Consider that Lou Ferrigno’s most iconic role is about to be taken over (for the second time) by a huffing and puffing mass of computer-generated images, and you might forgive the former Mr. Universe for being green with envy. But the world’s most famous Hulk told MTV News that he’s totally on board with Edward Norton’s upcoming reboot…literally.
“I was in the movie. I just finished filming,” Ferrigno said, smiling. “It’s a spectacular movie. Very impressive.”
Ever since 1977 when he began playing the character in a famous television series, Ferrigno has had a lot of time to ruminate on the Hulk. Norton, he says, shares a similar obsession.
“We talked about it. I believe he rewrote the script because he’s very involved with the character,” Ferrigno related. “He’s not just doing another movie, he wanted to be involved with the character. I think that’s going to bring it to the next level.”
Lou went on to give Norton and the production his highest seal of approval, in fact, saying the work they were doing on the film will “be like the TV series.”
“[Ed actually] reminds me a lot of Bill Bixby,” Ferrigno confessed, referencing the actor who played Banner in the series. “He has a similar physique, similar personality. Ed is a very fine actor and it adds tremendous credibility for him to be involved with the movie.”
Hulk smash those who don’t leave comments. Sound off on the new Hulk and what you hope to see in it below.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I’m really starting to get excited for this movie. With every bit of news that comes out, it looks better and better.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:26 pm
yeah getting pretty excited, hopefully we’ll see a trailer soon
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I just hope that they do an actual “Bill Bixby” character in the film. In the original “Hulk” movie they re-named Banner’s father “David” to pay tribute Bixby. That, and the infamous line, “don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” That’s all Bixby! The other 2 things I would like to see are: 1. Lou Ferrigno w/ a bigger, better part in this movie. Maybe, an actual Hulk villain. 2. I would like to see this Banner get stuck between transformations reminiscent of the “Prometheus” episode from the original T.V. series. Wouldn’t that be visually exciting!
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I’m pretty excited about this movie. Norton is a good actor, and I think that the studio learned from the mistake of Ang Lee’s “Hulk”.
“be like the TV series.”
I hope not.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Edward Norton is an excellent actor whos ability to to handle complex acting parts will make this movie a definite hit. Being a Hulk fan since childhood and a reader of the comic and I have a great respect for Edward nortons acting ability asy this will be a hit!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I to am very much looking forward to seeing this movie. Anyone know when the trailer will be out?
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
It seems they are finally taking this movie seriously.The people involved seem to be very passionate about this film.I feel because of this the hulk will finally get the attention he deserves. In my opinion spiderman isn’t as emotional a character as the hulk but because the people involved in the movie were very passionate in making it work it set a new standard and broke records.The Incredible Hulk just might set a new bar previously held by spiderman
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
i’m looking foreword to this movie, but to be fair Ang Lee’s movie was not that bad. It’s was a very underrated movie.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
After seeing the illusionist, I believe Mr. Norton has the ability to play any character. I’ve been left with the impression Mr. Norton is truly of a Higher Nature, i.e. Consciousness. I’ve no doubt he will “become” the Hulk, and after the film, some will realize how he made it appear effortlessly. That’s how gifted he is. Thank You Mr. Norton for your sharing your fine gifts, and story telling!! I’ll be seeing you soon.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Looking forward to a Marvelous summer in 2008 with both Iron Man and the Hulk coming with perect
casts. Can’t wait!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I think Ed Norton will bring all of the elements to making Bruce Banner a believeable character. This movie is going to rock!
October 24th, 2007 at 6:19 am
This is shaping up to be another smash (pun intended) hit. I strongly believe this movie will live up to the expectations of both comic book fans and regular moviegoers.
Edward Norton’s acting ability is without question. If Chris Reeve made us believe a man could fly, Mr. Norton can make us believe that Bruce Banner can really turn into the green monster Hulk.
