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Exclusive Interview: AVI ARAD TALKS <i>INCREDIBLE HULK</i> DO-OVER, <i>IRON MAN</i> & MARVEL CARTOONS - iFMagazine.com Send to a friend
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Exclusive Interview: AVI ARAD TALKS INCREDIBLE HULK DO-OVER, IRON MAN & MARVEL CARTOONS

The now independant producer talks about the future of Marvel Films ...

By SEAN ELLIOTT, Associate Editor
Published 6/9/2006




Avi Arad now an independent producer for Marvel still has his fingers in several pies for the comic book giant.  Following the success of Marvel’s forays into filmmaking thus far, Arad is preparing to herald in a new era for Marvel, with the company producing it’s own movies.  iF talked to Arad about the choices for Marvel “in-house” producing, and what other projects including TV and cartoons are in the works at the film side of The House of Ideas.

 

iF MAGAZINE: IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK are the first Marvel produced films that Marvel is producing “in-house”, why these particular heroes?

 

AVI ARAD: We wanted to start this journey with absolutely top, top tier characters and IRON MAN is at the level of X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN and HULK.  SPIDER-MAN is a league of its own, but after that you have X-MEN, IRON MAN, HULK.  These are the big guns, and obviously we want to continue the train of success once we are making our own [films].  A lot of people are looking forward to IRON MAN and a lot of people are looking forward to the comic book version of the HULK.  That’s the one we are making, and I think it will be incredibly satisfying.  It will be big and awesome and a big ride.

 

iF: So will you be recasting HULK with completely new actors?

 

ARAD: It’s a “do-over”.  I loved the HULK movie, it was just a different approach, and it wasn’t exactly the comic.  We want to be much closer to the comic.  It’s what we would rather do.

 

iF: There is a THOR film in the works as well?

 

ARAD: Yes, we're in [the] scripting [stage] right now.

 

iF: How about a LUKE CAGE movie?

 

ARAD: Nothing going right now, still trying to find the right take.

 

iF: What about the project Wesley Snipes has wanted to do, THE BLACK PANTHER?

 

ARAD: We are waiting for a very specific actor for that one.

 

iF: Beyond IRON MAN and HULK, what other films will be produced by Marvel itself?

 

ARAD: The NICK FURY movie and the ANT MAN movie for sure.

 

iF: The BLADE series is premiering this summer. How is that progressing?

 

ARAD: We’re very excited about that, and we’re slated for thirteen episodes.

 

iF: What cartoons do you have premiering on TV?

 

ARAD: We’ve got a new FANTASTIC FOUR cartoon.  We’ve got a new WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN cartoon; it’s going to be based on the comics.  We’re going to do another Sony SPIDER-MAN cartoon.  We are probably going to do an IRON MAN cartoon after the movie.

 

iF: What directors would you like to work with that you haven’t worked with so far?

 

ARAD: I like them all.  If I give you five names, then the sixth will be upset, so it’s a lose-lose situation. 

 

iF: Switching to toys how do the new HASBRO toy lines look in comparison to the previous TOY BIZ lines?

 

ARAD: TOY BIZ is very involved in the design of the toys, but the distribution will be through HASBRO.  The scale isn’t going to change. 

 

 

HERE'S A LINK TO AVI'S COMMENTS ON THE X-MEN:
 http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=3021
 
AVI TALKS ABOUT GHOST RIDER DELAYS AND FANTASTIC FOUR 2:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=3030
 
CHECK OUT OUR COMIC PICKS FOR THIS WEEK:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1515
 
HERE'S A LINK TO OUR HALLE BERRY X-MEN LAST STAND INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1511
 
X-MEN BEN FOSTER INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1510
 
X-MEN PATRICK STEWART INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1508
 
X-MEN FAMKE JANSSEN INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1506
 
X-MEN ANNA PAQUIN INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1504
 
X-MEN HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1502
 
X-MEN KELSEY GRAMMER INTERVIEW:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1507
 
