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SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008

NEW YORK COMIC CON: INCREDIBLE HULK PRODUCERS

NEW YORK -- Will New York do for the Hulk what San Diego did for Iron Man?

While Marvel Studios' May 2-releasing Iron Man movie has been basking in positive buzz since a presentation at last summer's Comic-Con International, its other tentpole movie, The Incredible Hulk, has been flying well below the blockbuster radar.

Actually, the biggest blip made by the relaunch of the Hulk franchise -- due in theaters on June 16 -- was a reported tiff between star Edward Norton and Marvel over creative issues.

Marvel and Universal took advantage of the rapidly growing New York Comic Con on Saturday to finally unveil the big green guy proper.

Incredible Hulk producers Kevin Feige and Gale Anne Hurd, director Louis Leterrier and star Tim Roth appeared during the finale of Universal's presentation of three comics-based films. Television's Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, who appears in the film, also made a panel cameo.

And, perhaps most importantly, three clips and the film's new trailer were shown. One of the scenes confirmed Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr.'s appearance as Tony Stark in Hulk -- a likely promotional slingshot.

All seemed to draw positive response from the approximately 3,000 fans. In fact, Downey's lines became inaudible because of the crowd noise.

"The 10 minutes that we showed today, I'm very encouraged the way it went over," Feige, Marvel Studios' president of production, told The Continuum after the panel. "It felt just like the room felt down in San Diego last July when we showed the Iron Man stuff.

"Both these movies are going to deliver and exceed expectations. I'm very excited to get back to L.A. with Louis (Leterrier, the director) and finish up the cut."

Feige's excitement over Hulk was punctuated by his rapid-fire update of where the film stands during his press-line interview.

"We've just recorded the score," he said. "I'm a big soundtrack buff. I think the score we've put together on this film is one of the best scores we've ever had on a Marvel film.

"When we get back, we'll go right into the final sound mix. Every day dozens and dozens of visual effects shots come in."

Iron Man and Incredible Hulk are Marvel's first two self-financed movies. In other words, a lot is at stake.

"It's been nonstop work for well over two years and it feels great," Feige said. "It feels very good having finished Iron Man. The people who have seen it are responding very well to it. Nobody has seen much on Hulk, but it's because it's not finished yet."

Hurd also produced Ang Lee's Hulk movie, which did receive early buzz -- of the bad variety. A Super Bowl commercial with early special effects failed to generate the desired excitement and many pointed to that as a contributor for the film's less-than-incredible performance.

"We learned a big lesson," Hurd told The Continuum on Saturday. "You've got to make sure that you put your best foot forward and deliver what really represents the film.

"And being in that room today, you could tell."

Ironically, that included some still-to-be-done effects work. But Feige noted that a convention setting was an acceptable place to show not fully completed footage.

"I think audiences are savvy enough to know it takes all the time possible to get the effects perfrect," he said. "It's really a testament to the fans that we were willing to show things before they are finished. They get to see the process. Every effect shot that we showed today will be perfect by the time the film comes out."

And those reports about Norton? The ones where he's so upset he won't promote the movie?

Hurd reiterated her statement from the panel that she recently worked with Norton in an ADR session and "he is 100 percent behind the film."

Hurd -- a self-professed "comics geek" who is also producing another Marvel re-do of sorts with Punisher: War Zone -- pointed out major differences between the 2003 and 2008 movie Hulks.

"This movie has all kinds of action," she said. "You'll see the Hulk in the first few minutes. You'll see full transformations. And the Hulk and Abomination take out New York City in the biggest brawl you've scene."

And for possibly the first time on Saturday, some shockwaves reverberated through comics fandom.



E-mail the Continuum at RobAlls@aol.com



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