Why was The Incredible Hulk Not on Disney Plus? Where to Watch The Incredible Hulk?
by Ushapriyanga | Updated Aug 16, 2023
The Incredible Hulk
"The Incredible Hulk" is a superhero film released in 2008, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Universal Pictures. The movie was directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Zak Penn.
The story follows Bruce Banner, played by Edward Norton, who transforms into the Hulk, a powerful green monster, as a result of a military experiment involving gamma radiation. Unaware of the military's ulterior motives, Banner becomes a fugitive, trying to find a cure for his condition while evading capture.
After the release of the 2003 film "Hulk," which received mixed reviews, Marvel Studios regained the rights to the character, although Universal Pictures retained distribution rights.
Louis Leterrier, who had shown interest in directing another Marvel film, "Iron Man," was chosen as the director for "The Incredible Hulk." Zak Penn worked on the screenplay, aiming to make the film more faithful to the original comics and the popular 1978 television series.
In April 2007, Edward Norton was cast as Bruce Banner and also took on the task of rewriting Zak Penn's screenplay. Norton's script aimed to reboot the franchise, distancing itself from the 2003 film and establishing its own identity.
However, Norton was not credited for his writing contributions. Filming took place from July to November 2007, primarily in Toronto, with additional scenes shot in New York City and Rio de Janeiro. The post-production process involved the creation of over 700 visual effects shots, utilizing motion capture and computer-generated imagery.
"The Incredible Hulk" premiered at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on June 8, 2008, and was released in the United States on June 13 as part of Phase One of the MCU. The film received praise for its action sequences, which were considered an improvement over the 2003 film. However, some critics felt that it lacked depth in terms of character development. Despite these mixed reviews, it grossed $264.8 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film of the MCU at that time.
Following the release of "The Incredible Hulk," Edward Norton and Marvel Studios had disagreements over the final edit of the film. As a result, Norton was replaced by Mark Ruffalo, who took on the role of Bruce Banner in subsequent MCU films, starting with "The Avengers" in 2012.
Why was The Incredible Hulk Not on Disney Plus?
Prior to its recent addition on Disney+, The Incredible Hulk was not available on the streaming platform due to its unique production circumstances. The movie was produced by Universal Pictures and Marvel Studios in 2008, a year before Disney acquired Marvel in 2009.
At the time of the film's production, Marvel Studios had not yet become a fully-fledged film studio and had limited control over the distribution rights of their characters. As a result, Universal Pictures held the distribution rights for The Incredible Hulk, and it was released under their banner.
Fast forward to Disney's acquisition of Marvel in 2009, which brought together two major entertainment powerhouses. However, even with this acquisition, certain distribution rights for Marvel properties were already assigned to other studios. In the case of The Incredible Hulk, Universal Pictures retained the rights to distribute the film.
Due to these pre-existing distribution agreements, Disney+ initially did not have the rights to stream The Incredible Hulk. However, Disney has since been able to negotiate and secure the streaming rights for the movie, allowing it to be added to the Disney+ library for fans to enjoy.
It is worth noting that while The Incredible Hulk is now available on Disney+, it remains a unique case. Most other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, including Iron Man, Captain America, and The Avengers, were produced and distributed under the Marvel Studios banner and were therefore included in Disney's acquisition.
In summary, The Incredible Hulk's absence on Disney+ was primarily due to its distribution rights being held by Universal Pictures. However, through negotiations and agreements, Disney has now made the movie available on their streaming platform for audiences to experience the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Where to Watch The Incredible Hulk?
Certainly! If you're looking to watch all seasons of Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk, you can do so on Disney+ Hotstar. Disney+ Hotstar is a popular streaming platform that offers a wide range of content, including movies, TV shows, and animated series.
To get started, you will need to have a subscription to Disney+ Hotstar. You can sign up for a subscription on their official website or through their mobile app. Once you have subscribed, you will have access to a vast library of content, including all seasons of The Incredible Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk is a beloved TV show based on the Marvel Comics character. The series follows the story of Dr. David Banner, a brilliant scientist who transforms into a powerful green-skinned creature known as the Hulk whenever he gets angry or overwhelmed. As the Hulk, Dr. Banner must navigate his dual identity while facing various challenges and adversaries.
To find and watch The Incredible Hulk on Disney+ Hotstar, follow these steps:
- Open the Disney+ Hotstar website or mobile app.
- Search for "The Incredible Hulk" in the search bar located at the top of the page.
- Select the appropriate result from the search results.
- You will be directed to the show's page, where you can find all available seasons and episodes.
- Choose the season you want to watch and click on it.
- You will see a list of episodes within the selected season. Click on the episode you want to start watching.
- Sit back, relax, and enjoy watching The Incredible Hulk!
