CG creation who was able to carry a movie, Hulk has much more depth and character than Caesar, so if he can do it, Hulk can. We haven't seen the proper Hulk onscreen yet, I love both Hulk films but neither one showed comic Hulk, hasn't shown his character, his personality, his humanity or his humour, all of these things would give us an awesome Hulk.

[MarvelKnight]

Nope. New Banner, no ties to the MCU.

Well, that is kind of dumb, no?

[Kirmit]

I might be mistaken but I'm pretty sure I read the Hulk TV show would be connected to the MCU, albeit loosely, I don't know anything about Ruffalo playing Banner though.

[MarvelKnight]

I would like to see as little of the actor as possible honestly. In a hulk TV show, I think it should be about the Hulk. If it is centered on him being on the run, I doubt he'd be able to calm down enough to revert back to human form.

It just seems odd that it wouldn't be in MCU continuity. Guess we'll find out if and when it gets off the ground.

[L0ngsh0t]

I would like to see as little of the actor as possible honestly. In a hulk TV show, I think it should be about the Hulk. If it is centered on him being on the run, I doubt he'd be able to calm down enough to revert back to human form.

It just seems odd that it wouldn't be in MCU continuity. Guess we'll find out if and when it gets off the ground.

My bet is that they want to do a Hulk movie with Ruffalo and get the right director etc, but they are waiting to see what the response to Avengers Hulk is first

we still don't know what the 2014 movies are. A good bet is one of them is Cap...but I'd imagine if Hulk is well-received in Avengers the other will be Hulk

[Kirmit]

My bet is that they want to do a Hulk movie with Ruffalo and get the right director etc, but they are waiting to see what the response to Avengers Hulk is first

we still don't know what the 2014 movies are. A good bet is one of them is Cap...but I'd imagine if Hulk is well-received in Avengers the other will be Hulk

The only problem I forsee is if Hulk is so awesome in Avengers he'll have alot to live upto in his own movie, which could be pricey.

[L0ngsh0t]

The only problem I forsee is if Hulk is so awesome in Avengers he'll have alot to live upto in his own movie, which could be pricey.

Too awesome can never be a problem

[djKiDDvIcIOUs]

I heard the Hulk tv show is going to be set way earlier in his life. Before any of the MCU stuff but it was supposed to be in the same universe. Hopefully Hulk rocks it in TA and they decide to give him more movie love.

I was a huge fan of TIH but unfortunately the GA didn't know what to make of it after ang's Hulk. Would have been cool if they had done IM first and established MS and had an after credit scene leading into TIH but I was very happy with what we got so far

[thalidomide]

Nah, I think I read an article saying that they will take their time and think about making another Hulk movie, I mean it's a smart move considering that the 1st movie sucked and the 2nd one was a little ... let's just saying a little less exciting compared to Thor and Iron Man.

[fletch1076]

Does anyone know how many pictures Ruffalo signed on for?

[Blader5489]

Does anyone know how many pictures Ruffalo signed on for?

Probably six, since that's what all the other principals (except Downey and Jackson) are signed for.

[L0ngsh0t]

Nah, I think I read an article saying that they will take their time and think about making another Hulk movie, I mean it's a smart move considering that the 1st movie sucked and the 2nd one was a little ... let's just saying a little less exciting compared to Thor and Iron Man.

My guess is ultimatley they will make one. Maybe it won't be a franchise deal...Ruffalo will probably get 1 solo movie i'd imagine.

I think it would be a good move to show Hulk as an actual hero in a solo film. Banner has some slight control over it now. Not sure where the tension comes from...I've always felt Doc Samson would be a good anti-villain maybe have Leader make Samson to throw off Hulk and then they team up to take Leader down

[Bruce Banner]

I don't mean to be a negative guy at the moment. I want to see another Hulk movie badly, with a consistent lead actor.

But, Mark Ruffalo is in his mid-forties just like Downey Jr. with the amount of time to get things into production and set to go. It's only a matter of time before not even all the make up can make them look age appropriate for their respective roles. Downey even said back in 08 that he had maybe a 5-6 year window to do it. If Ruffalo gets his own, I'd only assume one (which is better than none).

I wouldn't mind someone else making me think that my opinion is wrong, I could use a boost in optimism on this topic.

[L0ngsh0t]

I don't mean to be a negative guy at the moment. I want to see another Hulk movie badly, with a consistent lead actor.

But, Mark Ruffalo is in his mid-forties just like Downey Jr. with the amount of time to get things into production and set to go. It's only a matter of time before not even all the make up can make them look age appropriate for their respective roles. Downey even said back in 08 that he had maybe a 5-6 year window to do it. If Ruffalo gets his own, I'd only assume one (which is better than none).

I wouldn't mind someone else making me think that my opinion is wrong, I could use a boost in optimism on this topic.

I think the safe bet is that Ruffalo does 3 Avengers movies and gets 1 solo film.

If the solo film absolutely kills it, beyond all expectations they might get a 2nd one.

I think we'll get 1 more solo Hulk movie in this cycle of Avengers films though. Especially if Hulk reception continues to be as strong

[Silvermoth]

Which Hulk story would you like to see adapted though?

