Man, for a property and movie of which there are currently “no plans,” it seems folks just can’t stop talking about the prospect and possibility of a “Hulk” film and what exactly it should be. While rumors have been flying about about a possible “Planet Hulk” and “World War Hulk” based movie, current Marvel godfather Joss Whedon has called them nonsense and as he reveals in a longer statement today, getting Bruce Banner right on the big screen is a challenge.
“I didn’t actually read ‘World War Hulk’ so I’m not sure how I’d adapt it,” he told Deadline about those recent rumors. And after stating how much he and Mark Ruffalo loved delving into the character for “The Avengers,” Whedon gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to bringing the green giant up on the big screen.
“The Hulk is the most difficult Marvel property because it’s always about balance. Is he a monster? Is he a hero? Are you going to root for a protagonist who spends all his time trying to stop the reason you came to the movie from happening?” he said, adding: “I don’t think there would be any problem getting a movie together that had enough Banner, even if there was also Hulk. But if he was only Hulk for the entire movie I think Mark at some point would go, why am I here? I would be less inclined to pursue a storyline where the Hulk is only ever the Hulk.”
As he notes, it’s delicate balance to get right, keep fans satisfied as well given the character some real weight. And while Ang Lee and Louis Leterrier both gave it a shot with “Hulk” and “The Incredible Hulk,” Whedon doesn’t think they found the formula. “It’s always a dance. I don’t think the first two movies nailed it, but I don’t envy them the task,” he opined.
Thoughts? Opinions? Is Whedon on the money or do you just want to see Hulk smashy-smash for 90 minutes? Let us know below.