The Hulk expands his bulk on October 28, 2003 with the release of the explosive action adventure on DVD and VHS from Universal Studios Home Video with an incredible industry milestone: For the first time ever, audiences can experience both the film and the related video game on the same DVD. The ground-breaking inclusion of Vivendi Universal Games’ “The Hulk” for the Xbox(r) video game system from Microsoft creates a singular entertainment experience exclusively showcased on the DVD.
Centering on one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful characters, The Hulk is brought to thrilling life via groundbreaking 3-D animation from visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic and the formidable talents of director Ang Lee and stars Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte. The 2-disc special edition DVD release is priced at $26.98 suggested retail ($19.95 MAP) and the VHS sells for $22.98 SRP ($14.95 MAP). The pre-order close date is September 9, 2003 for the DVD and September 23 for the VHS.
Exclusive to The Hulk DVD, the demo provides one playable level for Xbox which showcases the title’s fully interactive environments, and the awesome power of the Hulk. Picking up a year after the events of the film, the game follows the plight of troubled scientist Bruce Banner and his enraged alter ego, Hulk, as they battle against the terrifying forces of the Leader – a villain intent on using the Hulk’s gamma energy to unleash a relentless army of gamma creatures on the world. Players can master two types of game play as either Bruce Banner or The Hulk as they battle lead characters from the film, familiar enemies from the Marvel Universe(tm) or new villains created specifically for the game.
The Hulk DVD delivers breakthrough special features, in keeping with the movie’s astounding, never-before-seen technology. Still frames pieced together create a comic book feel to the live action as frames fill the screen and come to life when selected. Among the bonus features on the DVD:
The Making of The Hulk – A featurette containing fascinating interviews with cast and crew and a behind-the-scenes look at the amazing action stunt work in the film.
Enhanced Viewing – Viewers can access immediate information about select scenes to enliven their viewing experience as they view the film . A split-screen effect allows viewers to learn about 3-D technology allows 360 degree still images of each scene where the Hulk appears to be viewed at will.
Anatomy of the Hulk – ILM developed this exclusive feature in which a 3D Hulk model can be manipulated through the viewer’s remote control. By clicking on various body parts, viewers can watch mini-featurettes of scenes containing footage and production stills that compare the Hulk’s powers to an ordinary man.
Hulkification- A fascinating look at different artistic conceptions of the Hulk created by diverse illustrators representing the Marvel Comics, Manga (Japanese) and European styles of animation rendering the same scene from the film in comic book form while matched with footage from the film.
Other features include storyboards showing side by side comparisons with actual scenes from the film; a Digital Incarnations feature revealing the visual process of director Ang Lee in bringing the larger-than-life character to the big screen, including Ang acting out stunts in a motion capture suit and reviewing storyboards with artists; the remarkable Dog Fight feature showing how the scene was created from storyboards to filming the CGI to the finished scene and deleted scenes, audio commentaries; and “The Making of THE HULK” interactive game.
Universal’s marketing campaign for The Hulk includes a multi-million dollar national media campaign. The Hulk ads will appear in over five million Marvel and D.C. comic books in October.
Adding to the campaign’s visibility will be support from promotional partner Kraft Foods. Millions of packages will feature special offers ranging from cut-out trading cards and masks to $5 DVD rebates. Over 20 Kraft brands are participating, including such all-time favorites as Jell-O(r), Oreo(r), Ritz(r), Taco Bell(r), Tombstone(r) and Cool Whip(r).
In addition, a two-page FSI reaching 45 million circulation will contain offers for a free 3-D poster from ACT II and a free watch from Crunch ‘n Munch. The Hulk will also appear on over five million packages of ACT II.
A promotion with Sunny “D”, supported by a multi-million dollar TV campaign, features The Hulk DVD on packaging and offers a $3 rebate when a consumer buys two Sunny “D” products and The Hulk DVD.
Source: Universal Studios Home Video