Planet Hulk is a good one but I suppose post John Carter Disney might be a little frightened of it.

[psylockolussus]

Right now I'm not holding my breath for a new Hulk movie. I think at best, his next movie is the Avengers 2.

[CaptainStacy]

Which Hulk story would you like to see adapted though?


Something original, with The Leader as the villain...

[Gabe99]

Is Marvel Changing Their Tune? Solo 'Hulk' Movie Being Eyed For 2015 Release According To Marvel Entertainment Head (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/is-marvel-changing-their-tune-solo-hulk-movie-reportedly-being-eyed-for-2015-release-20120430)

There have been three iterations of Marvel's Incredible Hulk character onscreen not counting Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno's iconic portraits of the character on TV in the late 1970s. Universal and Ang Lee's 2003 take on the character starring Eric Bana is a fan favorite in some circles, but it was far from successful and in this writer's mind, wasn't at all good. Marvel Studios got the rights back to the character in time for a 2008 version of the film directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Edward Norton and while it features a strong first act and some good character work reportedly written and pushed by the star himself, the picture devolves into a clamorous third act that is a mess of action and nothing more. While this writer hasn't seen the third construction in Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" starring Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner and the titular green behemoth, by all accounts the character has seen thumbs up approval from critics and fans alike (read our most recent version of "The Avengers" review here).

Still, when asked recently if a third solo "Hulk" film could be on the horizon, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige pretty much confirmed that plan wasn't in the cards. "Well, no. This was [the character's] other shot, right?," Feige told the Huffington Post in reference to the Hulk In "The Avengers" film. "I mean, this was the third appearance of Hulk and everything that we had and were going for, we put in to Hulk's appearance in 'Avengers.' So, I love that people are saying that and are feeling that way about Hulk, but mission accomplished at this point."

Yet this runs contrary to a more recent interview in Forbes with Paul Gitter, Marvel Entertainment's President of Consumer Products for North America. Evidently the Hulk has been tracking so well in audience popularity thanks to "The Avengers" film Marvel are revising their game plan.

Forbes says Marvel executives have been “pleasantly surprised by the phenomenal response” to the green monster turned super hero, and expect this fan popularity to further grow once "The Avengers" hits on May 4th. “His sales are up in a major way. We repositioned him from where he was always misunderstood to now depicting him in a more heroic and aspirational manner,” Gitter told Forbes. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/04/30/marvels-five-year-plan-for-the-avengers-to-rescue-the-movies/)

Forbes says, quoting Gitter, "that if the Hulk’s successful turnaround continues, Gitter says Marvel will 'spin him off to a stand-alone [TV] program next year,' supported by a big budget franchise movie in 2015." So the TV program, we knew (Guillermo del Toro is supposed to be an executive-producer), but a 2015 franchise movie is certainly a new idea. Would whoever starred in the TV show also star in the movie? Apparently Marvel is so over the moon with the emotional and impulsive Bruce Banner alter ego they're exploring ways to promote the Hulk as a corporate icon in the same way that MetLife uses the Peanuts' characters as their corporate mascots. Update: And make note: apparently Mark Ruffalo says he's signed on for six Marvel films. That's nothing to sneeze at. (http://collider.com/mark-ruffalo-the-avengers-hulk-movie-interview/160722/)

Of course, before placing the horse before the cart, presumably the show would have to be a hit before the movie could take place, but it sounds like Marvel are at least feeling very positive and hopeful about the character as of right now. Let's keep an eye out to see if this plan sticks.

[Gabe99]

Mark Ruffalo Talks THE AVENGERS, Deleted Scenes, and Reveals He Signed a 6 Picture Deal with Marvel (http://collider.com/mark-ruffalo-the-avengers-hulk-movie-interview/160722/)

[MarvelKnight]

6 picture deal for Ruffalo, which I'm sure includes 3 avengers movies... hopefully at least one of those other movies is a feature length hulk-centric movie and not just him in 'another's movie' that counts on his deal. Hulk needs a new movie. He looks like he is going to be amazing in The Avengers.

[henzINNIT]

I'd happily watch Ruff in a solo movie. Hopefully it'll be 3rd time lucky and they'll nail a great Hulk movie.

[Superhero 101]

i hope they can make one before avengers 2 and i'd love for liv tyler to reprise her role as Betty Ross and Hurt as Ross

[Beikoku Taichou]

So Avengers is the first movie in his deal...

...2 more Avengers movies makes 3

Hulk 2 and 3 makes 5.

I hope the last movie in his deal is a She Hulk movie.

[MarvelKnight]

i hope they can make one before avengers 2 and i'd love for liv tyler to reprise her role as Betty Ross and Hurt as Ross

Personally, I liked Jennifer Connelly more, but I would be all for Hurt coming back

[henzINNIT]

i hope they can make one before avengers 2 and i'd love for liv tyler to reprise her role as Betty Ross and Hurt as Ross

I wonder about that. Would they continue to see Norton's Hulk as canon, or would they recast everyone....