Disney+ Hotstar also offers features like creating watchlists, downloading episodes for offline viewing, and personalized recommendations based on your viewing history. Additionally, you can watch The Incredible Hulk on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and laptops, making it convenient to enjoy the series anytime and anywhere.
Keep in mind that the availability of The Incredible Hulk may vary depending on your region. However, Disney+ Hotstar provides a vast selection of content, including other Marvel shows, movies, and originals, ensuring there is always something exciting to watch. So, grab some popcorn, get your Disney+ Hotstar subscription, and dive into the thrilling world of The Incredible Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk Cast
Cast
Character
Edward Norton
Bruce Banner / Hulk
Lou Ferrigno
Hulk (voice)
Liv Tyler
Betty Ross
Tim Roth
Emil Blonsky / Abomination
William Hurt
Thaddeus Ross
Tim Blake Nelson
Samuel Sterns
Ty Burrell
Leonard Samson
Christina Cabot
Kathleen Sparr
The Incredible Hulk Plot
The story begins at Culver University in Virginia, where General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross meets with Dr. Bruce Banner, who is dating Ross' daughter Betty. Ross wants to recreate a World War II-era "super soldier" program to make humans immune to gamma radiation. However, the experiment goes wrong, and Banner is exposed to gamma radiation, causing him to transform into the Hulk whenever his heart rate exceeds 200 beats per minute. This leads to the destruction of the lab, resulting in casualties and injuries.
Five years later, Banner is working at a bottling factory in Brazil while searching for a cure for his condition. He collaborates anonymously with a colleague known as "Mr. Blue" online. Banner practices Yoga techniques to help control his transformations and hasn't turned into the Hulk in five months. Unfortunately, a drop of his blood accidentally ends up in a bottle, which is consumed by an elderly man in Wisconsin, giving him gamma sickness. General Ross tracks down Banner using this bottle and sends a special forces team, led by Emil Blonsky, to capture him.
When Blonsky's team confronts Banner, he transforms into the Hulk and defeats them. Ross explains Banner's transformation to Blonsky and offers him a similar serum that enhances physical abilities but also deforms the body and impairs judgment. Banner returns to Culver University and reunites with Betty. Ross and Blonsky's forces attack Banner again, but the Hulk defeats them, forcing them to retreat. However, Blonsky, whose sanity is deteriorating, taunts and challenges the Hulk, resulting in severe injuries for Blonsky.
After the battle, Banner and Betty go on the run, and Banner contacts Mr. Blue, who is revealed to be Dr. Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist. Sterns tells Banner he has developed a possible antidote for his condition but warns it may only reverse individual transformations. Sterns reveals that he has synthesized Banner's blood samples into a large supply to explore its potential for medicine. Concerned about the military's interest in Hulk's power, Banner wants to destroy the blood supply.
Blonsky, now recovered, joins forces with Ross for a third attempt to capture Banner. They succeed and take Banner and Betty away in a helicopter. Blonsky orders Sterns to inject him with Banner's blood, hoping to gain the Hulk's power. The experiment mutates Blonsky into the Abomination, a creature stronger and larger than the Hulk. The Abomination rampages through Harlem, and Banner convinces Ross to release him, as only the Hulk can stop the Abomination. Banner jumps from the helicopter and transforms upon landing.
After an intense battle, the Hulk defeats the Abomination by nearly strangling him with a chain but ultimately spares his life upon Betty's plea. The Hulk flees New York after sharing a peaceful moment with Betty. A month later, Banner is in Bella Coola, British Columbia, where he begins to control his transformations with a slight smirk. In a post-credits scene, Tony Stark (Iron Man) approaches Ross and informs him about the formation of a superhero team.
"The Incredible Hulk" follows the story of Bruce Banner, who transforms into the Hulk due to exposure to gamma radiation. As a fugitive, Banner searches for a cure while being pursued by General Ross and encountering various challenges and adversaries along the way.
Why is The Incredible Hulk Not on Disney Plus-FAQs
"The Incredible Hulk" was directed by Louis Leterrier.
Bruce Banner/The Hulk was played by Edward Norton.
Yes, "The Incredible Hulk" is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the second film in the MCU.
"The Incredible Hulk" was not initially available on Disney+ due to distribution rights held by Universal Pictures. However, Disney has since secured the streaming rights and made the movie available on Disney+.
You can watch "The Incredible Hulk" on Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar, depending on your region.
"The Incredible Hulk" follows the story of Bruce Banner, who transforms into the Hulk due to exposure to gamma radiation. He becomes a fugitive, searching for a cure while being pursued by General Ross. Along the way, he faces challenges and confronts the Abomination, a powerful adversary.
Yes, there is a post-credits scene in "The Incredible Hulk" where Tony Stark (Iron Man) approaches General Ross and informs him about the formation of a superhero team.