The Incredible Hulk (Film)-Trivia

* Director Louis Leterrier wanted Mark Ruffalo for the role of Bruce Banner, but Marvel insisted on Edward Norton. Ruffalo would go on to replace Norton as Banner in future Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
* Captain America: Civil War (2016) is the first reappearance of William Hurt as General Thaddeus Ross since this film, an eight-year absence for his character. The Russo brothers, directing that film, wanted to incorporate Ross, as they felt that character had been forgotten a bit since this film.
* According to Tim Roth, Edward Norton re-wrote scenes every day. Norton and Liv Tyler also spent hours discussing their characters' lives (especially before the Hulk appeared).
* (at around 1h 4 mins) After the Hulk appears at Culver University, two students are interviewed in the news, named Jack McGee and Jim Wilson. Jack McGee was a tabloid reporter who attempted to track down the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series, and in the comics, Jim Wilson was a young runaway who befriended the Hulk and was the nephew of Sam Wilson/The Falcon.
* Paul Soles, who portrays "Stanley", the owner of the pizza shop, provided the voice for Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the Hulk segments of The Marvel Super Heroes (1966) and later went on to provide the voice of Spider-Man/Peter Parker in Spider-Man (1967). The character's name may also be another tribute to Hulk co-creator Stan Lee.
* (at around 1h 4 mins) Betty Ross buys Bruce some purple pants. In the comics, the Hulk is almost always seen wearing purple pants.
* In a deleted scene, Blonsky describes the Hulk to General Greller, "Ten feet tall, fifteen hundred pounds easy, and green. Or gray, sir. Greenish gray. It was very dark, I couldn't tell." This is a reference to the Hulk being gray in his first comic appearance. Problems with the gray coloring in the first issue led to his skin color being changed to green.
* (at around 4 mins) Near the beginning of the movie, when Banner is flipping channels on the television, one of the shows he stops on is The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), which starred Bill Bixby, Bixby is seen on the screen for several seconds. Bixby played Dr. Banner in The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series.
* When Bruce infiltrates the university as a pizza delivery man, he bribes the security guard played by Lou Ferrigno (who played the Hulk in the TV series). At one moment, Bruce's eyes flash green.
* Liv Tyler accepted her role without reading the script.
* This is the only Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One film in which Nick Fury does not appear. However, his name appears in the opening credit montage at the 2:46 mark (on a S.H.I.E.L.D. page, with the text Nick Fury, Shield Command, Code RED, New York, NY 060564).
* (at around 7 mins) It took the visual effects artists over a year to construct a shot where Dr. Banner's gamma-irradiated blood falls through three factory stories into a bottle.
* Edward Norton, who had previously re-written films he starred in, wrote a draft of the script, which Louis Leterrier and Marvel Studios found satisfactory in establishing the film as a reboot of Hulk (2003). As Norton explained, "I don't think that in great literature and films, explaining the story's roots means it comes in the beginning. Audiences know the story, so we're dealing with it artfully." Norton's re-write added the character of Doc Samson, and mentioned references to other Marvel Comics characters. He also wanted to put in "revelations about what set the whole thing in motion" that would be explained in future installments.
* Sam Elliott wanted to reprise his role as General Ross from Hulk (2003), but it was taken by William Hurt.
* Originally, Abomination was going to return as a supporting antagonist in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), but he was cut.
* (at around 31 mins) In the market scene in Chiapas, the "Lonely Man" theme from The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series, which played whenever Dr. David Bruce Banner was on the road traveling from one place to another, is heard in the musical score.
* When General Ross is retrieving the serum from cold storage, the container not only has the name of Dr. Reinstein (developer of Capt. America's super-serum), but also Crysync (the company name) under which is written Stark Industries.
* Stylistically, the filmmakers chose a darker shade of green from Hulk (2003), and decided to not make him as large. His size does not increase as he becomes further enraged, staying at a consistent height.
* In addition to doing re-writes, Edward Norton directed himself in some of his own scenes too, such as the campus scenes, to save time, when Louis Leterrier was busy working with the Second Unit. This is mentioned on the Director's Commentary of the Blu-ray.
* This was the only stand-alone Hulk film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Other than Lou Ferrigno, nobody from this film returned to their roles until William Hurt appeared in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Black Widow (2021). Tim Roth reprises his role as Blonsky / The Abomination in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), and in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).
* Louis Leterrier insisted that Tim Roth, of whom he is a big fan, be cast as the film's main antagonist, even though Marvel Studios and Edward Norton were initially unsure of Roth as a supervillain. Leterrier later said, "It's great watching a normal Cockney boy become a superhero!"