And yeah, Lou Ferrigno SHOULD have a bigger part. After all, he’s THE Hulk.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Ed Norton impressed me some time ago in the film Red Dragon, only then I was unfamiliar with him. His acting in that film was top-notch! I believe he can pull this off, & I think this Hulk will succeed where the other one quite didn’t. Now if WB will take some lessons from Marvel & reboot Superman properly; Oh well, wishful thinking, anyway.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:59 am
The TV series put the Hulk on the map of America’s consciousness. Being “like the TV series” is not a bad thing. It’s awesome. I would encourage all Hulk fans to buy the original TV series pilot on DVD and listen to producer Kenneth Johnson’s commentary. Because of him, the Hulk arose from comic book camp and mediocrity to the status of cultural mythological symbolism. Together with Bixby and Ferrigno, Johnson crafted a classic.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
The Hulk was never comic book camp. The t.v series was great, but the Incredible Hulk comic was a serious, yet fun, story about man, science, emotions and best of all smashing.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I just hope for the following:
1. They capture the mis-understood part of the hulk. (Innocence/Kindness)
2. They show how kids and animals naturally trust him, and how he really cares for the innocent. He really is a hero…
4. I hope they really have something good to make him enraged enough for his strength to go off the charts… (Child hurt, friend killed… something that pushes him over the edge)…
3. I hope they have him really kicking some major ass since he is in my opinion Marvel’s super-man but 1000 times better because of his flaws and limitations. (Feats of strengths etc…)
All hail to Ferrigno and Norton… two very very class acts…
October 24th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
This is sounding like the real deal here. I liked the first “Hulk”, and this sounds like it will be even better. I hope it will be the “SMASH” we want it to be.
October 24th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I’m looking forward to, The Incredible Hulk on June 13, 2008. Edward Norton is a brilliant actor he looks and acts like Michael Keaton very serious and smooth like Keaton was in his Batman roles and as Carter Hayes in Pacific Heights and as a demented sociopath in Desperate Measures. Michael Keaton didn’t just play Batman in Tim Burton’s vision in 1989 and 1992 he lived the character. Christopher Reeve played and lived Superman from 1978 to 1987 we will miss you so much Chris thank you man for everything. The next Batman and Superman stars that will light the banner torch for Chris Reeve and Mike Keaton are Brandon Routh and Christian Bale two talented actors that will light up the screen in The Dark Knight in 2008 and Superman The Man of Steel in 2010 with Spiderman 4 coming out the same year. Edward Norton will pickup where Eric Bana left off in Ang Lee’s Hulk in 2003. Liv Tyler a beautiful and talented actress I loved her in Armageddon and The Lord of The Rings series, will hopefully live up to Jennifer Connelly’s Betty Ross character.
October 25th, 2007 at 7:48 am
The Onion recently said that the first Hulk Movie deserved a 2nd look. I agree. It’s a much better movie than you realize in one sitting, and Bana and Garner were great in it. I can’t imagine a better Banner than Bana, even if I do think Norton is great and I’m thrilled to have him in the “superhero movie” world. I just think he should have been a differnet character. Ed Norton as Moon Knight, maybe, or Cable, when they inevitably do the Cable/Deadpool movie.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:02 am
The key to making this movie successful, which was missed in the last feature film, but captured in the tv series is…..MAKE THE CHARACTERS LIKEABLE! In the last movie, no one CARED about Banner because he had no personality, no charm, and he wasn’t likeable. Eric Bana was dry. Bill Bixby was charming, funny at times, and witty. An audience has to care about the characters and want to feel for them if they like them. Then you wrap a story around that!
October 25th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
You guys are wrong, the last movie was great-They will this new movie cheesy, smashy and lame. You’ll miss how good Ang Lee version is when this garbage smacks the screen like those others: Captain America, Fab 4, Daredevil, Electra, etc.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I agree that the first movie was made of McAwesomeness, but I think that Ed Norton will be not only a good replacement for Eric Bana but his involvement with the script rewrites will bring a grrreat post-nerdy I-just-killed-my-father guilt/angst ridden Bruce Banner to the new movie.
But the villain better be rad. The first movie showed a young man wanting to kick his dad’s a** and who doesn’t want to do that?
