Making a film based off Marvel's The Incredible Hulk character isn't impossible. The character has appeared on screen three times now, in three different iterations, more than any other major Marvel character (played, of course by Eric Bana, Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo). But they're never quite great, nor as financially successful as the studios hope. With fans crowning the Joss Whedon, "The Avengers" version of the green monster the most successful, Marvel's been seriously considering a third solo film (and rumors say that film could borrow from the Planet Hulk storyline).
So what's up with the rumored 'Hulk' movie? While no concrete development has started (that we know of anyhow), clearly the idea is being kicked around. Whedon was in Dublin recently for the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (for the European premiere of "Much Ado About Nothing"), the filmmaker and Marvel film consigliere was naturally asked about both "The Avengers 2" and a potential "Hulk" film starring Mark Ruffalo.
About "The Avengers" sequel, when asked what to expect, he joked, "death, death and death" (some sites have taken this too literally and the speculation has already started) and as for a Bruce Banner/Hulk film, the director — who is overseeing all the Marvel movie films for the next few years and would surely weigh in on a new Hulk picture — admitted a solo film isn't impossible, but it would be difficult to get right.
"Yes [it would be possible]. But it would be very, very hard," Whedon said when asked by the audience whether a solo film was possible (via Moviebit and Worst Previews). "The problem is the [Hulk] is a very popular character, but he's not a superhero. Half of him is a superhero, half is a werewolf. You can't structure it like a superhero movie. The one thing you would have in your favor would be Mark Ruffalo. But right now I don't know if they have plans to do that or not, because he works so well as part of a greater whole. But by himself, it's tough."
Is Whedon playing coy? Are the rumors of a Hulk solo movie off? Surely he would know if plans were brewing. But Marvel keeps things close to the vest so you never know. Watch the video below of Whdeon introing "Much Ado About Nothing" and true believers keeping holding up candles for more Hulk smash.