[marcvader]

I know this will never happen but I would love for Connelly and Elliott to come back for the next Hulk movie.

[DOOZlovesBOOZ]

I have always liked ruff, so id be down with a third try to get this thing right. Plus it doesn't hurt to get MS most reconizable hero pre MCU back on track.

[AvengeME]

Let me preface by saying I love the Hulk, but I think he needs to be used selectively. The solo movies have not fared very well and you can't shove him down people's throats again like they did in 2008.

I still think he needs another solo movie before Avengers 2. I always viewed Hulk as a solo guy and he was never a long term Avenger. I don't think he should be featured in a sequel.

I would release a sequel with the Leader in May 2015, and move Avengers to mid July or early summer the following year. Don't make it a prequel or lead in movie, just continue with Banner's story. It could be a nice appetizer to what appears will be a massive sequel by the looks of it. What TDKR looks to be this year.

[Gabe99]

Marvel Has Big Plans For The Hulk As Hero (http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/marvel-has-big-plans-for-the-hulk-as-hero/)
Marvel execs are notoriously tightlipped and no formal announcements have been made. But now President of Consumer Products Paul Gitter tells Forbes magazine that he and his colleagues have been “pleasantly surprised by the phenomenal response” to the Hulk already – even before The Avengersopened. “His sales are up in a major way. We repositioned him from where he was always misunderstood to now depicting him in a more heroic and aspirational manner.” Now fanboys have their first look at Mark Ruffalo’s iteration of the Hulk and they like what they see. Gitter says Marvel “will spin him off to a stand-alone program next year,” which Forbes says is “presumably supported by another big budget franchise movie in 2015. The entertainment studio is also exploring ways to promote Hulk as a ‘corporate icon’ similar to MetLife’s usage of Peanuts’ Snoopy, with Hulk’s image conveying a message about channeling strength to overcome workplace challenges.” This is a marked change from what Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Collider recently. “…Every time I see a good take or a good storyline or read some good pages, I think, ‘Oh should we make a movie about this?’ But with the Hulk we’re gonna play it very carefully. We had varying degrees of success on those first two movies, so we’re not gonna say, ‘Oh we did it! Another one!’ We’re gonna be smart about it and play it out. There are no plans right now to do another Hulk. Hulk might be just the special guest in Avengers movies, who knows?” Feige also told The Huffington Post that Marvel put “everything they had and everything they were going for into Hulk’s appearance in Avengers” so it’s “mission accomplished at this point.” According to Collider, a Hulk TV series is in development by Guillermo del Toro and Battlestar Galactica producer David Eick that would develop the original story of Bruce Banner in his mid-20s, and Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel Television, recently confirmed that the live-action show is in active development at ABC.

Also look for Marvel to “synergize” the Avengers into a “multi-platform brand that can live 365 days a year,” Gitter says. To that end, Marvel is introducing digital initiatives, new print and comic book titles, and The Avengers animated TV series in 2013, in addition to the threequel and sequel films in the works. Although the Black Widow isn’t yet scheduled for her own stand-alone movie, the character’s lifestyle will inspire a collection of athletic gear and beauty products. As for whether Marvel superheroes will join Disney theme parks or star on Broadway, Gitter doesn’t directly confirm these initiatives, only stating that Marvel is “exploring all land-based opportunities, including stand-alone shows and attractions.”

[Silvermoth]

Broadway? From the writer of "Once more, with feeling"?!
:woot::woot::woot::woot:

That would rock!

[Gabe99]

From Cinema Blend:
Avengers Director Joss Whedon On Doing Right By The Hulk (http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Avengers-Director-Joss-Whedon-Doing-Right-By-Hulk-30758.html)

[Angamb]

I new Hulk movie would be really cool.

but I dont see it for 2015, specially if the Avengers sequel should come that year.

[Gabe99]

From Hero Complex July 27, 2011:
‘The Avengers’ and the Hulk: Kevin Feige explains a new approach (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/07/27/the-avengers-and-the-hulk-kevin-feige-explains-a-new-approach/)

The Hulk will appear in his third feature film next year when Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo gets green in Joss Whedon’s ”The Avengers.” On Sunday, at the final day of Comic-Con International, fans got their first sense of the character’s new visage thanks to a Marvel promotional poster that depicts both the angry giant as well as Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, shown in sad silhouette. I caught up with Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios and producer of “The Avengers,” to talk about the new green movement.

GB: Will we see anything substantially different in the visual realization of the Hulk?

KF: Well, I don’t know about substantially different. It will be as different as ”The Incredible Hulk” was from Ang Lee’s “Hulk” in terms of its look and design, but it is Hulk. The image we released on the last day of Comic-Con — which got a tremendous amount of attention and I was very pleased about — is a very good representation of what he’s going to look like. Hulk is Hulk. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel.

GB: How big will he be? That’s been a major variable through the years in the comics and the two films as well.

