FILM · 2008 · USA
The Incredible Hulk
- Directed by
- Louis Leterrier
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Studio
- Marvel Studios, Valhalla Motion Pictures, Marvel Entertainment
139 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
Scientist Bruce Banner scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.
Summary: TMDB
The Incredible Hulk: 13 Facts About the Characters and Cast
- #003
"Stanley Lieber" is the owner of the pizza shop. Soles voiced Bruce Banner/The Hulk in Hulk (1966) and Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man (1967). The character's name is a tribute to Stan Lee, co-creator of the Hulk, whose real name is Stanley Lieber.
- #013
Contains a major spoiler — show
About four minutes into the film, as Banner flips through TV channels, one of the programs he pauses on is The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), starring Bill Bixby, who appears on screen for a few seconds. Bixby played Dr. Banner in the television series The Incredible Hulk (1977).
- #015
Edward Norton, a big Hulk fan, initially turned down the lead role because he had concerns about how the film would turn out. After meeting with Louis Leterrier and Marvel and hearing their vision, he signed on.
- #033
Edward Norton was cast as Bruce Banner on the recommendation of Lou Ferrigno, who appeared in The Incredible Hulk (1977). Ferrigno said that Edward Norton reminded him of the late Bill Bixby, who played Dr. David Bruce Banner alongside him. Norton, a big fan of the series, had played a similar character in Fight Club (1999).
- #069
Contains a major spoiler — show
At around 38 minutes in, Edward Norton's wife Shauna Robertson produced Knocked Up (2007) and wanted one of the film's stars to appear in a cameo as a computer geek. The role was offered to Jason Segel, Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen before Martin Starr was cast. Starr would later appear as the same character nine years later in another Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Spider-Man: Homecoming. Another Knocked Up (2007) actor, Paul Rudd, would also later appear in the MCU as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Ant-Man (2015).
- #080
Matthew McConaughey auditioned for the role of Bruce Banner/Hulk but was rejected.
- #084
Contains a major spoiler — show
This is the fourth film in which Edward Norton has played a character with a second personality, following Primal Fear (1996), Fight Club (1999) and The Score (2001).
- #090
Before Edward Norton was cast to play Bruce Banner, Marvel had considered Liev Schreiber for the role. Schreiber went on to play Sabretooth in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).
- #091
Dominic Purcell was considered for the role of Bruce Banner. This would have been his second Marvel film after Blade: Trinity (2004).
- #098
Edward Norton had previously been considered for three other Marvel roles: Wolverine in X-Men (2000), Green Goblin in Spider-Man (2002) and Daredevil in Daredevil (2003).
- #126
William Hurt was considered for the role of General Robert E. Lee in Gettysburg (1993). Another role, that of General John Buford, was played by Sam Elliott, who played General Ross in Hulk (2003).
- #135
The film was the first Liv Tyler starred in during 2008. The second was The Strangers (2008).
- #139
Amy Adams auditioned for the role of Betty Ross, which reportedly later went to Liv Tyler.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
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- IMDb IMDb
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