Guillermo del Toro to Oversee New Incredible Hulk TV Series

Posted by on November 17th, 2010   Filed under: Action, Books/Comics, TV
Source: Deadline

Well it looks like the rumours of a new Incredible Hulk TV series are turning out to be true, and the project is now coming together fairly quickly over at ABC. What’s more, they’re in the process of finalizing a deal with two pretty big names to steer the show: Guillermo del Toro and Battlestar Galactica producer David Eick. With the multitude of projects that del Toro currently has in development, it seems a bit hard to believe that this is actually the first TV series he will be involved in, and coincidentally it is also Marvel’s first TV series since forming their own TV division. Eick, on the other hand, brings plenty of experience with him; in addition to Battlestar Galactica he also worked on such shows as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, American Gothic, Bionic Woman and Caprica.

Del Toro and Eick will both come up with the story for the pilot, which is being planned as an origin story, with Eick eventually penning the script and del Toro directing it (depending on his availability). del Toro said in a statement that he has “always been attracted at the combination of comic book heroics and monsters,” and actually pursued the Hulk movie back in 2002.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this whole announcement is the revelation that the Hulk will not be fully rendered via CG, but instead will use “a mixture of prosthetics, puppetry and CGI.” del Toro will also oversee the design of the new Hulk, which may incorporate a few “wild tweaks.” I’m definitely curious to see what he comes up with. The series is not being prepped for next fall, unfortunately, and instead is likely to debut after The Avengers, sometime in 2012. No word on if Mark Ruffalo is expected to reprise his role. Are you looking forward to the Incredible Hulk’s return to the small screen?



  • Greg White

    As a longtime fan of The Incredible Hulk (in all his incarnations), I’m absolutely psyched to see this come to fruition.

    My hope of hopes is that the Hulk has the power of speech. It seems like a no-brainer to me, but storylines just seem so hugely limited when the central character can’t speak.

    I was introduced to the character in the mid to early ’70s (thank you, bodybuilder and weightlifter extraordinaire, Uncle Jim), and I never understood why any project would deny him the ability to converse with other characters. I also recall the Hulk’s favorite food… beans. Movies and television seemed to have denied him so much in terms of personality. It’s no wonder that many consider most of his outings relatively boring.

    Anyway, here’s hoping they flesh out the 1,050 behemoth a bit…

  • Brendan

    I posted some thoughts on this in the forums yesterday. I think Del Toro’s a good choice, at least in his ability to bring a larger-than-life, monochromatic comic book hero to life on screen without relying solely on CG (Hellboy).
    I’d say Mark Ruffalo is definitely out as Banner, though. The reports I saw said the TV Banner would be in his mid-twenties, so a 40+ Mark Ruffalo does not fit the bill. I also saw that this show will not be connected with any previous live action versions of the character, though it will draw on the original tv series and comics. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

  • HulkFan

    Since reality TV is turning entertainment to sh*t, I for one see this as GREAT news. The original series was great, which I’m sure will set a high standard for the new one. Can’t wait!

  • Gilberto Edwards

    Mark Ruffalo is not going to reprise the role as bruce banner,another younger actor in mid twenties.

  • Gilberto Edwards

    They need Edward Norton first pick or other known actor that look like Edward Norton.

  • Gilberto Edwards

    They should use a expensive,solid actor like Bill Bixby and Edward Norton in between.

  • Gilberto Edwards

    They should first Cast Edward Norton and if he refuse the part then get Danile Radcliffe form Harry potter.

  • nick gee

    I loved the original 70’s tv series and always loved Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno! the tv series was even better than the films! I hope that with all the new cgi technology we’ve got nowadays they’ll come up with something which can go beyond special effects limitations of the 70’s and at the same time go back to the storyline of the tv show, banner always being on the run and the reporter in hot pursuit! And maybe even incorporate into it all other factors like the talking grey hulk and the she hulk!

  • Michael McDonnell

    The Hulk movies and comic books have been overshadowed by the old tv series, nobody is familiar with his supporting cast and villains. They said it’s going to be more like the comic then the old series and they also said the love story between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross is going to be part of the show.

    They’re probably going to have him hunted by General Ross not a reporter.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Who should play Betty Ross Ideally?

    My choice for Bruce Banner would be Michael Shanks from Stargate SG1.

    My choice for General Ross would be Stephen Lang from Avatar.

    They might put a fake muscle suit on somebody like what Del Toro did with Hellboy for the Hulk.

  • Michael McDonnell

    What do you think of having the Hulk serum in the series instead of gamma radiation which would have caused Bruce Banner to get sick and die. Have Banner trying to recreate the Super Soldier Serum that created Captain America in the pilot that leads to the accident that creates the Hulk.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The new series is likely going use the Hulk’s supporting cast which were never used in the old series it’s always been that he’s goes into town, gets bullied by thugs and chased by reporter Jack McGee which is the same thing every episode.

  • Michael McDonnell

    This will probably be the 4th actor to play Bruce Banner or 5th if you count Bill Bixby, 3rd actress to play Betty Ross and 3rd actor to play General Ross and lets hope the pilot won’t suffer the same fate as Wonder Woman.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The big question to me will be is that the 70’s Hulk TV series is so deeply adored by the general audience( the Hulk movies were overshadowed by that series), and the big question will be if the new series happens will it be a homage to the old show? will it go the Superman Returns route? I was disappointed with Superman Returns I thought it tried too much to be like the Richard Donner/ Christopher Reeves Superman movies, so if there’s going to be a Incredible Hulk nostalgia in the near future I think we’re trouble.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Comicvine says that David Eick and Guillermo del Toro submitted a treatment that includes the development of the Red Hulk as a villain.

