In an interview with SFX magazine, Kevin Feige, President of Production for Marvel Studios, confirmed that the Hulk will be in Marvel’s first ever crossover film, “The Avengers.”
This is what Feige had to say:
“Its fun now and we are introducing some new characters in these films…But its not about cramming in lots of new people…that’s sort of the cardinal sin of the sequel, adding too many characters….My only concern is that when we launch a franchise…whichever character’s franchise that may be, it should stand on its own two feet. With Iron Man being the first one out of the gate, thank goodness that’s what happened. Everyone loved it. Its our job to do the same with Thor and Captain America two years from now, so by the time The Avengers comes in 2012 its not just a team super hero movie with a bunch of characters with powers, its three people, four including Hulk, five including Nick Fury-who you have seen before in other movies, coming together for the very first time.”
Unlike Spider-Man or the X-Men, the Hulk has had two films but with little success. Ang Lee’s 2003 version was without a doubt a box office disaster. While the reboot with Edward Norton in 2008 was a disappointment. It’d be interesting to see who plays Bruce Banner in this installment, or if Marvel decides to cut out the actor and have Hulk be Hulk, as an entirely CGI character.
In additional to spilling the news about Hulk making an appearance in “The Avengers,” Feige talks a little bit about Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Thor and the chore he has by bringing a Norse god into our world.
“No, I don’t think it will be difficult because that’s what Thor is. We’re doing the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby/Walt Simonson/J Michael Straczynski Thor. We’re not doing the blow the dust of the old Norse book in your library Thor and in the Thor of the Marvel universe there’s a race called The Asgardians, and we’re linked through this tree of life that we’re unaware of. Its real science, but we don’t know about it yet. The Thor movie is about teaching people that.”
“Thor” won’t be out until next year on May 6. While “The Avengers” is tentatively set for a May 4, 2012 premiere.