KF: He’ll be about the same size he was in “The Incredible Hulk” [which was about 9 feet tall] or maybe a little bit smaller. His muscles won’t be quite as cut. We figure he’s been the Hulk now for a few years and [his physique is changing]. He’s not as cut or as ripped as he was in “The Incredible Hulk.” The most important thing is that face. As you can already see in that concept painting, it is — more than any Hulk that’s ever been done in live action — a Hulk that let’s you see the actor in there. You will be able to see Ruffalo in there. That was a big revelation for us. It’s just a concept painting, but in that you can see the Kirby, as people have already pointed out, but also, and equally important in this case, Ruffalo’s eyes and his cheek structure. It is him.

[i]GB: That sounds like a very different philosophy than the approach you took on Louis Letterrier’s movie.

KF: It is. It was something we actively avoided before. Hulk was Hulk, he’s not any one actor and Hulk should look like Hulk. It was like Iron Man’s armor, in a way, it wouldn’t change depending on the actor wearing it. But we’ve taken a different approach because Hulk is Banner and, frankly, we came to question our approach. Why are we not doing it this way? So we did a few designs that put Ruffalo into it, and we immediately saw how much more you feel for the creature. When you keep that connection going between Banner and the Hulk and you have characters around him trying to reach Banner inside — “Bruce, calm down,” and all of that classic Hulk stuff — it means more if you see the same actor throughout. I think before it was something we thought might look silly. We were nervous about getting it good enough [via visual effects] to work. Frankly, it was the same way we were nervous early on about making Steve Rogers skinny for “Captain America.” Is this going to look disturbing? Is this going to look silly? In the end, we got that one right. We’re going to get this one right.

[Gabe99]

From Hero Complex:
‘Avengers’ soar, ‘Harry Potter’ box-office magic now a card trick (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/05/06/avengers-soar-harry-potter-box-office-magic-now-a-card-trick/)

Mission accomplished. Marvel is about to start shooting “Iron Man 3,” while “Thor 2″ is ramping and Feige seems reengaged with director Edgar Wright’s “Ant-Man” project. For the moment, though, everyone in the Marvel universe can sit back and bask in the glow of cosmic windfall — and ousted Walt Disney Studios chief Rich Ross can wonder why he got all the blame for “John Carter’s” interstellar crash but not one huzzah for the “Avengers” conquest. (Wait, was that Ross in the credits laughing about love and death?)

On Sunday, a spokesman for Feige said that the executive was going ”to lie low” and soak it all in, which made me think of Uatu standing passively on some lunar ridgeline watching the box-office reports from Earth.

There’s plenty for Feige to fret about, too: Can he actually hold this cast together after this film crosses the billion-dollar mark and all their agents reach for calculators and their cellphones?

On a more positive note, can the new crowd-pleasing version of the Hulk turn Marvel’s second-most famous character into a decent solo franchise? Is the Winter Soldier the ideal storyline for a Captain America sequel? Will director Whedon stick around long-term or will something like that Wonder Woman movie he wanted make tempt him toward other star systems? Time will tell, and plenty of people will be keeping track like an amateur Uatus. Yes, after ”The Avengers,” the whole world is watching.

– Geoff Boucher

[Gabe99]

I like the look of the Avengers Hulk. He looks like the Hulk from the Casey/Kollins Avengers story. link (http://comicartcommunity.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=25517&sessionid=c56b1f77f34963d866c0faffac3126e8)

[AvengeME]

Hemsworth and Evans are going to command huge money. Ruffalo as well, but I wouldn't use Hulk. At least not three times.

SJ will demand big bucks as well. Renner will be out if he wants a raise. He has another franchise so I'm going to say he doesn't demand crazy cash.

RDJ will probably make 100 million plus if he signs for two more Avenger movies. His favorite charity can go bonkers if and when that becomes a done deal.

SLJ will also demand some big money. His is becoming the Xavier to a lesser degree. Bringing in Denzel would probably be cheaper at this point.

I still think the film can be done under 300 million.

[Gabe99]

From MTV:
Will The Hulk Be In 'Iron Man 3'? (http://splashpage.mtv.com/2012/05/07/will-the-hulk-be-in-iron-man-3/)

[L0ngsh0t]

Hemsworth and Evans are going to command huge money. Ruffalo as well, but I wouldn't use Hulk. At least not three times.

SJ will demand big bucks as well. Renner will be out if he wants a raise. He has another franchise so I'm going to say he doesn't demand crazy cash.

RDJ will probably make 100 million plus if he signs for two more Avenger movies. His favorite charity can go bonkers if and when that becomes a done deal.

SLJ will also demand some big money. His is becoming the Xavier to a lesser degree. Bringing in Denzel would probably be cheaper at this point.

I still think the film can be done under 300 million.



Ah.............this is why Marvel signed everyone to 6 picture deals bro......it's taken care of

[psylockolussus]

Maybe after Avengers 2, it will happen.

[AvengeME]

I think MCU: Phase II is pretty set. Three more movies and probably a smaller scaled project in 2014 will all be good appetizers.

What about Phase III? Iron Man will be done. Can't see RDJ doing more solo films. Thor 3 and Cap 3 are likely but only if the sequels are good. Still room for another Hulk movie me thinks.

