Hulk Sequel Not so Much a Sequel
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Universal, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
(My apologies to Mark Beall for stepping on his geek toes with this one.)Whether or not there will be a sequel to the not-as-bad-as-some-people-think Hulk, directed by Ang Lee, has been a topic of discussion since about five minutes after the movie came out. Star Eric Bana has seemingly gone back and forth on it, sometimes denying any participation and sometimes saying things were on track.
Now Avi Arad, recently parted from Marvel Comics but still involved in the films as a producer, has spoken about the potential for another Hulk-errific flick. Arad says that plans are still for a second movie to be made. The catch is that this won't be a sequel to the 2003 film but a do-over. The first movie wasn't, according to Arad, enough of a comic-book movie, a situation they intend to rectify this time around. Now that Marvel has its own production house they aren't subject to the studio whims that, I guess, compromised the first film. And they can do this movie on their own, and not through Universal, by calling it a new movie and not a sequel. That's because Universal likely has the sequel rights.
Now Superman is about to get a reboot, but that's coming 19 years after the last Christopher Reeve movie. Batman Begins had a smaller window but it was still almost a decade after Joel Schumacher ran the series into the ground and then torched the remains while clubbing baby seals. But three years seems like an awfully short period of time for a complete Mulligan. I actually think the Ang Lee Hulk had more problems that likely resulted from some power trying to make his drama more like a comic book. For Arad to come out and say that while he liked the first movie it wasn't quite comic-booky enough just seems like he's trying to find a rationale to reclaim the franchise for his own profit and not that of Universal.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2006 @ 3:54PM
RC of strangeculture said...
Maybe it's just me, but it seems kind of early for a do over.
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
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6-10-2006 @ 4:20PM
grant donovan said...
I'm prob a sole voice on this, but I like the first hulk film and I think beyond the mini sequel ensconsed in the film its a majestic look at what the emerald giant would really be like. There are flaws, but i think it was a great approach to the character
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6-10-2006 @ 4:26PM
Shirley Villasana said...
I love to watch scifi movies but a lot of times the sequels do not live up the original at least in my opinion. Take the Star Trek moview I loved the original and the sequel, Wrath of Khan, but the third installment was for the birds. I am old enough to remember the days when you did not have to see all the gory details but just use you imagination. I love to listen to the old radio shows and let my imagination go wild.
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6-10-2006 @ 4:54PM
Daniel said...
Hulk is an underappreciated art film that fell just short of brilliant. The flaws the film had, I suspect, were the result of Ang Lee having to "Hollywood-ize" his drama. It was an excellent movie and it's horribly shallow to say it wasn't "comic booky" enough. If you want to made a sequel and go in a different direction, there's nothing wrong with that. But to try and erase the movie as relevant is unprofessional and just stupid. It's only been 3 years.
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6-10-2006 @ 6:23PM
rudiger von housing said...
ang lee should never be allowed to ever direct movies ever again and not because of the hulk. ang's movies have no story or point to them. yeah i wrote that
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6-11-2006 @ 12:50AM
Chris said...
I think Ang Lee's take was interesting, and I think the approach would have worked for a more introspective character, but it wasn't a Hulk movie.
If he wanted to do a Namor movie like that, or Silver Surfer, or any more cerberal character I think I would have enjoyed it more, but the Hulk really needs a little more 'Hulk Smash'.
I think Hulk Gray had a good blend of intellectual discussions about hte mind of the Hulk, mixed with the Hulk breaking things. I wouldn't mind something like that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785113142/002-4926149-3088849?v=glance&n=283155
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6-11-2006 @ 6:59AM
Tue Sorensen said...
I don't agree with the conclusions of the article. The failing of Ang Lee's movie laid in its attempt to do a new, overly complex and completely unnecessary origin story for the character. They should have stuck more to the comic, and I'm glad they will in the next movie.
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6-11-2006 @ 3:25PM
Tom said...
There's an article in Business 2.0 about Avi where he lays it all out. His problem with the Hulk movie is that it takes too long for him to turn into the Hulk and get into that element of the story.
Hulk had some moments that were horribly cheesy and the CGI Hulk was terrible. It would be a mistake too do a sequel this soon. There are plenty of other Marvel properties that would be better options. X-Men spin offs, Iron Man, etc.
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6-12-2006 @ 10:52AM
tim said...
I'm one of the apparent few who liked the Hulk film. So i'm just curious... what was so bad about it? I don't mind a little build up, and a long movie is fine. My only disappointment was the end fight with his dad. I thought the CG Hulk was cool, and the scene where the military is trying to take him out just rocks. Anyway, please tell me what you thought made it so bad.
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