Guillermo del Toro recently sat down with Collider and confirmed that a new version of "The Incredible Hulk" is still a go and being worked on by Marvel Comics and ABC. Some prospective TV shows are held back due to production costs or a lack of interest. The only aspect holding back the unstoppable green beast right now is a writer. This one aspect, though, should not automatically make fans celebrate.
What was said
During the interview, del Toro stated they (himself and Marvel) had a writer in mind and were currently waiting for the writer's schedule to free up. He explained the project was in a holding pattern until the writer was able to come on board, and then a draft of the script would be written up. Fans of Ol' Greenie should take this news with mixed emotions.
The positives
First off, the idea of having a strong writer in mind is a good thing for the project. It means del Toro and Marvel know of a writer who can help them to deliver the vision they have for the show. They already know who should be on the team of creators, so a major part of the pre-production job is already done.The negatives
On the negative side, since del Toro is not releasing the name of the potential writer, nobody knows how long "The Incredible Hulk" will be in a holding pattern. The writer could have a full schedule for the next month, or the next year. There is no way of knowing for sure at this point if the fall schedule of 2013 target Marvel and ABC are shooting for could become a reality. In all honesty, del Toro did not mention there was a solid commitment from the writer on the project, that has to be assumed.Potential scheduling issues moving forward
If the writer del Toro wants is able to sign on in September, 2012, for example, the schedule for the show would have to move at superhuman speed to be on target for 2013. Meetings would have to happen between the writer, del Toro, and Marvel. The rough draft would have to be written, edited, finalized, and approved by all of the parties involved. Realistically, casting could be done at the same time to move the schedule forward.Don't forget the parties would have to agree on shooting locations and the proper local government permits would have to be acquired. There is no official word if ABC is going to require a pilot to be shot before the show is ordered, and this potential would add more time to the project. When all of these scheduling issues are taken into account, September of 2013 does not appear to be a realistic target. Without knowing when the writer will be free and what steps have already been taken for the project, there is no way for fans to become true believers in the proposed introduction date of the "The Incredible Hulk" next year.
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