Who directed The Incredible Hulk in 2008?

The Incredible Hulk, released in 2008, was directed by Louis Leterrier, a French filmmaker who has made a name for himself in Hollywood thanks to his action films and collaborations with major studios. Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the film attempts to relaunch the Hulk character after Ang Lee’s first Hulk film, released in 2003, failed to live up to expectations.

Louis Leterrier, born in Paris in 1973, quickly rose through the Hollywood ranks thanks to his energetic, action-oriented directing style. Before The Incredible Hulk, he directed films such as The Transporter (2002) and The Transporter 2 (2005), which earned him a solid reputation in action cinema. He also worked on the fantasy film Danny the Dog (2005), starring Jet Li and Morgan Freeman.

As director of The Incredible Hulk, Leterrier brought his own personal touch to the project, emphasizing a fast pace and spectacular action scenes. Unlike the first version of The Hulk, which had a more introspective approach, this new adaptation aimed to offer more adrenaline while fitting into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

This version of Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, is played by actor Edward Norton, known for his dramatic roles and ability to embody complex characters. Norton also contributed to the screenplay, enriching the emotional aspect of the character.

The film explores Bruce Banner’s struggle against his alter ego, the monster Hulk, whom he tries to master while searching for a cure to get rid of him. This version of The Incredible Hulk follows in the footsteps of the other MCU films, notably thanks to the post-credits scene featuring Tony Stark (Iron Man), played by Robert Downey Jr., which links the two films and heralds the formation of the Avengers.

In terms of reception, the film was better received than its 2003 predecessor. Critics praised Edward Norton’s performance and Louis Leterrier’s more action-oriented direction. However, The Incredible Hulk didn’t have as much impact as other MCU films such as Iron Man or Thor. It remained relatively isolated in the Marvel universe, not least due to behind-the-scenes tensions between Edward Norton and the Marvel studio, which led to his replacement by Mark Ruffalo in subsequent films.

Louis Leterrier has continued his Hollywood career, directing films such as Clash of the Titans (2010), Now You See Me (2013) and most recently, in 2023, he took the reins of the Fast & Furious saga by directing Fast X.

Louis Leterrier is the director of The Incredible Hulk (2008), which took a more action-oriented approach to the MCU. Although it didn’t have the impact of some of Marvel’s other films, it reintroduced the Hulk to the shared superhero universe, before the character was played by Mark Ruffalo in subsequent films.

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