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Summary
The idea of George Miller making an MCUmovie seems to be inching closer to reality by the day, especially for a soloHulkouting. While most rumors hint at the project being aWorld War Hulkmovie, there is one particular storyline from Marvel Comics that theMad Maxdirector could be perfect for adapting.
Mark Ruffalo’sHulkhas had his fair share of iconic moments in the MCU, but the franchise has yet to unlock the big green monster’s full potential. In fact, it’s unfathomable how a hero who is part of theoriginal six Avengersis the only one among them to not have a standalone film or TV series — particularly for a character that is so popular. If Marvel Studios does go ahead with thisrumored Hulk project with Millerat the helm, they have plenty of comic book storylines to borrow from, but one stands out from the rest for its potential.
Immortal HulkIs The Perfect Source Material
George Miller’s Hulk Movie Should Go Full Horror
If George Miller does end up directing a Hulk movie for Marvel, thenImmortal Hulkwould be an excellent source of inspiration. Considering Hulk’s long-standing place in the comics since as far back as the ’60s, this series is fairly fresh, having run for 50 issues from June 2018 to October 2021. Like most other Hulk comics, this one also deals withBruce Banner and his gamma-irradiated alter egos. However, as the title suggests, it explores how these dissociative identities are unable to die and, hence, remain immortal.
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Marvel Comics
TheImmortal Hulkcomic book series picks up after Hawkeye shoots the Hulk dead with a gamma-irradiated arrow in 2016’sCivil War IIcrossover event. Subsequently, he is resurrected inAvengers: No Surrender,and this is where his Devil Hulk personality starts to take over. The result is an intense, horror-fueled take on Bruce Banner’s life and how his dark side manages to overpower the rest of his personalities. Moreover, the series marked an important transition in the traditionalBanner/Hulk dynamic.
Immortal HulkTurns Bruce Banner’s Life Into Horror
The Below-Place And Devil Hulk, Explained
The crux of theImmortal Hulkstoryline revolves around establishing the idea that whileBruce Banner is a mortal being, the Hulk is, in fact, immortal and exists in the mental plane as various entities. The mysterious dimension in question is called the Below-Place, which is governed by an ancient god-like being known as the One Below All. Over time, the comic establishes that gamma radiation is deeply linked to the Below-Place, which is more or less an allegory for Hell.
Whenever Bruce Banner is about to die, he discovers that he resurrects at night as the Hulk. This makes regeneration and immortality just as much a Hulk superpower as his superhuman strength. The main Hulk persona in the first half of the series is the Devil Hulk, who is presumablystronger than any previously introduced Hulk. In this dimension, the Devil Hulk keeps all the other Hulk personalities in check and becomes the dominant Hulk. However, it is later revealed that this persona is actually the result of Bruce’s deep-rooted search for a protective father figure and his complicated relationship with Brian Banner.
George Miller Could Turn It Into Body Horror
Hulk’s Darkest Persona Deserves a Movie Adaptation
TheImmortal Hulkseries was instrumental in reimagining the Banner-Hulk binary division into a different psychological system. This system, set in Bruce’s mindscape, featured multiple personas, like Joe Fixit, Savage Hulk, and, of course, the Devil Hulk, exploring the idea of dissociative identity disorder in a much deeper sense. Essentially, it questions how humans, in general, have a monstrous side to their nature — an idea that would be perfect to explore in astandalone Hulk MCU movie.
The Devil Hulk’s threatening, reptilian physical form is one of the main reasons whyImmortal Hulkdeserves a cinematic adaptation, especially in the hands of someone as capable as George Miller. While the Hulk has always been a monster, this version reimagines him as a horrifyingly evil figure with a grim smile and a disturbing stare. There’s a lot of potential in this storyline to be adapted into a gnarly body horror film, even incorporatingLovecraftian psychological terror elements.
Why Immortal Hulk Should Be Marvel’s Next Big Movie
Devil Hulk Demands A Darker MCU Than Now
Even if it breaks away fromMarvel’s multiverse saga, it would be refreshing to see a self-contained Hulk horror film. The studio would have to relax its restrictions on gore and go all out in showcasing this Hulk’s gruesome regeneration process. In fact, the Devil Hulk persona is shown to stay alive even when his body is torn apart, still managing to control every mutilated limb. Series writer Al Ewing shared his thoughts on embracing the grotesquerie of it all,speaking toSYFY WIREin 2019:
I can think of other fandoms that would be absolutely appalled by what we’ve done, but Hulk fans are just happy their guy is getting a place in the sun, even if it’s a disgusting alien sun made of writhing, suppurating flesh that’s covering the Hulk in a grotesque slime.
Even if Marvel Studios has already signed George Miller for aWorld War Hulkproject, it only makes sense that theImmortal Hulkseries should be the next level up for this collaboration. This is because the storyline’s primary Devil Hulk persona is shown to be even stronger than the Green Scar, who isWorld War Hulk.Moreover, this Hulk’s super strength is enough to throw Hercules and Thor away with just a muscle flex or even level a mountain with a Gamma Burst.
A live-actionImmortal Hulkwould be every Hulk fan’s dream come true on the big screen. For this source material, Miller seems like the perfect choice, thanks to his expertise in directing high-octaneMad Maxaction as well as his versatility across different genres. As things stand, the MCU will reopen its Hulk storylines soon with upcoming movies likeCaptain America: Brave New WorldandThunderbolts.Regardless, theImmortal Hulkstoryline deserves serious consideration from Marvel executives for a proper George Miller adaptation.
