The Incredible Hulk (film)

The Incredible Hulk
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Louis Leterrier
Written by	Zak Penn
Based on	Hulk by Stan Lee Jack Kirby
Produced by	Avi Arad Gale Anne Hurd Kevin Feige
Starring	Edward Norton Liv Tyler Tim Roth William Hurt Tim Blake Nelson Ty Burrell Christina Cabot
Cinematography	Peter Menzies Jr.
Edited by	John Wright Rick Shaine Vincent Tabaillon
Music by	Craig Armstrong
Production companies	Marvel Studios Valhalla Motion Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures[a]
Release dates	June 8, 2008 (2008-06-08) (Gibson Amphitheatre) June 13, 2008 (2008-06-13) (United States)
Running time	112 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$137.5–150 million[2][3]
Box office	$265.6 million[3]

The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. Produced by Marvel Studios and Valhalla Motion Pictures, and distributed by Universal Pictures,^[a] it is the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It was directed by Louis Leterrier from a screenplay by Zak Penn, and stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner alongside Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, and Christina Cabot. In the film, Banner becomes the monstrous Hulk as an unwitting pawn in a military scheme to reinvigorate the "super soldier" program through gamma radiation. He goes on the run from the military while attempting to cure himself of the Hulk.

After the mixed reception to Universal's 2003 film Hulk, Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to the character, though Universal retained distribution rights. Leterrier, who expressed interest in directing Iron Man (2008) for Marvel, was brought onboard and Penn wrote a script that was closer to the comics and the 1978–1982 television series. In April 2007, Norton was hired to portray Banner and to rewrite Penn's screenplay. His script positioned the film as a reboot of the series, distancing it from the 2003 film to give the new version its own identity. Norton was ultimately not credited for his writing. Filming took place from July to November 2007, primarily in Toronto, with additional filming in New York City and Rio de Janeiro. Over 700 visual effects shots were created in post-production using a combination of motion capture and computer-generated imagery.

The Incredible Hulk premiered at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, on June 8, 2008, and was released in the United States on June 13, as part of Phase One of the MCU. It received praise for its action sequences and was considered an improvement over the 2003 film, but it was criticized as lacking in depth. The film grossed $265.6 million worldwide. Norton and Marvel Studios had various production disagreements while working on the film, including over the final edit, which Marvel Studios deemed uncollaborative. Norton was replaced in the role of Banner by Mark Ruffalo for subsequent MCU appearances starting with The Avengers in 2012.

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