Eric Bana ... Bruce Banner
Jennifer Connelly ... Betty Ross
Sam Elliott ... Gen. Thunderbolt Ross
Josh Lucas ... Glenn Talbot
Nick Nolte ... Bruce Banner's Father
Brooke Langton ... Jennifer Sossman
Behind the camera:
Director: Ang Lee
Screenwriters: Michael France, Michael Tolkin, David Hayter
Producers:
Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd, James Schamus
Plot: Based on the Marvel Comic Book series about Bruce Baxter, who after being exposed to strong gamma rays, he finds himself transferring into a huge green monster whenever his anger gets out of control.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, the "Hulk" talks about Dr. Bruce Banner, who morphs into a giant green monster whenever he grows angry, or his emotions become out of control. Connelly is set to play his love interest, a fellow colleague, who is the daughter of General Ross. General Ross is in charge of the military base in which Banner works at. The trade reports that Nick Nolte is being eyed as a possible candidate to take on the role of General Ross.
UPDATES:
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jennifer Connelly has signed to star in Universal's adaptation of "The Hulk," which will be under the helm of Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.") The film currently has Eric Bana in the leading role of Bruce Banner/Hulk.
Actress Jennifer Connelly has landed the female lead in ``The Hulk,'' joining Eric Bana in the Ang Lee-directed big-screen morphing of the Marvel Comics franchise for Universal.
Connelly will play the role of Betty Ross, a scientist who has a close personal and professional relationship with Dr. Bruce Banner, who transforms into the green-skinned muscle-bound hero after he gets hit by an errant dose of gamma rays.
Scripted by David Hayter and James Schamus, the film begins shooting in March. Bana is best known for Australian import ``Chopper'' and co-stars in the upcoming Ridley Scott-directed military drama ``Black Hawk Down.''
Connelly has been in high demand since reinvigorating her career in the Darren Aronofsky-directed ``Requiem for a Dream.'' She next will be seen starring with Russell Crowe in the Ron Howard-directed adaptation of ''A Beautiful Mind.''
The Hollywood Reporter announced today that Nick Nolte is closing in on getting the role of General Ross whose described as "the man in charge of the military base where scientific developments occur". The big news however is that "Dark City" babe Jennifer Connelly has landed the lead female role of Betty Ross, a female colleague and love interest of Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) who also happens to be the daughter of the aforementioned General Ross. The trade also confirms Universal seems to be eyeing a Summer 2003 release with this one.
UPDATE:
Jennifer Connelly recently chatted with the SCI Fi Wire (http://www.scifi.com) and talks about the psychological aspect that Ang Lee hopes to bring out in the film.
"I asked him why he wanted to make The Hulk, and he said, 'Well, it's really a Greek tragedy. It's actually a psychodrama,'" Connelly said. "He talks about the rage inside all of us, he talks about fathers and sons, and he's talking about using a heightened format to get at something really profound that is otherwise more difficult to access. So, I'm hearing it like Brechtian theater."
She goes on to say, "It's really interesting and ambitious. He's not talking about a guy running around in green tights and a glossy fun-filled movie for kids. He's talking along the lines of tragedy and psychodrama. I find it interesting, the green monster of rage and greed, jealousy and fear in all of us."
So was she ever a fan of the original TV series? "I used to watch the old TV series when I was a kid, but this is going to be very different than that," she said.
He's a lean, mean, green machine. That doesn't mean The Hulk doesn't have time for some nookie. Jennifer Connelly who plays the Hulk's girlfriend in the upcoming Ang Lee film "The Hulk" and she divulged a few plot secrets.
"She's a scientist and his ex girlfriend. They're working together, but are broken up. In fact, it's such a serious movie that the Hulk doesn't appear in the beginning of the movie."
The film also stars newcomer Eric Bana ("Black Hawk Down") who plays the title role of Dr. Bruce Banner.
UPDATE
Tuesday December 18 01:18 AM EST
Uni's 'Hulk' pumped up for June '03
By Josh Spector
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Less than a week after the X-Men staked their mutant claim to the month of May, "The Hulk" has found a home in June.
Universal Pictures will release "Hulk" on June 20, 2003, further clarifying the ever-competitive summer boxoffice battle lines. Other titles slated for release then are Fox's comic book-inspired "X2" on May 2, Warner Bros.' "The Matrix Reloaded" on Memorial Day weekend and Warners' "Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines" on July Fourth weekend.
Although "Hulk" will not be the first fantasy franchise out of the gate, Universal execs said they are happy with the date they have claimed.
