The Incredible Hulk is coming to Disney+ Friday, reviving the backstory of Marvel’s misunderstood green behemoth. Released in 2008 via Universal, the film is being brought to the streaming service now that the rights have reverted to Marvel Studios. The Incredible Hulk explains how exposure to gamma rays turned Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner into the misunderstood man-monster who gets stronger as he gets madder. It’s an origin story that’s often glossed over in later MCU movies, but it’s one that’s worth revisiting to get some context for the big green rage machine we know and love.
While the movie was already on Disney Plus in certain international territories, it’s the first time that The Incredible Hulk will be available for US audiences to watch on the streaming service. The 2008 movie stars Edward Norton as Banner, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross. Directed by Louis Leterrier, The Incredible Hulk opened in theaters shortly after Iron Man but failed to achieve the same level of critical and financial success.
The film is an intense, loud movie with lots of violence and explosions. It’s also a bit bleak, with Dr. Banner spending most of the movie on the run from a government organization trying to cure his affliction. It’s not a film for kids, but it should be entertaining enough for older fans of the MCU. Parents should exercise caution though, as the movie does contain some intense violence, swearing, and a scene in which a pregnant woman is accidentally raped.
Adding The Incredible Hulk to the lineup gives Disney+ a nice collection of MCU films to choose from. However, there are a few notable absentees. Sony’s Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield, as well as the first two Avengers movies, aren’t on Disney Plus yet due to distribution deals with different third-party streamers. That will probably change in the future as Disney+ makes deals with those companies to bring their movies to the service.
Despite missing the most recent releases, it’s still a nice addition to Disney+ and shows that the company is working to fill out its superhero library. With the addition of The Incredible Hulk, it’s finally starting to look like Disney+ could become the go-to destination for all things MCU. Check it out this Friday, and stay tuned for more news on future additions to the platform.