Ah.............this is why Marvel signed everyone to 6 picture deals bro......it's taken care of

Yeah but they have to re-negotiate within reason. See Iron Man 2. RDJ got a HUGE raise. And he is unsigned beyond IM3 so I wouldn't even walk into Feige's office unless I got 5 million up front just to hear what the plan of action is for the character. Another 5 million to read a script. And another 5 million to think about it.

In all seriousness, RDJ should sign the richest movie deal Hollywood has ever seen. Anything less is a failure on his representation.

[MarvelKnight]

With Disney owning Marvel now, there should never be any reason they can't retain their actors, from a monetary standpoint. The Avengers have made an even bigger killing so far than anyone ever thought. Give them all their money, within reason, and continue pumping out amazing stories and movies and making the MCU the coolest thing in the history of cinema.

[Gabe99]

From Collider:
Kevin Feige Says IRON MAN Could Go the James Bond Route and Change Actors If Necessary (http://collider.com/kevin-feige-iron-man-james-bond/162415/)

[AvengeME]

From Collider:
Kevin Feige Says IRON MAN Could Go the James Bond Route and Change Actors If Necessary (http://collider.com/kevin-feige-iron-man-james-bond/162415/)

See my post above. Feige is a business man first and foremost. He understands that they will have to break the bank to retain RDJ. He has to protect himself. The only thing that would mitigate the deal is that it is an ensemble movie.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't sign for Avengers 2-3 for anything less than 50 million plus around or less than 5% of WW gross. Close to a 100 million dollar deal. I can't imagine what Depp's salary was for POTC but this would be more than that.

[Gabe99]

Despite 'John Carter,' Disney Beats Quarterly Earnings Expectations (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-quarterly-earnings-expectations-321661)
In its earnings release, CEO Robert Iger expressed confidence for the current quarter, partially because Marvel Entertainment's The Avengers "shattered domestic box-office records with a $207.1 million opening weekend for a global performance of more than $702 million to date."

On a conference call with analysts, Iger called Avengers "a great illustration of why we like Marvel so much." Then -- as if there were any doubts -- the CEO announced that a sequel to the blockbuster film is in the works with a release date "to be determined."

Multiple analysts asked about the licensed-product opportunities surrounding Avengers. Iger said there is stronger demand for Hulk toys since the release of the film last week, and added that there are "multiple opportunities to mine these great characters."

Iger said there are plans, for example, to add Avenger-based attractions to theme parks where existing deals with competitors make that possible.

Iger shot down the possibility of purchasing the film rights to other Marvel characters -- Fox's rights to X-Men, for example -- on the basis that there are so many in the Marvel stable to begin with that isn't the need for more.

Disney revenue up 6% in second quarter (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053674)
'John Carter' $200 million writedown prevents robust Q2 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053674)

While "The Avengers" assembles auds in theaters, ABC is developing a TV show based on the Incredible Hulk that Guillermo del Toro will produce. Boy targeted cable channel Disney XD already shows "Avengers" toons. Its consumer products biz is benefitting from "The Avengers'" success, selling out of toys, especially for the Hulk -- Hasbro alone is expected to generate $400 million from "Avengers"-related toy sales. Disney's theme parks are developing new attractions based on Marvel characters that don't appear at Universal's Islands of Adventure park in Orlando, Fla. And online, a "Marvel: Avengers Alliance" game has attracted over 7 million paying players on Facebook.

From Movieweb:
Marvel's The Avengers to Serve as a Springboard for More Frachises (http://www.movieweb.com/news/marvels-the-avengers-to-serve-as-a-springboard-for-more-frachises)

Marvel's The Avengers isn't just a film. It's a franchise, from our perspective. It was helped by the success of the Iron Man movies and Captain America: The First Avenger. From the Avengers we get a chance to make Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 and hopefully another Marvel's The Avengers movie.

This one film, which was successful, over $700 million, as you said, as of last night, is going to get a number of other films and franchises. We see tremendous interest in products and in games for Marvel's The Avengers. We have an ability to leverage what was a very fun film done by a great group of film makers into something much bigger for the company and the effect will be prolonged and that's very, very exciting for us."

[Gabe99]

From USA TODAY:
Next for the Avengers: Sequels, spinoffs (http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-05-08/whats-next-for-the-avengers/54819224/1?AID=4992781&PID=4003003&SID=1t0ll3maa09ha)


All Hulk is breaking loose on the big screen (http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-05-07/the-hulk-steals-the-avengers/54819202/1)

[fixxxer1022]

what happened to the new hulk tv series that was going to be made?

[Gabe99]

what happened to the new hulk tv series that was going to be made?
From THR:
Upfronts 2012: Marvel's 'Hulk' Still in the Works at ABC (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/upfronts-2012-marvel-hulk-abc-development-guillermo-del-toro-324627)
Network president Paul Lee says the adaptation of the Marvel Comics series wasn't ready this development cycle and is optimistic the Guillermo del Toro effort will be ready next year.

NEW YORK -- Paul Lee still wants the Hulk to smash on ABC.

