Claim: Hulk is a work.

Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name . Ang Lee directed the film , which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner , as well as Jennifer Connelly , Sam Elliott , Josh Lucas , and Nick Nolte . The film explores the origins of Bruce Banner , who after a lab accident involving gamma radiation finds himself able to turn into a huge green-skinned monster whenever he gets angry , while he is pursued by the United States military and comes into a conflict with his father .   Development for the film started as far back as 1990 . The film was at one point to be directed by Joe Johnston and then Jonathan Hensleigh . More scripts had been written by Hensleigh , John Turman , Michael France , Zak Penn , J. J. Abrams , Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski , Michael Tolkin , and David Hayter before Ang Lee and James Schamus ' involvement . Hulk was shot mostly in California , primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area .   Hulk was a commercial success , grossing over $ 245 million worldwide , higher than its $ 137 million budget , and received mixed reactions from critics . Many praised the writing , acting , character development , the action sequences and the musical score by Danny Elfman , while some criticized its outdated CGI , editing and dark story elements . A reboot , titled The Incredible Hulk , was released on June 13 , 2008 as the second film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe .