We’ve been hearing talk of another solo Hulk movie ever since Mark Ruffalo stole the show in The Avengers and signed a six-picture deal with Marvel Studios. The first two attempts at bringing the giant green rage monster to life on the big screen were met with mixed results and disappointing box office numbers, so it makes sense that Marvel has been hesitant at giving him another film to himself.
However, the desire is definitely there, from both the fans and Ruffalo, so there’s a very good chance that we’ll be getting another Hulk film. In fact, just last week Ruffalo said that Marvel was at least “entertaining the idea.”
One idea that fans have been championing is a live-action adaptation of Planet Hulk. Written by Greg Pak, the Planet Hulk storyline ran from April 2006 to June 2007, and dealt with the Avengers’ decision to jettison Bruce Banner into space in order to keep the Hulk from causing any more harm on Earth. Their plans, of course, fail, as Banner transforms into the Hulk and finds himself stranded on an alien world, taken into slavery and forced to compete in gladiator battles.
An animated direct-to-video film adaptation was released in 2010, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wanting to see the story brought to life on the big screen. They may have to wait a bit longer though, because according to Ruffalo, that’s not the right route to take… yet.
In an interview with MTV, Ruffalo gave his thoughts on a Planet Hulk movie, saying:
“I don’t think that’s where they’re going to go… Planet Hulk is: they actually launch Bruce Banner into space and try and get rid of him and the Hulk. And he ends up freaking out, smashing up the spaceship, and it goes off course and it ends up on this planet of gladiator creatures, like pre-Christian, Romanesque.
I don’t think that’s the way to go yet. I think you need more Banner. The whole thing is just him as the Hulk, on a planet, fighting other gladiators…”
Ruffalo certainly has a point. Planet Hulk would certainly offer fans plenty of awesome “Hulk smash” moments, but is completely missing one of the aspects that makes the character so fascinating: his human side. Let’s not forget that part of what made Ruffalo’s take on the Hulk so special was Bruce Banner’s interactions with Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark.
Then there’s the storytelling problems that stem from adapting a story like this so soon in the MCU timeline. Shipping Banner into space paints him as an antagonist in the story, especially if Planet Hulk leads into future World War Hulk territory. I doubt Marvel would want to take a character fans really love and turn him into the bad guy.
Lastly, there’s the financial element to consider. A film like this would require extensive motion-capture work and CGI. Those things aren’t cheap. It can be done, but considering Marvel will want to guarantee a profit from the Hulk this time around, there’s little chance they’d go this cosmic and this risky right away.
Tell us, what do you think of Ruffalo’s comments? Would you like to see a Planet Hulk movie someday? Personally, I’d rather see them adapt something like Indestructible Hulk, but there are definitely plenty of other stories to explore as well.