The network's entertainment president told reporters Tuesday during a conference call ahead of his formal upfront presentation to Madison Avenue ad buyers in New York that he'd still like to "see some Marvel projects come to television."

"Hulk is in development," he confirmed. "It wasn't going to be ready this season but we hope it's going to be ready for next season."

Oscar nominee Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labrynth) is developing the project for the Disney-owned network after ABC's parent company purchased Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in late 2009.

With Disney distributing box office hit The Avengers, Lee touted the corporate synergy and expressed optimism that he plans to expand its superhero slate. "We're immensely proud to be a company with The Avengers," he said. "We're going to continue to develop aggressively."

Pressed for details, Lee remained mum only noting, "We've got some in development, but none that I can talk about at this point."

More recently, ABC Studios and Fox gave a put pilot commitment to an adaptation of Marvel's The Punisher, with Criminal Minds' Ed Bernero that didn't move forward.

The update news comes as The Avengers continues to build to its box office cume. The film, which stars Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, has already topped $1 billion worldwide.

[AvengeME]

A TV series is the worst thing you can do for Hulk. You cannot water down the character with crummy effects on a weekly show on network television of all things. He needs to be used only in the key moments.

Unless it was all based on pre-accident Banner and he never relapses at any point on the show. Sort of like holding off on the Superman suit in Smallville. Banner gradually develops his experiments until the series finale where things go haywire. You can never have a dramatic set piece involving the military because it would look terrible on network TV. Just look at crap like Terranova. Why does Jurassic Park still outclass stuff 20 years later?

Hulk can't be done on TV. No way.

[FranchiseBasket]

The Hulk Franchise is one of the best and fast growing franchises , I thought that the best time for the Hulk franchise has started, that is the products and both the prices are of improving in their ways. We have to determine that how fast a Franchise will grow is not the quality of the product or service. It is the Return On Investment(ROI) for the investors and the size of the start up costs. There are however some downsides to starting one of the fastest growing franchises, one downside being market saturation.


best franchise (http://www.franchisebasket.com/)
low cost franchise (http://www.franchisebasket.com/)

[Gabe99]

The Hulk Franchise is one of the best and fast growing franchises , I thought that the best time for the Hulk franchise has started, that is the products and both the prices are of improving in their ways. We have to determine that how fast a Franchise will grow is not the quality of the product or service. It is the Return On Investment(ROI) for the investors and the size of the start up costs. There are however some downsides to starting one of the fastest growing franchises, one downside being market saturation.


best franchise (http://www.franchisebasket.com/)
low cost franchise (http://www.franchisebasket.com/)
From Variety:
Disney revenue up 6% in second quarter (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053674)
'John Carter' $200 million writedown prevents robust Q2 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053674)

While "The Avengers" assembles auds in theaters, ABC is developing a TV show based on the Incredible Hulk that Guillermo del Toro will produce. Boy targeted cable channel Disney XD already shows "Avengers" toons. Its consumer products biz is benefitting from "The Avengers'" success, selling out of toys, especially for the Hulk -- Hasbro alone is expected to generate $400 million from "Avengers"-related toy sales. Disney's theme parks are developing new attractions based on Marvel characters that don't appear at Universal's Islands of Adventure park in Orlando, Fla. And online, a "Marvel: Avengers Alliance" game has attracted over 7 million paying players on Facebook.

[macattack]

Angie Harmon wants to play She-Hulk (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/05/17/angie-harmon-wants-to-be-she-hulk-dan-slott-offers-assistance/).

Perhaps more importantly, Dan Slott is offering to write whatever She-Hulk pilot or movie for free.

Sounds like forces are in movement to really make Hulk a perennial. Who knew it took leaving behind the "man tormented by monster and trying to cure himself" and simplify him into a man who just unleashes a brute whenever to make the Hulk popular. Agh. I don't personally approve of this, I like Bruce Banner all tormented and trying to cure himself and I've always hoped that some day he would.

[Boom]

If there's one thing Banner learned from his experience in The Avengers, it's that helping people and making a difference doesn't have to be exclusive to Bruce Banner. If he can "control" the Hulk, if he can reel him in a bit, then the Hulk is just as capable of good deeds (albeit different) as Banner. This isn't just some monster that needs to be destroyed anymore.

I think it's a natural and healthy progression. Seeing these two personalities try to co-exist with one another has a lot of story potential.

[Silvermoth]

Angie Harmon wants to play She-Hulk (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/05/17/angie-harmon-wants-to-be-she-hulk-dan-slott-offers-assistance/).

Perhaps more importantly, Dan Slott is offering to write whatever She-Hulk pilot or movie for free.

Awesome news! I think it's a testament to Marvel how so many people are starting to come out as geeks and say 'I want to play this role'. It wasn't that long ago when actors would say 'why do I have to wear spandex'.

I really hope She Hulk appears on screen. It would be cool to give Hulk a supporting cast of people who can keep up with him. I wonder if they can slip in Doctor Samson as well?

Say, Banner is in a therapy session when he is attacked by an enemy (lets just say The Leader for now). Jennifer is waiting in the waiting room. In the resulting chaos both Doc Samson and Jenn are placed in life threatening conditions and the only thing that can save them is gamma radiation.