* The only film in Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One not to be distributed by Paramount Pictures, as Universal has had the rights to "The Incredible Hulk" since the television series, The Incredible Hulk (1977).
* Edward Norton and Tim Roth filmed their Hulk-Abomination fights on a stage, using motion capture, and thirty-seven digital cameras. Roth enjoyed using the motion capture technique, because it reminded him of fringe theater.
* Edward Norton, a big Hulk fan, initially turned down the lead, as he had concerns over how the film would turn out. Upon meeting Louis Leterrier and Marvel, and hearing their vision, he signed on.
* The Hulk's look was based on comic book artist Dale Keown's drawings, where "The Hulk, being beyond perfect, has zero grams of fat, is all chiselled, and is defined by his muscle and strength, so he's like a tank."
* Composer Craig Armstrong collaborated with Louis Leterrier to create the film's score. Marvel Studios were so pleased with the score, they decided to release it as a two-disc soundtrack.
* There are moments foreshadowing Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). First, there is a portrait of Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, in General Ross' office. Next, a label can be seen on the storage tank reading: "Dr. Reinstein", the doctor who developed the Super-Soldier serum that made Rogers into the Captain (along with a radiation symbol and the words "vita-rays", hinting that the serum shouldn't be used without them). Louis Leterrier shot a scene where Banner encounters the Captain in the Arctic, but it was cut out of the main film. It is on the special features options of some DVD editions, however.
* Edward Norton was cast as Bruce Banner on the recommendation of Lou Ferrigno, who had starred in The Incredible Hulk (1977). Ferrigno stated that Edward Norton reminded him of the late Bill Bixby, who acted beside him as Dr. David Bruce Banner. Norton, who is a big fan of the series, had also portrayed a similar character in Fight Club (1999).
* At the beginning of the film, a quick glimpse of Bruce's known associates appears. One of the names shown is that of Rick Jones. In the Incredible Hulk comic, Rick Jones was an orphan who drove out onto the weapons testing site on a dare. Rick was unaware that Bruce's gamma bomb was being tested that day but was saved by Bruce just as the bomb went off. This sacrifice is what caused Bruce to become the Hulk. Rick, wracked by guilt for what happened, has stayed by Bruce's side from then on.
* At 1hr 52min, this is the shortest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, tied with Thor: The Dark World (2013).
* The military base, "Fort Johnson", is named after Kenneth Johnson; the writer, director, and producer of The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series.
* Bruce Banner's sidekick Rick Jones was present in early drafts, but ended up being removed, once Edward Norton re-wrote the script.
* In the comics, the Abomination possesses pointed ears. Louis Leterrier wanted this characteristic to appear in the film, but reasoned that the Hulk would bite them off (a la Mike Tyson on Evander Holyfield), which was considered too intense for a PG-13 film.
* Producer Gale Anne Hurd called the film a "requel" because it's a bit of a reboot, and a bit of a sequel to Hulk (2003). Indeed, while the two films take place in different continuities, this one does seem to pick up where the 2003 version left off. At the end of the 2003 film, Banner flees the country and wanders the world in search of a cure for his condition, and this film begins with Banner having been on the run for five years in search of a cure.
* David Duchovny was considered to play Bruce Banner before Edward Norton.
* Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno are the only people that appeared in Hulk (2003) and this film.
* Norton wrote a part specifically for Michael Kenneth Williams, because he is a big fan of Williams' work on The Wire (2002).
* William Hurt based his performance as General Ross on Captain Ahab, the obsessive captain who endlessly chased Moby Dick.
* Eric Bana was asked to reprise his role of Bruce Banner, but he turned it down.
* Ray Stevenson was considered for the role of Emil Blonsky. He would later play Volstagg in the Thor films. Stevenson is no stranger to having portrayed a Marvel character, having starred as the Punisher in Punisher: War Zone (2008).
* Although Louis Leterrier liked Hulk (2003), he concurred with Marvel Studios that to continue the franchise, it would be better to deviate from Ang Lee's cerebral style from the first film, and focus on a more action-filled tone. He also believed that in keeping with Hulk's poetic feel, the visual effects were mostly "A fluorescent-green guy, who was simply flying around. He had no weight, and was too smooth-looking." So he wished to make the film's visual effects grittier and darker "and perhaps even a little scarier!"
* In Germany, the film was cut for a more commercial "Not under 12" rating. However, these cuts were done so clumsily, that not only movie buffs, but also average movie goers, noticed them, which resulted in lots of complaints to theater owners. To apologize for this, some cinemas gave away free movie tickets to the complaining customers. Additionally, many cinemas, including some of Germany's largest cinema chains, included warning messages on their websites to raise awareness of the issue.