October 26th, 2007 at 3:10 am
I trust Edward Norton’s choices blindly. I can’t wait for Summer 2008!!
October 26th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
The first Incredible Hulk movie was incredibly lame. There was no action, no villain, a horrible script with good actors/actresses, no excitement, and plain boring.
This new installment will be 10x better. I cannot recall an Ed Norton movie that wasnt a great movie. I am a big fan of the superhero genre and Ill admit that there were some stinkers like Superman Returns, Fantastink 4, and oh god Ghostrider… I am thoroughly looking forward to the new Hulk movie and you all should be too.
J
November 12th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Hi Corey! Pal, you obviously enjoyed Lee’s Hulk outing and I respect that. However, to most viewers the film was rather lacking on several levels. I found the film entertaining to a point, and only to a point. Lee’s Hulk had some acceptable production values but the film was not “great.” I do not recall the green guy, or the movie, ever receiving an Oscar nomination. Further more; the film was not exactly adhering to comic book lore in any shape or form.
And, by the way, how can you accurately define a movie as being “lame” before its release?
November 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Frankly, I totally have much more faith in this upcoming movie adaption of the Hulk than Ang Lee’s version. Don’t get me wrong, though. I thought the casting was pretty good and Danny Elfman’s score was hauntingly beautiful, but those were the only good things going for it.
What made Ang Lee’s version of the Hulk lame was the simple fact that it TOOK ITSELF TOO SERIOUSLY! There were little -if any- moments of levity where everything can just lighten up and you can have a few laughs. It felt like a 2 1/2 hour angst trip, nothing more, and nothing less.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:46 am
i personally think this hulk movie will be better than the last one i knew the script will have 2 b rewritten after watching zak penn’s good 2 apoint movies in zak’s movies good guy only meets bad guy once thank god 4 ed rescuing marvel and more importantly us 4rom another dry movie ipredict asmash what do u all think
December 30th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I cant wait to see how the movie evolves into the point where the grey hulk enters the scene!!!!!
January 13th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Corey, your a dumbass, it is pretty clear your not a real Incredible Hulk fan otherwise you would not be saying how good Ang Lee’s version was, don’t get me wrong it was ok and the effects were good just at times i thought i was watching a king kong movie, the size they made the hulk grow to was just ridiculous, not to mention that the only real similarities to the comic was the characters names, everything else went out the window. It seems as if they are trying to correct this with this new movie, i hope they do.
March 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
In my opinion they shoulda got Robert Downey Jr tp play Robert Bruce Banner my god with the beard in Ironman trailer he looks like Bill Bixby but remember the way Robert banner looked in the comics more like Jeffery Combs ala ReAnimator he would have made the best Banner of them all especially for a big screen version. @nd point I have to make the Incredible Hulk speaks he’s not mut like they had him in the freakin movie,#3d point The Hulk is 7feet tall weighing in at 1000lbs a big difference from the TV Hulk and i say TV Hulk because If you’ve read all of his inredible comic adventures they all rival the Supreman Doomsday Adventure,I found the Hulk Comics much more dramatic and Hard Hitting than any Superman adventures Except The Superman Doomsday Saga Also the Hulk has battled the man of Steel in a few crossovers. One they actually tied up in a fight. The second fight was a stalemate and the third he faught The post Doomsday Superman so you’re talkin about a charachter who’s battled the biggest and the baddest good or villinous. The Hulk aint afraid of nobody and the midtransformation Hulk could be plaid by Vin diesel that’s who played him in the prometheous episode of the TV Hulk Have Goldberg Play the Absorbing Man Crusher Kreel is his name/not the sad sack role nick nolte played They should Get Kimbo Slice to play Abomination if they don’t go CGI again.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
For Lou Ferrigno to compare Ed Norton to Bill
Bixby is a very high compliment. As David Bruce Banner, Bixby gave life to the Marvel comic character. The viewer could feel his suffering.
If Mr. Norton plays Banner to the depth that Mr. Bixby did, the Hulk will actually be a minor character in the movie.