Eric Bana no longer Hulk
Bruce Banner role to be recast for next Hulk film
Avi Arad is recasting the Bruce Banner role for next Hulk film, which he will produce.
I'm following up on an article I did on June 12, when Avi Arad hinted that Eric Bana wouldn't return as Bruce Banner/Hulk in the next film, now called The Incredible Hulk.
Cinescape has now confirmed that Bana (who I thought was one of the few good things in the first film) will be replaced in the titular role. This happened despite the fact that Bana had indicated that he would be more than happy to to return as the Hulk.
According to Cinescape's source, Bana's contract was with Universal, and the next movie will be done through Arad's production house. More likely, Stan Lee and Arad didn't want any reminders of Ang Lee's 2003 film hanging around this new project, which may mean both Jennifer Connelly (Betsy Ross) and Sam Elliot (Gen. Ross) are also gone.
Also according to Cinescape, Marvel will be approaching more established actors instead of holding another casting call for the Hulk. Some of the names bandied about include Dominic Purcell, Brendan Fraser, and Adam Garcia.
Somehow I think that last detail is a ruse. Brendan Fraser as the Hulk? That would be ideal MST3K fodder.
