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 Hollywood's new green guy goes "Hulk"
By Power-trip on October 17, 2001 11:58 AM
Thanks to E! Online News for the following report.
In a major bit of casting news, Ang Lee has enlisted virtually unknown Australian actor Eric Bana to play Dr. Bruce Banner in the big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk.
According to trade reports, Bana has signed a seven-figure deal--including options for two sequels--to play the scientist who transforms into the not-so-jolly green giant superhero after getting pelted with gamma rays.
Hulk will be helmed by Lee, who directed the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It's being produced by Gale Anne Hurd (Aliens), Marvel Studios president Avi Arad, and Lee's collaborator, James Schamus, who is also rewriting the latest draft from screenwriter David Hayter.
Comic book fans are undoubtedly asking "Eric who?" But Bana is poised for Hollywood stardom after a breakout performance in the Aussie flick, "Chopper." That film, which premiered to good notices at last month's Toronto Film Festival, earned Bana a featured role alongside Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor in Ridley Scott's upcoming "Black Hawk Down" and caught the attention of Lee, who selected Bana over a bevy of other up-and-coming actors vying for the part.
The brawny Bana, who got his start Down Under as a comedian and television host, starred in Chopper as real-life killer Mark "Chopper" Reid. He was apparently so convincing, that the real Reid praised the performance. Bana immediately signed on for "Black Hawk Down," about the failed U.S. mission in Somalia. That's when the Hulk team came a-calling.
"We were looking for someone who is a great dramatic actor, and after seeing Chopper and a bit of Black Hawk Down, it was clear that Eric had a very strong screen presence," Arad tells the Hollywood Reporter. "He also has these soulful eyes and an intelligence to him--and Banner happens to be a very intelligent and soulful guy. We needed a lead that can carry a myriad of emotions, and Eric is a talented individual with that right combination."
Bana has become so in-demand, that he was actually be considered for two superhero roles. At the same time Bana was being considered by Lee to play the Hulk, he was also in talks with Arad to essay the lead in another Marvel adaptation, Ghost Rider. That part ultimately went to Nicolas Cage.
The Hulk plot follows research scientist Bruce Banner whose own genetic experiments cause him to morph him into the misunderstood superhero (it's not easy being green) whenever he gets angry. Even though he's unappreciated--and hunted by the military--he still finds time to fight a group of evildoing mutants.
The CG-heavy film, which starts shooting next spring, is expected to join 20th Century Fox's X-Men sequel as one of the studio's blockbuster entries in summer 2003. It's among several classic Marvel properties in development. In addition to Spider-Man and the X-Men sequel, Daredevil (with Ben Affleck in talks to star), The Fantastic Four and Iron Man have also been green-lighted.
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Reader Discussions:
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 17, 2001 12:35 PM
I'm still voting for Bruce Cambell for a Superman role,
the chin, the hair, he's the man.....
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 17, 2001 12:48 PM
Yep, Nut Licker a.k.a. All Knowing is in love with Bruce Cambell, I bet 1000 bux that he mentions him many times in the future, he just can't resist. Nut Licker loves Mr. Cambells hair and wants to lick his chin, which we SHEMPS find to be disgusting, but Nut Licker a.k.a. All Knowing thinks he is groovey!
Above Nut Lickers bed is a poster of...you guessed it, Bruce Cambell. Nut Licker is a sculptor and he loves to sculpy a naked....yep you guessed it Brucie Cambell! Nut Licker wants to marry Cambell, and all of us SHEMPS here at dtheatre just want to wish Nut Licker a.k.a. All Knowing the very best of luck! Go get'em Tiger!
- Wide World of SHEMPS
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 6:28 AM
must be nice being twelve, but don't worry, your balls will drop soon enough big guy, just stay positive.
jackass..
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by JT1966 (No Email) on October 17, 2001 8:55 PM
Hey Bruce is great. But his best enemy is always his own self, selves, or various body parts. I guess Supes could get too close to some really whacked out form of Kryptonite and do stooge routine...
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 6:43 AM
although bruce is a very, very physical actor, I've seen his strait roles, he could last two hours without a eyepoke, or a foot stomp, I imagine his portrayal of Clark would be hillarious, then he just needs to be noble and cacky for supes.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 8:17 AM
correction, thats cacky not cacky,
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on October 17, 2001 1:42 PM
Wow, the shemps are still closet homosexuals. Things never change.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 17, 2001 2:28 PM
The decision to CG Hulk I think is great.
[to the pre-teen shemp who originally wrote something extra stupid here: You've been "idiot edited" by my power wand--get it. Love, Power-trip]
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by zeddpe (No Email) on October 17, 2001 5:59 PM
Eric Bana a "virtul unknown" . Have you people even heard of Australia.
He has done a lot of work "down under" and is a well respected actor.
The "chopper" role was a very difficult role to play and Bana pulled it off brilliantly. He was selected for the part by the real chopper himself.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 9, 2003 4:34 AM
ok eric banna is just the best ok so shut up
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by Bexley (MrMojoRisin@Tripping.com) on October 17, 2001 6:16 PM
With Bana in the film it's sure to be great. For any of you out there who doubt Bana's talent watch "Chopper", you need to be good to pull off playing a guy like Reid.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by power-trip (powertripz@hotmail.com) on October 18, 2001 12:13 AM
Wow, you Aussies really like Bana. How long has he been "flavor-of- the-month" there?
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 18, 2001 1:41 PM
He's been flavour of the month for years, his TV appearances was as a comedian on a skit show similar to Mad TV in the states. His ability to immitate virtually anyone perfectly was the source of much mirth in the early to mid 90's in Australia. BTW "Chopper" is released on video and DVD November 13 in the US, so go rent it.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by power-trip (powertripz@hotmail.com) on October 19, 2001 9:21 PM
After finally seeing Memento, Crimson Rivers and Chopper were the only other two "independant" flicks I'm gearing up to see this year.
The article I read on Bana in IFC Rant Magazine was all over themselves praising Bana's acting. In complimenting his abilities as an actor, Bana gained something like 35 pounds in 3 weeks to play the older, washed out Chopper. Very De Niro'esque.
I'll go see Bana in Black Hawk Down, [praying Josh Harnett's character is taken out quickly (hope, hope)], then I'll decide if Bana's all that and a slice of pie.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 6:30 AM
who are these villians big green will be fighting, anyone?
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by power-trip (powertripz@hotmail.com) on October 18, 2001 8:15 AM
As long as it's not that boring ass green bean, The Leader--this will be an interesting flick to see in development.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 8:19 AM
the leader, damn I forgot about him, ya' I imagine it will probably involve him and his pseudo-hulk minions.....did I just use minions in a sentence, wow,
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 18, 2001 10:02 AM
Does anybody remember in the tv series when the hulk fought that older wiry grey hulk. It was very cool.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on October 18, 2001 11:29 AM
That dude was an ugly mother.
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RE: Hollywood's new green guy goes
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Posted by allknowing (you'llneverfindme.com) on October 18, 2001 10:38 AM
vaguely, that was a while ago
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RE: Old, old hulk vs. old hulk
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Posted by power-trip (powertripz@hotmail.com) on October 18, 2001 2:44 PM
I remember that episode with the old guy as the "pre-hulk". It was one of the few that was actually entertaining.
As I recall, after some ass-kicking cat fighting in which there was no way that skinny bastard could toss around Ferringno's Hulk, Banner uses the new "cure" he's invented to innoculate the old guy thus freeing him from the torment of being a Hulk and Banner moves off into the sunset with the roar of his Hulk haunting him.
Whoever got the Emmy that year didn't deserve it.
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