"That June weekend has been a great weekend if you look back at history and the successful openings of films like 'The Fast and the Furious' and 'Big Daddy,' " Universal president of distribution Nikki Rocco said. "This is a great franchise with a very broad appeal, and we specifically honed in on a date when school would not be in session to increase kids' availability."
Directed by Oscar winner Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), "Hulk" centers on research scientist Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) and his monstrous green-skinned alter ego, the Hulk. Lee's version of the film will be set in Berkeley, Calif., with plot points like the misunderstood Hulk being pursued by the military while attempting to ward off evil forces. Meanwhile, there is a love story between Banner and a female colleague (Jennifer Connelly) who happens to be the daughter of Gen. Ross, who is in charge of a military base where scientific research is conducted.
" 'The Hulk' will be our big tentpole movie for summer 2003, which will be supported with an unprecedented companywide marketing effort," Rocco said. "The third weekend in June is the perfect release date for a major event title like this."
"Hulk" is being produced by Gale Anne Hurd, Marvel Studios president Avi Arad and Good Machine co-chairman James Schamus, Lee's producing partner. David Hayter wrote the script, which is being rewritten by Schamus.
UPDATE
Elliott, Nolte bulk up 'Hulk'
By Zorianna Kit
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Sam Elliott and Nick Nolte will star in Universal Pictures' big-screen adaptation of the Marvel comic book "The Hulk," to be directed by Oscar-winning helmer Ang Lee.
The computer-generated, effects-laden project is targeted for a spring start and a tentpole June 20, 2003, release.
"Hulk" centers on research scientist Dr. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) and his monstrous green-skinned alter ego, the Hulk. Lee's version of the film will be set in Berkeley, Calif., with plot points like the misunderstood Hulk being pursued by the military while attempting to ward off threatening evil forces. Meanwhile, there is a love story between Banner and a female colleague, Betty (Jennifer Connelly), who happens to be the daughter of Gen. Ross (Elliott), a man in charge of the military base where scientific developments occur. As the commander of the top-secret military research center, Ross becomes inexorably drawn into conflict with the Hulk.
Nolte will portray Bruce Banner's father, a brilliant scientist who unwittingly passes on a tragic legacy to his son.
"Hulk" is being produced by Gale Anne Hurd, Marvel Studios president Avi Arad and Good Machine co-chairman and Lee's producing partner James Schamus. David Hayter wrote the script, which is being rewritten by Schamus.
Elliott, repped by Agency for the Performing Arts' Joel Dean, next stars opposite Mel Gibson in Paramount Pictures' "We Were Soldiers."
UPDATE: Rumors from from Moviehole.net:
The Hulk : I was talking to Carla Ferringo today who lets loose a little news. Eric Bana may have the lead in the upcoming Hulk movie, but original Hulk Lou Ferringo will be featuring in it too. "Yes Lou has been promised a good part in the film", she says.
UPDATE:
Frederick Elmes, ASC ("Storytelling," "Chain of Fools") is prepping "Hulk" for director Ang Lee. Based on the famous comic book by Stan Lee, production begins Mar. 1 in Berkeley, Calif. with Nick Nolte and Jennifer Connelly starring. This is Elmes' third collaboration with Lee.
UPDATE:
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Josh Lucas is poised to reteam with his "A Beautiful Mind" co-star Jennifer Connelly in Universal Pictures' big-screen adaptation of the Marvel comic book "The Hulk" for director Ang Lee. The computer-generated, effects-laden project is targeted for a spring start and a tentpole release June 20, 2003. "Hulk" centers on research scientist Dr. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) and his monstrous green-skinned alter ego, the Hulk. There is a love story between Banner and a female colleague, Betty (Connelly), who happens to be the daughter of Gen. Ross (Sam Elliott), a man in charge of the military base where scientific developments occur. Nick Nolte will portray Banner's father, a brilliant scientist who unwittingly passes on a tragic legacy to his son. Lucas will play Talbott, Betty's childhood friend who is now a soldier and rival to Banner. "Hulk" is being produced by Gale Anne Hurd, Marvel Studios president Avi Arad and Good Machine co-chairman and Lee's producing partner James Schamus. Lucas, repped by ICM, recently starred in Fox Searchlight's "The Deep End." He next stars in "Sweet Home Alabama" opposite Reese Witherspoon, Victor Nunez's indie feature "Coastlines" and Lions Gate Films' "The Weight of Water." His credits also include "American Psycho" and "You Can Count on Me."
UPDATE:
Upcomingmovies.com got a tip that young new actor Mike Erwin (he made his theatrical debut in The
New Guy) has joined the cast in an unspecified role.
UPDATE:
The first look at Hulk footage will be in a 30-second Super Bowl spot. The first full trailer will appear in theaters on February 14th with Marvel's Daredevil.