 

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Reader Comments

wintervssummer from Bermuda sez....
I very much love summer :) Someone very much loves winter :( I Wish to know whom more :) For what you love winter? For what you love summer? Let's argue :)
12/1/2008 2:17:56 PM

dorsRedlowl from United Kingdom sez....
All greetings! I have fallen in love today:))))) I wish to shout about love to all world ! :) Love this magnificent feeling:)))))
10/26/2008 6:17:01 AM

Fly White Guy from Southern California sez....
The first Hulk movie sucked. It's a guilty pleasure at best. It's so bad, that the show Robot Chicken did a spoof of the Hulk and its director. I wouldn't say that Marvel is a complete wash. I just think there are usually two ways comics are translated to film. Doing it right and doing it half-assed. The Spiderman films, the first two X-men films, Batman 1 & 5 (maybe 2 & 3) and the first Blade film would be instances of doing it right. The third installment of the X-men (I hear a lot of people describe it as, "you'll probably like it more if the movies are your only X-men experience...), the Fantastic Four (wasn't too bad, but still half assed), the next two Blade movies (not too bad, but nowhere near as good as the first one) and Dare Devil (did are one else think bulls eye looked really stupid, props on the black kingpin though) being in the half-assed approach. You could add a third category to this mix for the horrible films including such travesties as Spawn (wondering why we haven't seen another one? it's because todd was waiting out the film license he had with that crummy studio), Batman and Robin (shudder.. my govana as mr. freeze? and bane an invalidic igor?), Elektra (i still haven't been able to get through that movie...) and the most recent Ghostrider (god, the worst parts of that movie were the super hero parts when he'd turn into the retard version of the hulk...). I don't think they're calling Hulk 2 a "do-over" for nothing. I'm sure the old director wishes he could have a do-over in making the decision to direct Hulk. He'd have done better making part two of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
3/21/2007 3:27:45 PM

bryce from milecity montana sez....
you should put the prevuse of hulk 2 the movie on the computer
1/16/2007 5:16:02 PM

AsianHulk from Manila,Philippines sez....
if there is Spider Man,Iron and Woverine& The X-Men in 2007 animated TV series.maybe The Incredible Hulk animated series would invades 2007 soon.
11/13/2006 1:15:18 AM

AsianHulk from Manila,Philippines sez....
maybe if Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly could be returns to played their roles as Bruce Banner and Betty Ross in the second Hulk movie.maybe Bana say's that is no longer as Bruce Banner.so who could played the role as Bruce Banner in "The Hulk 2" movie?
11/13/2006 1:12:14 AM

Aaron from Sydney, AUSTRALIA sez....
PLEASE not another Swamp Thing, Punisher, ELektra and especially NOT ANOTHER HULK!! Ang Lee SCREWED UP THE UNSCREWABLE!! And as for all the fan-boy retards who say "But X-Men 3 wasn't like the comic".. no shit. It's trying to suspend disbelief in a MORE realistic way that's attracting NEW fans: if you don't like the film, shut the f$*K up, dress up in your yellow spandex tights, wait for the Shiar to turn up and don't see the movie again..
7/18/2006 12:47:50 AM

Mok from Los Angeles sez....
Daredevil was terrible. " Batman Begins " is what Daredevil should have been ! Re - do that. Marvel's falling off. I hate to say it. But " DC " is starting to look like the smarter franchise.
7/13/2006 4:17:48 PM

MR.KAW from New York sez....
Please base the new "SPIDER-MAN Animated Series" on the "COMICS"--And it will last more than one season!
7/12/2006 12:39:44 PM

Joshua from Wisconsin sez....
One I would like to say that X-man 3 was one of the worst movies sequels I have even seen, nothing the the Jean Gray Saga's in the comic, sucked major ass. The hulk I thought was a good, they made it more modern day hulk, not 1950's hulk. I think they should just continue with the series and do Abonination. The actors that played Bana, and Betty Ross where great, and should stay those character. I would be very disipointed if they did a do obver. Ang Lee did a great job, of showing us Bruces battle with the hulk and every day life, the true beast that is inside of all of us.
7/12/2006 10:46:16 AM

