02-08-2006
I'm concerned about the recent talk of a Hulk "re-do:" The Incredible Hulk, slated for 2008. 
Director Louis Leterrier, who directed The Transporter, Transporter 2, and Unleashed, was officially announced by Marvel Studios to direct The Incredible Hulk. Zak Penn, a screenwriter who contributed to X-Men 2, and X-Men: The Last Stand, is writing the movie's script.
I thought The Transporter was a great film (the sequel was okay), and we need more films like it, but it's not really Hulk caliber. What I mean is, you need someone who's proven they can handle an "event" film.
Whatever you say about Ang Lee, he's got that covered.
The problem with Ang though, is that he's an artist first. And he's the kind of artist who evokes strong reactions from his audience: love or hate him, there is no indifference to his work.
Maybe he wasn't right for Hulk, but at least he had a vision, one that explored the characters in depth.
On the other hand, it's my belief that the studios marketed the film unfairly, leading audiences to expect something less complicated and more lowbrow.
When you've paid the high price of admission, and you've got your ridiculously expensive tub of popcorn, and you've sat through an annoying parade of trailers/commercials; and you're fully expecting Mission Impossible, but what you actually get is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you're going be pissed.
They could've sold an "Ang Lee" Hulk. They didn't want to. They didn't try.
What they did do doomed the picture from the start. I liked Ang Lee's Hulk. Great cast, great character development, great story telling. I was looking forward to seeing where the next film would take us.
Instead, we're going to get The Transporter, Green Washed, with a French twist.
And that French element hasn't proven exceptionally marketable in the Sci-Fi/Action genre: Catwoman/Pitof, Alien: Resurrection/Juneau (he went on to direct Amelie and A Very Long Engagement, but this foray into American Sci-Fi was arguably his darkest hour), The Fith Element/Besson (somewhat of an exception, being his own personal project and not something he was drug across the pond to helm, shot out at us like an impacted bowel movement--where for art tho, Milla?).
Hulk is so American, it's difficult to imagine it with a lavish, stylized French accent.
Filming is expected to commence April 2007.