* General Ross asks Emil Blonsky's age. Ross guesses the age of 45. Blonsky states he is 39. Tim Roth was actually 46 at the time of the movie's release.
* The visual effects experts based the Hulk and Abomination's movements on linebackers.
* Louis Leterrier had been interested in directing Iron Man (2008), but when Jon Favreau took that project, Avi Arad offered him a sequel to Hulk (2003).
* An earlier draft made The Abomination a composite character with Glenn Talbot, a different character from the comics, who was portrayed by Adrian Pasdar in the television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013), which is also a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
* This remains the lowest grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (despite making over $200 million).
* (at around 1h 9 mins) When Bruce Banner e-mails Mr. Blue with his data, while Betty purchases the used truck, the e-mail is tracked through the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) database.
* The Hulk, as portrayed in this film, was created through a blend of motion capture and key frame animation (by Rhythm & Hues). Hulk (2003)'s visual effects were carried out by Industrial Light & Magic, with Ang Lee providing motion-capture.
* Visual effects supervisor Kurt Williams created special computer programs that controlled the inflation of muscles and saturation of skin color for the transformations (since Williams reasoned that skin color was influenced by emotions, like blushing for instance).
* According to screenwriter Zak Penn, this film was more similar to comic book writer Bruce Jones's Hulk concepts, and The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series.
* Louis Leterrier directed four units with a broken foot.
* In 2003, James Schamus had written a treatment for a direct sequel to Hulk (2003) featuring the Grey Hulk, with The Leader, and The Abomination under consideration as the lead villain. However, Universal, at that time, owned the rights to making the film, and by the time the rights expired at the end of 2005, Marvel owned the movie production rights, with Universal only distributing it.
* In the comics, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross would later become the Red Hulk. Likewise, a little later, Ross' daughter and Bruce Banner/Hulk's love interest, Betty Ross, becomes Red She Hulk. Bruce's cousin, Jennifer Walters, is already She Hulk and is green in her Hulk form like him.
* Toronto was chosen as the main location for filming as the then-mayor David Miller was a huge Hulk fan and offered lots of concessions.
* Chapter Two of Phase One in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
* Edward Norton's wife Shauna Robertson produced Knocked Up (2007), and he wished to have one of the stars of Knocked Up (2007) appear in a cameo as a computer nerd. The role was offered to Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, and Seth Rogen, before Martin Starr was eventually cast. Starr would later make an appearance as another character in Spider-Man: Homecoming, another Marvel Cinematic Universe film nine years later. Paul Rudd, another actor from Knocked Up (2007) would also later appear in the MCU as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Ant-Man.
* The Hercules aircraft (337), at the beginning of the movie, is stationed at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. It is a Canadian Air Force plane, flown by Canadian Military pilots. It was painted to resemble the U.S. Air Force planes.
* The opening lab scene contains references from the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (1977) with the red "Danger" sign, the targeting reticule on Banner's forehead and the x-ray skull images.
* In the bottling plant, when Banner tries to talk to the girl, and the bald-headed goon messes with him, Banner tries to say "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry" in Portuguese, but can't remember the word for angry, so he says "hungry". "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." was a famous line from The Incredible Hulk (1977).
* The film joined Toronto's Green-Screen initiative, to help cut carbon emissions and waste created during filming. Hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles were used, with ultra low sulphur diesel as their energy source. For constructing the sets, the production department used a sustainably-harvested locally-sourced yellow pine, instead of the commonly-used lauan, and afterwards, the wood was either recycled, or given to environmental organizations. Paints with no or low volatile organic compounds were used, and paint cans were handed to waste management. A contractor was on-set to remove bins. Environmentally-friendly items used on the set included cloth bags, biodegradable food containers, china, and silverware food utensils, recycled paper, biodegradable soap, and cleaners, rechargeable batteries, and stainless steel mugs (one for each production member). Gale Anne Hurd hoped the film will be a symbol of the drive to encourage less pollution from film productions.
* When the Hulk was originally introduced in the comics, Betty Ross wasn't a scientist and co-worker to Bruce Banner. She was simply a civilian. In various cartoons, Hulk (2003) and in this film, she was rewritten to be a scientist. Likewise, in the comics, she was later rewritten as a scientist.
* This is the first MCU movie to be Filmed in Panavision (anamorphic).
* William Hurt and his son are big fans of the Hulk.