Christian from Brooklyn sez....
Also the first Hulk's box office was profitable and DVD, merchandise sales made it v. profitable, so it wasn't a disaster. The CGI Hulk worked perfectly, also Bana and Connolly made a great Bruce and Betty (Bana - Banner...need I say more).
7/2/2006 6:45:29 PM

Christian from New York sez....
I think they should keep Eric Bana and Jennifer Connely. Maybe they should even leave the film origin as is, just not really bring it up. Even the casting for Thunderbolt Ross was really good. The first film (script) fell victim to hollyweird's residual lack of respect for comic books (it's changing now), but visually it was amazing. Either way, happy to hear that there will be a second film. You can't keep ol' green genes down and bring on the Abomination!!
7/2/2006 6:36:50 PM

Dan from Texas sez....
I think the first movie was ok.I would like to see him fight the thing,spidey or wolverine i would like to see them cross paths, Thats the best parts about comics they cross paths all the time.Even if u dont have spidey or wolverine definetly the thing, abomination or rhino.Based on the comic would be alot better
7/1/2006 7:18:06 PM

J.H. from Atlanta sez....
I think they should keep Eric Bana in the Hulk movie and just go from the end of the first movie, and start from there. Thanks
6/25/2006 1:44:18 PM

Stud from Matt's mom's house sez....
I'd say Matt from Texas sucks!
6/25/2006 12:50:36 AM

Jack from Masturbation sez....
I'm glad to see they are doing a do-over. I would have been just as glad to see a sequel, but oh well. A do-over is great. Maybe this time they will get his origin right and have an actual villian from the comics instead of having him fight Pops.
6/15/2006 3:04:25 AM

Mike from Baltimore sez....
I thought that Ang Lee did a fine job with directing the Hulk movie. The major flaw to the entire project was the script - maybe the worst dialogue I have ever heard in a movie. What a waste of fine acting talent! I had no problem with the depiction of the Hulk himself...except for when he got bigger the madder he got - whose "bright" idea was that? Hulk 2 will be a better movie as long as the right script is written for it. It's a shame that Eric Bana won't be along for the ride though. I truly hope that Jennifer Connolly will be in it - what a hottie!!!
6/14/2006 12:24:10 AM

SuperMan from U.S. sez....
Xmen 3 I thought was a terrible movie. Although I enjoyed it, the story line and it's effect as a global scale mutant regime showed poorly. And where does the sentinel belong in this movie at the beginning? This movie was more of end it, end it now, then X3 the final stand. Cut scenes one after the other, choppy if you ask me. And the kid at the end of the movie with them powers that make mutants human. He was render useless at the end. Stupid. X3 has it downfalls but I still enjoyed it because of just that it is your favorite superheroes brought to life. You people fail to see, especially them dumb critics the antics of a movie. Most people are so busy being critical about the whole film that one actually forget that you should be going in to watch the movie and enjoy it. Take it as a rollercoaster ride. Anticipate it. Feel it. Breath it. Watch it like your there, your the hero. Be it. Until people can come to enjoy the movie just for what it is, no one will be happy. Hulk was simply a good movie. Even though the storyline was up to par, seeing the big green on the big screen was great. Eric Bana is awesome. The Hulk should not be remade, should be a sequel. A remake requires time and preservance.
6/13/2006 10:29:01 PM

