The Incredible Hulk: What Did You Think?
Today, The Incredible Hulk opens in face of months of fanboy speculation (early consensus is quite positive), the looming memory of Ang Lee’s Bruce Banner, M. Night’s worst R-rated movie, and the celebration of Jason Voorhees. We want to hear what you thought of the big budget Marvel/Universal film all weekend long.
Things to consider: Is this the Hulk we’ve been waiting for? Better than Ang Lee’s? Was the CGI up to snuff? Is Edward Norton the definitive Banner? Does Norton have good reason to remain displeased with the film’s editing? How does Louis Leterrier’s film rank against Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and which film did you enjoy more? Is this a better film than Iron Man as some viewers are saying? Was Liv Tyler’s character just another damsel in distress or did she offer something different? Tim Roth, one of the great comic-to-film villains? And what about Captain America? Tony Stark?
Jon Favreau Says Iron Man 2 Realease Date Is Unrealistic
A couple of weeks after Iron Man was released Marvel got all excited and instantly set a release date of April 30th 2010, which seems a heck of a long time away. Then yesterday it was revealed that Iron Man 2 would begin filming in March 2009, which made sense and gave director Jon Favreau and company just over a year to get it all sorted. However, today Jon Favreau told fans on his message boards:
It’s been five weeks since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel. I know their hands are full with the Hulk and I’m sure they will get into it shortly, as they tell me they intend to. I ran into the Marvel guys at the Hulk premiere and everyone sounded eager to get to work on IM2.
I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is in light of the fact that we have no script, story or even writers hired yet. This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation. It might be better to follow the BB/DK, X/X2 three year release pattern than to scramble for a date. It is difficult because there are no Marvel 09 releases and they need product, but I also think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of IM2 and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one.
I suppose that’s the problem with studios who have to get movies out and set release dates. As Favreau said, Marvel do not have anything coming out in 2009, apart from X-Men Origins: Wolverine but that is a Fox/Marvel movie. After The Incredible Hulk is released within days that is it for Marvel until 2010 when they have Thor, and hopefully Iron Man 2.
If Marvel, Jon Favereau and Robert Downey Jr wanted too they could get it out for April 2010, however it is better to go steady and get it right rather than setting a release date and rushing to make it.
Marvel Logo Line-Up: Iron Man 2, Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America, The Avengers
Update: Nikki Finke reports that Marvel has offered Fav a new deal to direct Iron Man 2, with a requisite “insider” telling her, “What, do people think Marvel is stupid?” Well insider, I guess it’s good that Fav didn’t have to utilize Twitter, Plurk and Facebook to get a new deal, if true.
The NY Licensing Show teaser poster for the RoboCop remake received a huge response on Slashfilm, and today brings logos marking Marvel’s ambitious future like geek tarot cards via MTV.
One has to wonder what is running through Jon Favreau’s mind when a logo and bold release date position Iron Man 2 as first in line, while Marvel continues to leave him hanging blankly on MySpace.
As for the other films? While the logo for 2010’s Thor is from the comics, it’s rather cheesy in my opinion, conjuring 1988’s Gor and/or a wrestler who ties vibrant streamers around his arms. A notch below on the meh meter is the logo for The First Avenger: Captain America, which is a mouthful no matter what and is sans patriotic stripes. And then there’s the logo for the studio’s ultra-burrito, The Avengers, which also remains faithful to the comics and my personal fave of the ones here, alongside Iron Man 1 & 2. Unsurprisingly, the company’s Ant-Man and Runaways are absent here, as is Lionsgate’s Punisher: War Zone, which opens this fall and continues to have underdog status on the Nets, and next summer’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine from Fox.
Anyone have a cell phone grab of a DC Comics rep studying this at the expo?
Rumor: Marvel Wants Leonardo DiCaprio For Captain America. Or Brad Pitt.
If this rumor(s) seems like it originated in the mind of Captain Obvious, we see your point, but it arrived just minutes ago via a very reputable source/friend site, Latino Review. It seems that Marvel has a shortlist of names for their 2011 tent pole, The First Avenger: Captain America, and at the top is Leonardo DiCaprio followed by Brad Pitt (whose name has previously circulated for 2010’s Thor). This continues the trend of studios “casting up” in major summer blockbusters.
Of course, DiCaprio has a plethora of passion projects, most recently pegged to play Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s founder Noah Bushnell, that could keep him out of the equation. Either way, here are some thoughts spanning the Net consciousness right now: DiCaprio is a good choice, Matthew McConaughey would have blown chunks as Steve Rogers/Capt. America; DiCaprio is too skinny for the role/shield throwing, I mean, he’s a really good actor though; What studio wouldn’t want DiCaprio to play a superhero? Pfffft.
El Mayimbe at LR says that no official offer has been made to DiCaprio or to Brad Pitt, the other A-lister being considered, but he hints that the trades might pick up this same info months from now. With The Incredible Hulk launching this weekend, Marvel Studios is on a rampage the likes of which we haven’t seen before. Personally, I think DiCaprio would be an awesome choice, nicely modernizing expectations for the prototypical American (super)soldier. Pitt would be the more popular choice with fans, I’m assuming, based on build and photos in office calendars. More on this as it develops… If you didn’t check out our post today on Marvel’s upcoming slate/Jon Favreau’s involvement with Iron Man 2, here’s the link.