The Incredible Hulk, released in 2008, was only the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following Iron Man. The film, in retrospect, is very different from what Marvel films have come to be associated with. It’s dark, gritty in places, and definitely a lot darker than the films that followed in its wake. Further, in retrospect, it might have been the first MCU film to do a multitude of things that would become the mainstay later by virtue of the larger story that it was trying to tell.
Starring Edward Norton in his only MCU film, The Incredible Hulk has quite a legacy in the MCU. Despite Disney and Universal (who held the distribution rights) being happy with the numbers that the film did, the MCU has yet to see a project focused on Bruce Banner again. Here are five things that the film did that were a first for the MCU.
1. The Incredible Hulk Was The First MCU Film To Forgo An Origin Story
Up until The Incredible Hulk, only sequels decided to forgo the origin stories. However, The Incredible Hulk was in a tumultuous place, where there was some confusion if it was supposed to be a follow-up to Ang Lee’s 2003 offering, Hulk. Regardless of its status as a reboot, a sequel, or a requel, The Incredible Hulk would be the first film to introduce a new hero without taking a look at his origin story.
There is also the fact that the MCU changed the traditional story that was attached to Bruce Banner’s origins, tying it in with a more recent version of the character at the time. This too would be a first for the franchise, and then would become a trend that allowed the MCU to make its own distinct identity in the Marvel Multiverse. This was integrating the Ultimate Marvel setting.
2. The Incredible Hulk Heavily Integrated Ultimate Marvel With The MCU
Edward Norton only got to play Bruce Banner in one film || Credits: Universal Pictures
Now, Iron Man‘s involvement in global politics was also something that was taken from the Ultimate Marvel Universe, but that did not have as much of an impact on the wider Marvel Universe as The Incredible Hulk did. It was firmly established in The Incredible Hulk that Bruce Banner was working on remaking the same super-soldier serum that gave Captain America his abilities. This established a lot for the MCU.
However, this would not have a payoff until two films later, when Captain America would finally be introduced with his own feature film. Regardless, Bruce Banner working with the super soldier serum really set the register in which the MCU would operate as far as the factions of Earth are concerned. Super soldiers would remain an issue even after Avengers: Endgame, and arguably even going into Avengers: Doomsday.
3. The Film Received Environmental Media Association’s Green Seal
The poster for The Incredible Hulk, with Edward Norton || Credit: Universal Pictures
The Hulk, who is green, has sometimes been associated with environmentally sound storylines. Even in Planet Hulk, the character’s blood heals the planet, turning it from arid to fertile. Further, Edward Norton himself was an environmentalist. The Incredible Hulk, long before sustainability became part of corporate lingo, received the Green Seal from the Environmental Media Association, which was first established in 1989 (as per HuffPost). The film made a significant effort to locally source the wood that was used to make the set. while also reducing the waste that was produced during production. The Green Seal that it received can be seen in the credits, along with other certifications.
4. The Film Revisited The Character’s Live-Action Past
Eric Bana’s Hulk in Ang Lee film || Credit: Universal Pictures
During the Multiverse Saga of the MCU, the length and breadth of what is now known as ‘Marvel Legends ‘have brought several pre-MCU versions of characters into the setting, mostly from the time these characters were under Fox. However, The Incredible Hulk, which was the first MCU film to have a cinematic and television history, decided to not only be in conversation with the film that preceded it, but also the TV show that starred Lou Ferrigno as the green goliath.
Not only would Ferrigno cameo in the film as a security guard in conversation with Stan Lee, but the effect of Banner’s eyes going green before he transforms was ripped from the show. Further, the design of the Hulk was informed by Ang Lee’s version as well, specifically with the focus of making the character less ‘fat’.
5. The Incredible Hulk Was Darker Than Most MCU Films
Quips and jokes and jibes have become the bread and butter of the MCU, but that was not necessarily true for the Incredible Hulk. A decidedly darker film, one that Edward Norton wanted to make darker, The Incredible Hulk deals with a lot of traumatic and serious stuff, things that might be out of place in later MCU films without its signature quips and other jokes that would undercut the tension. Making a film like this in the current state of the MCU, even with something like Thunderbolts* having come out last year, just would not be possible. However, it already serves as an answer to the criticism that the MCU is overtly quippy and not nearly as serious as it should be.
Name The Incredible HulkDate of ReleaseJune 13, 2008 (United States)Staring Edward NortonLiv TylerTim RothWilliam HurtTim Blake NelsonTy BurrellBased on Hulkby Stan LeeJack KirbyRatings (As of June 12, 2026)IMDb: 6.6/10Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer|Popcornmeter) : 68% | 69%Directed byLouis Leterrier
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The Incredible Hulk can be streamed on Disney+ (USA)
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