For some reason I like the idea of Nick Frost as Doc Samson. I know he looks nothing like the comic book version but I just think he could bring alot of personality to the Hulk series as well as some light humour.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg854/scaled.php?server=854&filename=nick20frostspx005055.jpg&res=landing

[R_Hythlodeus]

Awesome news! I think it's a testament to Marvel how so many people are starting to come out as geeks and say 'I want to play this role'. It wasn't that long ago when actors would say 'why do I have to wear spandex'.

I really hope She Hulk appears on screen. It would be cool to give Hulk a supporting cast of people who can keep up with him. I wonder if they can slip in Doctor Samson as well?

Say, Banner is in a therapy session when he is attacked by an enemy (lets just say The Leader for now). Jennifer is waiting in the waiting room. In the resulting chaos both Doc Samson and Jenn are placed in life threatening conditions and the only thing that can save them is gamma radiation.

For some reason I like the idea of Nick Frost as Doc Samson. I know he looks nothing like the comic book version but I just think he could bring alot of personality to the Hulk series as well as some light humour.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg854/scaled.php?server=854&filename=nick20frostspx005055.jpg&res=landing
for the sake of continuity, I hope MS keeps the actor who played Samson in TIH. Too much recasts in this franchise could kill it for good.

[Silvermoth]

I would actually like to see them move away from the cast in the first Hulk film. Not neccessarily a reboot, just some new characters. As for Doc Samson, his role was so small in TIH that they could probably get away with recasting him and no-one will notice.

[ComicForAWife]

I'm still not sure about this. I'm a Hulk fan, so I'll probably love it anyway, but this is for the general audience. I think the reason Hulk worked so well in Avengers (well one of the reasons), is that he had all these other characters to play off of, and every time he was on screen he left an impact, too much and he becomes less memorable. But what do I know, I liked HULK from 2003 better than TIH

[Christopher_M]

gunning to see Alison Brie as Betty


http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m42j1hEMVw1qkplzho1_1280.jpg

[Golgo-13]

I'm gunning for another Hulk film. I think we need a more mature looking Betty, to match Ruffalo's mature look.

I was against Banner's re-cast, but now that i've seen Ruffalo, i'm pleased with the change. What makes him more suited than Norton was that Ruffalo actually looks like a doctor, whereas Norton, to me, looks more like a techy computer geek. I hated Tyler as Betty, so wouldn't at all mind or miss if she is re-cast.

[Golgo-13]

I had another idea for a Betty re-cast:

Julie benz
Kate Beckinsale

Also i think what was lacking from TIH was a 'wow' worthy cameo. Granted it was one of the first set up films, and Marvel was just getting the formula down, i think what was lacking in TIH was a way to get even more butts in seats like an after credits scene ala Thor, Cap, etc introducing another hero.

I would like to see either Black Panther or Henry Pym set up in Hulk 2.

Since Whedon said he would like Avengers 2 to be smaller in scale, i wouldn't mind if the events were centered around Ant-Man or Panther, but i think Hulk 2 should set up their debut.

[TacomaTruck90]

I'd rather have a film for the than tv show because Ruffalo has given a very interesting take on Bruce Banner and think would give a better chance to explore him with out anyway restrictions

[Gabe99]

Sounds like Marvel plans to keep The Hulk busy for the next few years (http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/sounds-like-marvel-plans-to-keep-the-hulk-busy-for-the-next-few-years)

Have we learned the role the Hulk will play in Phase Two and Phase Three?
There is a very short list of reporters online who consistently and correctly scoop information that is supposed to be secret. I'm not talking about breaking a casting story because the studio sent you the press release ten minutes early, and I'm not talking about the shell game that gets played with information at the trades. I'm talking about genuinely revealing something that someone else does not want revealed at all. It is a skill set that very few outlets seem to value or cultivate.

Then you've got Latino Review and El Mayimbe, who evidently subsists entirely on a liquid diet of the tears from angry studio executives. Mayimbe cracks me up because of how alpha male he gets about scoops. When you're hunting down information on movies about dudes in spandex beating all hell out of other dudes in spandex, it seems to be a particularly funny time to get aggro about what it is you're doing. And that's what makes Mayimbe great.

It also helps that he's got a pretty ridiculous track record.

Sometimes you end up with a direct pipeline into someone's creative process, and it can drive them crazy. There was a run of about three or four years where I think JJ Abrams was half-convinced I had a "Being John Malkovich" style portal into his actual skull. Right now, Mayimbe is planted deep inside Marvel's naughty spots, and he is giving them fits. He's been teasing a new Marvel scoop for weeks, and tonight, he revealed the story. If it pans out the way he describes, then he may have just laid down the framework that the entire Marvel Phase Two and Phase Three films will be using.

Keep in mind, if this is all correct, then these are fairly sizable spoilers for several of the upcoming Marvel movies. If you're an avid reader of comic books, then many of the ideas here are already known to you, while the way they're being utilized in the movie universe might be somewhat surprising.