Brian Ross from Georgia sez....
I think the first movie was a valid effort,all the actors were great and the only downfall was having such a heavyweight actor like Nolte to have to deal with an overwraught script involving an Odeipal(I hope I spelled that right)plot.There should have been an earlier appearance of the Hulk and a viable hint of a major villian from the comic to be fleshed out in the second film.The technology for the creature was stunning, the scene where he battled the tanks in the desert was pure Marvel at it's best.Sadly you can't please everyone and most "fans" of the Hulk wanted the source material to be from the T.V. series.While the television show was laudable, every real fan knows the physical dimensions of the Hulk could only have been done with CGI.The creators of the CGI Hulk are artist as is Ang Lee and I think that because of that the action which should have been the meat of the movie was put on a diet.What's done is done and it is what it is,that being said I look forward to the new film and until then I will not gripe and whine but I will enjoy the work which lives today.
6/12/2006 7:24:02 AM

charles from usa sez....
i cant believe they are gonna make another incredible bulk movie again totally based on the comic,this is exactly what they did before with the first bulk that hit the theaters,they totally based it on the comic and look at what happened,the incredible hulk bombed all over the place and everybody hated it and said it waste of money whether at the theaters or when it arrives on dvd.sop here is universal saying they wanna make another incredible bulk movie totally based on the comic mag,this is basically copying the first incredible hulk movie that was based on the comic.when ang lee the director from crouching tiger/hidden dragon was chosen as the director,he said he was gonna do a big background check on the bulk,then base the whole movie on the comic book of the bulk.so he did,he based the incredible hulk movie totally on the comic,ang lee said he did,jennifer connolly also said the bulk was based on the comic and it was the worst movie ever and bombed so bad it was a terrible blow to the bulk franchise.see what ang lee shouldve done was,not only base the hulk from the comic,but base most of the hulk from the tv series:the incrddible hulk with lou ferrigno back as the incredible bulk,then the movie wouldve been alot better using alotta what the tv series stood for where david banner went around the country helping people out and then got caught up in these situations and all of a sudden your making me angry and metamorphasis into the bulk.i think one of the best metamorphasis was when he saw that doctor he got married with,she put david under hypnosis,he tells her that this is real potential serious danger here.then moments later he is under hypnosis and he is trying to free his first wife from the burning car when it was flipped over on its top.the flames are spreading david says,i kicked at the window,it wouldnt break,i knew if i didnt get her out she was gonna die.laura.laura,laura,and he jumps from the chair and makes one helluva massive roar that was really electrifying and awesome before he even metamorphasis.laura,laura,laura,and i just couldnt get her out,leaps from the chair makes one helluva massive electrifying roar before he even metamorphasis,because everything is so intense you know.then after that massive roar as he leaps from the chair,then he starts metamorphasing into the bulk in front of that woman doctor and she is wondering what the hell is going on.but there were many more episodes explodive metamorphasing into the bulk that the incredible bulk tv series so great,this is where they should be doing the same exact samething with the incredible bulk the movie
6/11/2006 2:18:40 PM

Matt from Texas sez....
Maybe the Hulk just needs to stay in the bad comic movie rubble. Also shoulda asked how hes gonna take the massive bomb of the Ghost Rider movie. That movie looks like crap. I've seen better CG on Sci-Fi Channel and Cage's wig? Ughh kill me. They have a good thing going with the x-Men franchise. X3 rocked, just proves good writting can save any movie from a bad director. Sorry Brett. Im done.
6/11/2006 9:43:16 AM

GammaBomb from London sez....
You didn't get an answer on re-casting for Hulk. Eric Bana is a fine actor so I hope he get a chance to play Bruce Banner from the comics this time. A solid story and a strong villain (please, no murky CGI scenes this time) is needed. Say what you like, but the X-men movies got it right - they built up a whole world for the characters. How will the world react to the ticking time bomb that is Banner?
6/10/2006 6:53:19 AM

Bighonkin from Georgia sez....
Very interested in this "do-over" of the Hulk. I like the first movie a lot, but was not blind to it's shortcomings. I hope they get it a little more spot on this time. Keep 'em green though!!!
6/9/2006 12:30:56 PM

Newbs from Arkansas sez....
That interview was weak sauce. Why don't you grow a pair and ask some follow-up questions?
6/9/2006 10:38:51 AM

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