* Tim Roth suggested that his character, Emil Blonsky, be a soldier. In the comics, Blonsky was a KGB agent.
* All throughout the film, green objects can be seen. Bystander clothing, books, liquid in lab glassware, lamps, bottle caps, a tint on Betty Ross' eyeglasses frames, etc.
* The person to whom Bruce Banner is talking on the computer near the beginning of the film, "Mr. Blue", is wearing a blue shirt when they encounter each other later in the film.
* Liv Tyler took over the role of Betty Ross from Jennifer Connelly. Tyler and Connelly appeared as sisters in Inventing the Abbotts (1997).
* There are over 700 visual effects shots in the film.
* The film is the second Marvel Movie and MCU film released in 2008. The first is Iron Man (2008), which came out exactly one month before this film.
* Matthew McConaughey auditioned for the role of Bruce Banner/Hulk but was turned down.
* Denise Cronenberg designed the costumes for this film, as well as for her brother David Cronenberg's previous film The Fly (1986). Jeff Goldblum was considered for the role of Bruce Banner, and later appeared opposite Banner/Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
* Dominic Purcell was also considered for the lead role of Bruce Banner.
* (at around 39 mins) The computer Edward Norton is using, when he is disguised as a delivery boy, has the anti-virus program "Norton 360" installed.
* For the sake of anonymity, Bruce Banner's computer pen pal is Mr. Blue, while Bruce refers to himself as Mr. Green. Another movie whose characters use the "Mr. Color" convention, for anonymity purposes, is Reservoir Dogs (1992), also starring Tim Roth as Mr. Orange.
* On the Campus board above Betty Ross's name is Lester Richards. This is a possible nod to Richard Lester who directed Superman II (1980) and Superman III (1983).
* Bruce stops the TV on The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), which starred the original Dr. Banner, Bill Bixby. Eddie himself was played by Brandon Cruz, who later made a guest appearance on The Incredible Hulk (1977) television series.
* Before Edward Norton was cast to play Bruce Banner, Marvel considered Liev Schreiber for the role.
* The only MCU film to be distributed by Universal Pictures. As they still hold the film rights of the character Hulk as of 2022, Marvel Studios still hasn't produced a solo project based on the character. However, Hulk was seen several times in the MCU later, starting with The Avengers (2012) played by Mark Ruffalo as a supporting character.
* This is the sixth Marvel Movie that has shown nudity in some manner. The first five Marvel Movies are Howard the Duck (1986), Hulk (2003), The Punisher (2004), Blade: Trinity (2004), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), respectively. The Marvel Movies that follow are X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), Logan (2017), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
* Soldiers arrive at the house and send a cable under the front door. The dog picks up the cable in its mouth as the men burst into the room. The dog barks furiously at the soldiers and one of them turns and appears to shoot the dog with a dart gun. The dog is not shown getting shot -- only the sound of the barking stops. This scene was filmed in separate shots. The trainer placed the dog on its mark, stood off-camera and verbally cued the dog to "get" the piece of stiff rope that doubled as the cable. The off-screen trainer placed the dog on its mark and cued the dog to bark and act agitated. The dog was removed before the actor shot the fake dart.
* William Hurt was under consideration for the role of General Robert E. Lee in Gettysburg (1993). Another role, that of General John Buford, ended up being played by Sam Elliot, who played General Ross in Hulk (2003).
* It is likely safe to say that this is the only film in the MCU that has ever (and most likely will ever) premiered on HBO (and since its inception, been featured on HBO Max). All the other films have made their premieres on Epix (Iron Man (2008) up to The Avengers (2012)), Starz (Iron Man 3 (2013) up to Ant-Man (2015), plus the Tom Holland Spider-Man films released by Sony), Netflix (Captain America: Civil War (2016) up to Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and most recently Disney+ (starting with Captain Marvel (2019).
* One of only 13 movies to be reviewed twice by Now Playing Podcast. In their 2008 review this film had a split decision with one "Green Arrow" (or "Recommend") and one "Red Arrow" (or "Not Recommended"). Revisiting the movie in 2012 it got one "Green Arrow" and two "Red Arrows".
* Edward Norton and Paul Soles both appeared in The Score (2001).
* Liv Tyler previously starred in Armageddon (1998), which was also produced by Gale Anne Hurd, 10 years ago before this film.
* The film's cast includes an Oscar winner (William Hurt) and an Oscar nominee (Edward Norton).
* As of 2020, the film is the second and final solo Hulk film.
* The film is the first film released in 2008 that starred Liv Tyler. The second film is The Strangers (2008).