    We all know that Red Hulk is General Ross it’s possible that he might become Red Hulk in an episode or later season.

    http://www.comicvine.com/hulk/29-2267/rulk-tv-red-hulk-a-villian-in-new-abc-hulk-television-series/92-630503/

  • JUSTIN HUGHEY. I THINK LOU FERRIGNO SHOULD PLAY THE HULK AGAIN

    PLEASE BRING THE INCREDIBLE HULK BACK TO ABC

  • Michael McDonnell

    Could have the Hulk and Banner played by the same actor by putting on a green muscle suit on the guy.

  • Michael McDonnell

    They’re not gonna cast Edward Norton in the role because he’s a film star and they’re gonna pay any movie star salaries, having him in it would make think it’s contining on from the movies.

  • Michael McDonnell

    What about having the series set up characters becoming villians like Samuel Sterns becoming The Leader, Emil Blonsky becoming The Abomination or having a different villian each season like The Leader, The Abomination, Banner’s father, General John Ryker.
    Reply

  • Michael McDonnell

    What about having the Ultimate Hulk’s origin where Banner injects himself with a experimental Super Soldier Serum that turns him into the Hulk and then being hunted by the Hulkbusters led by General Ross and Major Glenn Talbot, Have Betty throughout the series trying save Banner by helping him find a cure.

    Have the final episode be the End Hulk storyline.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Del Toro had revealed that he is drawing inspiration from both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original Hulk comics and writer Jeph Loeb’s recent run.

    Be set before Bruce Banner went on the run, before people knew he was the Hulk and still working at Gamma Base New Mexico.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The Old Series wasn’t a true adaptation of the Hulk at all it just featured Banner and the Hulk, none of his supporting cast.

  • Michael McDonnell

    I think it’s likely they’ll cast television actors because their cheaper and the producers don’t have to pay movie star salaries, thats why they didn’t have Kurt Russell or James Spader for Stargate SG1.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The old series was 34 years ago the new series has to appeal to a new generation, there’s no point in doing an adaptation of the Hulk that follows the old series but completely ignores the comics it would be like Judge Dredd removing his helmet or Constantine not having an English accent and blonde hair.

  • Michael McDonnell

    No Jack McGee have General Ross hunt the Hulk in the new series sending out army forces, Hulkbusters, gamma powered super soldiers to defeat the Hulk.

    New series will probably be treated in a realistic way like Smallville or Chris Nolan’s Batman film’s.

  • Michael McDonnell

    It would be a missed opportunity following the old series, it would be wasting so much potential on what of stuff you can do like the Hulk fighting other gamma mutants week to week, storylines adapted from the comics.

    They haven’t said yet if it’s going to be a man on the run, fugitive type series but still have him hunted by military forces but they can’t afford tanks and helicopters they’ll just have soldiers and humvs which are cheaper.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Having the new series be a remake of the old series is a real problem it would just prevent the new series from creating it’s own identity and would just appeal to nostalgic douchebags not to a new generation.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The old series was just the Hulk fighting criminals I like the new series to have the Hulk fighting gamma mutants, gamma powered super soldiers and other superpowered enemies.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Hulk in the new series won’t a bodybuilder painted green so it’s likely he’ll be cg and will look like the Avengers Hulk saids Jeph Loeb.

  • Michael McDonnell

    TV Hulk is going to have the same design and CG model from the Avengers to cut costs but not the same actor.

  • Michael McDonnell

    About it focusing more on the relationship between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross which makes it like Lois & Clark with the Hulk.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Could have it be like 24 or Prison Break with the main character being hunted by government forces and the Bruce and Betty love story would make it like The Fly or King Kong the series with a woman trying save the man she loves.

  • Michael McDonnell

    The point is the old series was great for it’s time it’s well made, it’s well done most fans still hail it as the definitive version but it is necessary to move forward and make a live action version of the Hulk that is distinctive by coming up with a different way to present the character.

  • Michael McDonnell

    Having a new cast is more likely because Del Toro and Eick would want to do their own creative blueprint and would be separating themselves from previous live action Hulk TV and movie adaptations.

  • Michael McDonnell

    What about making Betty a military officer in the new TV series like in the upcoming Hulk: Season One graphic novel coming out in September 2012?

  • Michael McDonnell

    Have Rick Jones be in the series because he was never used in either of the Hulk movies.

    Rick Jones could be like John Connor, a rebellious teen on a motorcycle who helps out with Banner on his search for a cure and the guilt that he messed up his life by going out on a testing range only to be saved by Bruce and get zapped by gamma rays.

  • I beleive that New Hulk TV Series need to either cast like Edward Norton or some one that looks like Norton in his mid 20’s.

  • I know that The New Hulk TV Series will happen After The Avengers 2012.And the New Hulk will not be fully CGI,instead mix with puppetry prosthetics,and some CGI.And Mark Ruffalo won’t reprise the role as Bruce Banner instead younger actor will be cast.But my opinion is Edward Norton who should be cast instead.

  • Marvel Television Jeph Leob will bring The Hulk on small screen instead they will not have full CGI special effects too.

  • mark

    If they do go with the old series it would have to continue the death of the incredible hulk such as maybe he had a son

  • mark

    David did get jiggy with it. With that agent

  • mark

    I personly dont think this new series will work based upon the movie adaption cause on a movie you have the choice to stay or move to a different place but always you end up back in the same place mean while if you do a tv show if you stay in one place the whole series its gonna get old quickly so you have to continue to move to different place to give different storys

  • neil hallsworth

    I think they should cast actor Paul rudd as banner.