[Gabe99]

From MTV 6/13/08 :
Should Hulk Be The Villain In 'The Avengers'? You Decide, Says Hulk Director (http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/13/should-hulk-be-the-villain-in-the-avengers-you-decide-says-hulk-director/)

From MTV: 10/9/08
‘Iron Man’ Writers Want Hulk To Be ‘The Avengers’ Villain (http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/09/iron-man-writers-want-hulk-to-be-the-avengers-villain/)

Everything in the Marvel Film Universe is leading to the eventual superhero tag team-up, “The Avengers,” with Iron Man, Ant-Man, Thor, and Captain America all fighting side-by-side. What possible villain could compete with that?

“The Incredible Hulk” director Louis Leterrier told MTV News this past June that he didn’t think any villain could, and suggested that they use a hero instead: his (http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/13/should-hulk-be-the-villain-in-the-avengers-you-decide-says-hulk-director/).

“Iron Man” writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, who themselves may be writing another Marvel movie in the near future (http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/09/25/exclusiveiron-man-screenwriters-in-talks-to-pen-another-marvel-property-but-which-one/), couldn’t agree more, they told MTV News, insisting that everything is building towards making The Hulk the villain in the eagerly anticipated 2011 movie.

“I hope ‘The Avengers’ embraces that,” Fergus said of having the Hulk as misunderstood baddie. “You don’t want like 10 super-badass good guys fighting together. Where’s the fun in that? Let’s break it off a little. Friends or colleagues who become enemies is always an interesting thing because you know it’s based on love and friendship and that’s always the worst thing to have turn bad — is someone you actually care about and someone you actually believe in.”

Hulk, of course, has fought nearly every Marvel hero at some point in the comics, and because he already had his own movie, wouldn’t need to be set-up in the new one. In fact, all the hard work is already done.

“I left the door open for whoever’s going to direct ‘The Avengers’ with our last shot. Edward [Norton] and I, we consciously decided to make the last shot of the movie when he opens his eyes and he smirks at the camera,” Leterrier told us. “Is he enjoying it? Is he malicious? That’s what’s great about Edward. You don’t know if he’s a good guy or bad guy. He’s always on this edge and we’ve been sort of surfing that edge, that very thin edge during the entire movie.”

Recall, also that Downey Jr. as Tony Stark appears to General Ross at the very end of “Hulk,” a scene Leterrier called the first scene of “The Avengers.”

Sign Stark and them up for more, Fergus said.

“I personally like when good-guy characters have to fight each other,” he said. “Good guys going against good guys who both believe in an issue is way more interesting than a villain clearly into evil and I like when former friends become committed enemies.”

From MTV 10/20/08:
Will The Hulk Be The Villain In ‘The Avengers’? We Take The Issue To Marvel’s President (http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/20/will-the-hulk-be-the-villain-in-the-avengers-we-take-the-issue-to-marvels-president/)

Earlier this year, "The Incredible Hulk" director Louis Leterrier got the ball rolling with the coolest comic idea since the pencil, telling MTV News that he thought his green hero would make a perfect villain — a conflicted behemoth out to fight each and every one of Marvel's greatest in "The Avengers." "Iron Man" scripters Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus (who are in talks to potentially write another Marvel franchise) told us recently that they couldn't agree more, saying they love nothing more than when "good guys have to fight each other."

If reporters can be allowed causes, then this has been mine — one I've championed in every discussion about the myriad possibilities for "Avengers."

"So YOU'RE the one," Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige laughed in a recent conversation to talk about "The Incredible Hulk" DVD (read our chat about Feige's thoughts on the success of the film, as well as why there isn't yet a "Hulk 2" here. (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597523/will-we-see-incredible-hulk-again-marvel-president-yes.jhtml))

Yes, I'm the one. So the real question, Mr. Feige: should I stop talking it up, or start demanding my 10%?

"Here's the thing — it is all in the planning stages, but certainly if you look back to any number of 'Hulk' comics, or 'Avengers' comics, or 'The Ultimates' comics or the 'Ultimate Avengers' DVD that we released, it certainly makes a hell of a sequence," Feige said of a possible Hulk vs. Avengers battle, one which Leterrier set up perfectly with the end of his film with the scene depicting Tony Stark counseling a defeated General Ross.

In fact, Leterrier went so far as to call that shot the first scene of "The Avengers" when we chatted in June. For a number of reasons I detailed earlier, actually, it just makes TOO much sense — it wouldn't necessarily require Norton (just a lot of CGI), it would be a viable threat to the already assembled group (which wouldn't require an additional villain's story), and it could dovetail nicely with a "Hulk 2" set-up (which Feige admitted in our chat was something they weren't planning in the moment.)

So it's gotta be, right?

For his part, Feige wouldn't confirm or deny. But ... he sure did seem excited.

"To have all of the Avengers going up against a green goliath?" he teased. "I think that would be very cool to see that on the screen."

[cherokeesam]

I'm glad as hell Shawn Adler got it wrong in 2008. And yes, Shawn, you need to shut the hell up about Hulk as a villain.