Ang Lee’sHulkintroduced a key part of the hero’s lore before the comics, and noMarvelmovie has come close to revisiting it since 2003. Hulk is most commonly known for his dichotomy between man and monster, as well as for his endless quest to find peace while being persecuted by human and superhuman enemies. However,there’s much more to Hulk’s comic book history than Bruce Banner and Savage Hulk. Throughout the decades, Hulk has also developed many other personalities, split and reunited with Bruce Banner, gained and lost a human-like intellect, and traveled through space.
Unfortunately, Marvel hasn’t explored Hulk’s potential in live-action, as Hulk’s movie distribution rights had been tied to Universal for several years. Ang Lee’sHulkand Louis Leterrier’sThe Incredible Hulkeach focused on establishing a new Hulk with a clear origin story, andHulk’s MCU storyhas been intertwined with other heroes' journeys, asMark Ruffalo’s Hulk has only played a supporting rolein the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Ruffalo’s Hulk is the only live-action version of the Jade Giant to become an actual superhero, the MCU has yet to adapt a significant part of Hulk’s comic book history.
What Is Marvel Comics’ The Green Door
Bruce Banner Owes The Hulk’s Existence To The Green Door
Marvel’s 2019Immortal Hulkstoryline introduced the Green Door — a portal between the lowest level of reality, the Below-Place, and the rest of the Marvel multiverse. The One Above All’s dark counterpart, the One Below All, resides in the Below-Place, and he seeks to take control over all existence by extending his reach to different timelines through Green Doors and creating Gamma mutates like the Hulk. Every time a Gamma mutate dies or resurrects, they pass through a Green Door. In fact,Bruce Banner died in the Gamma bomb incident, and he returned through the Green Door with the Hulk awakened within.
The MCU Needs To Break A Nightmarish 12 Year Long Hulk Streak Before It’s Too Late
2012’s The Avengers was the last time audiences saw an essential part of the Hulk’s experience shown onscreen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
InImmortal Hulk, the One Below All employs the soul of Bruce Banner’s abusive father Brian to possess other Gamma mutantes, including the Hulk himself. Brian possesses Absorbing Man and uses his powers to open a Green Door to the Below-Place and bring the Hulk along with him. With the help of Gamma Flight and Absorbing Man, Hulk overpowers the One Below All using an immense amount of Gamma energy. Nevertheless, Green Doors remain available to all Gamma mutates, whose resurrection is rather inevitable.
Ang Lee’s Hulk Introduced A Prototypal Version Of The Green Door
Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk Movie Bears Several Similarities To Immortal Hulk
Intentionally or not,Immortal Hulkshares several elements withHulk’s origin and conflict in Ang Lee’sHulk.In Ang Lee’sHulk, a door in Bruce Banner’s childhood home serves a similar role to the Green Door that’s central toImmortal Hulk. Instead of a mystical barrier between dimensions, however, this door represents Bruce’s childhood trauma, as it leads to the room where Bruce’s father used to physically abuse Bruce’s mom. Bruce constantly dreams about the door and imagines that Hulk is hiding inside. In a certain sense, Bruce is right, as the room behind that door is where his unconscious mind figuratively stores his rageful alter ego. That’s where the Hulk is born.
Ang Lee’s Hulk Is Marvel’s Batman Returns (Which Makes It Good)
Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk movie was a very divisive Marvel-based superhero film, and its polarized reception mirrors that of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.
Similar toImmortal Hulk, Ang Lee’sHulksees Brian Banner’s big-screen counterpart, David Banner, come out of the shadows to torment Bruce after his alleged death. David also gains Absorbing Man’s abilities (without Carl Creel’s involvement) and tries to use the Hulk’s Gamma energy to wreak havoc. Hulk also quits his efforts to defeat his father by sheer force, and instead uses a massive amount of Gamma energy to overpower him. After the Hulk escapes, Bruce Banner retains access to"the other guy"and continues his journey as a hero.
The MCU Is Unlikely To Introduce The Green Door Anytime Soon
The MCU Doesn’t Seem Ready To Adapt Hulk’s Metaphysical Lore Just Yet
Immortal Hulkprovides plenty of material for a solid MCUHulkmovie. But while some signs point toMarvel Studios regaining Hulk’s full rights from Universal,a new Hulk solo movie might still be far on the horizon. Even if it weren’t, the Multiverse Saga is pretty crowded by Phase 5, and the MCU’s focus is centered on multiversal stories likeAvengers: Doomsday,Avengers: Secret Warsand other projects likeSpider-Man 4,Shang-Chi 2, andDoctor Strange 3. WithAvengers: Secret Warsset to release in 2027, sequels likeThor5and a hypotheticalThe Incredible Hulk2may be put on hold until Phase 7.
Immortal Hulk’s metaphysical themes might be too complex for another supporting role
Key portions of Hulk’s comic book history have been incorporated into Hulk’s MCU supporting roles. For instance,Thor: Ragnarokadapted a large part ofPlanet Hulk, andAvengers: Endgameadapted Bruce Banner’s Professor Hulk persona. However,Immortal Hulk’s metaphysical themes might be too complex for another supporting role, and a live-actionImmortal Hulkadaptation may need to be left on the backburner for a while. That said,the rising number of Gamma mutates in the MCUlays the foundation for a similar MCU storyline. But for now, Ang Lee’sHulkis the closest thing to a live-actionImmortal Hulkmovie in Marvel’s catalog.
