Marvel's The Incredible Hulk (Earth-113599)

Disclaimer: Many thanks to awesome blog for giving me casting ideas and plot points

Marvel's The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 live-action movie produced and distributed by Marvel Studios and Touchstone Pictures based around the popular superhero, the Hulk. Taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe it is the second film of phase 1 released on August 1st 2008.

=Production==

The Hulk Cinematic rights were originally owned by Universal Studios, but after making the 2003 Hulk movie felt the rights were a burden and was looking to sell them off. Kevin Feige encouraged Walt Disney Company to buy the rights back from Universal to complete their theoretical Avengers roster (They had the rights to Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor from Paramount. But no Hulk). Seeing the Hulk as a popular superhero with valuable cinematic rights they agreed to do it and bought them back in Mid 2005. IT was later announced that year a reboot of the popular superhero was in development being a part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. (Later changed to Black Widow and Hawkeye). Louis Leterrier was announced as Director shortly after, always having an interest in directing a Hulk Solo film.

How the film would be handled was largely disputed, even more so then other Marvel productions at the time. Everything from the casting, tone and even plot was a debate between Marvel, Leterrier, and Disney. They originally wanted the film to parallel the classic Hulk comic books with David Duchovney starring at the titular role. But when he was unavailable when they needed to get filming and the writers/director couldn't find an angle on a modern day Nuclear testing plot line, the idea lost traction. It was then somewhere down the line changed more closer to the Ultimate Hulk story and the TV series from the 90s, with a more modern twist, and Mark Ruffalo as the lead star.

They did agree however agree that the Abomination would be the movie's main villain. Wanting someone who "actually challenged The Hulk" as the director said. But finding a way to make a Yugoslavan spy into a modern Hulk film proved to be a challenge. Eventually they did figure out a way they were happy with and the film entered production, filming and post-production all on schedule. Being released in the United States and worldwide on August 1st 2008.

Cast

 * Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk


 * Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination


 * William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross


 * Liv Taylor as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross


 * Ty Burrell as Leonard Samson


 * Selma Hayek as Katherine Wayensboro


 * Anthony Edwards as Mitchell McCutcheon


 * Michael Angarano as Rick Jones


 * Kevin Corrigan as Brian Banner (Flashback)


 * Anna Silk as Rebecca Banner (Flashback)