Back at New York Comic Con earlier this year, there was this very odd moment during The Incredible Hulk panel when Lou Ferrigno surprised everyone in the crowd and director Louis Leterrier had the old, TV Hulk scream out a little "Hulk smash!" for the fans. Half-jokingly, Leterrier then said Ferrigno would be the voice of the Hulk in the new film.Those of us in the crowd didn't really know what to think: Was Leterrier being serious? Were they just messing with us? Well, according to a new interview over in Variety, it would appear that Ferrigno is, indeed, voicing the Hulk.

When asked if we "finally get to hear a good 'Hulk smash!,'" Marvel's Kevin Feige and producer Gale Ann Hurd noted, "Yes. After five TV seasons, several TV movies and the first feature, Hulk will speak. (Yeah, he had a line in the Ang Lee film, but it was a dream.) Hulk's verbal skills and intelligence have varied in the comics, but he's never been as mute as the TV version. So it's a little ironic that TV Hulk Lou Ferrigno will give voice to the Hulk in this film. Producer Gale Ann Hurd says Ferrigno was a last-minute addition to a panel on the movie at New York's Comic-Con. Director Leterrier invited him to "audition" onstage. "Lou did this amazing, 'Hulk smash!' " says Hurd. "And (director Louis Leterrier) said, 'Come in, we'll record you next week.' Everybody thought it was either a staged event or we wouldn't really do it. But the next week Lou came in in L.A. and his voice is the voice of the Hulk."

Do you think the Hulk should speak in the new film? The Incredible Hulk hits screens on June 13.

Warning: Foul language in the above clip -- definitely NSFW.

Just when I thought my crush on Jason Segel couldn't get any higher, he had to go and take on Lou Ferrigno. The above, captured by www.Hollywood.tv, is just comedy gold on the set of I Love You, Man -- the upcoming bro-com where Paul Rudd is about to marry Rashida Jones, and then he realizes he has no close male friend to be his best man. So, he goes on "man-dates" to find one -- which he ultimately finds in Jason Segel. Now, I'm not so sure how fighting the REAL Incredible Hulk fits in, but honestly, I don't care!

"Give him the juice!" God, this is funny, and I'm really wondering how Lou Ferigno got Jason Segel so worked up, and filled with so much testosterone, that the dude would say: "I'm not afraid of the Incredible Hulk!" Now, if only we didn't have to wait until some time next year to see this sucker! A US release date isn't listed on IMDb, but all of the international dates listed are in 2009.

[via /film]

The picture above takes place toward the very end of the scene they showed us yesterday at New York Comic Con, and it comes toward the end of a battle between armed forces and the Hulk. This scene is also predominantly featured in the new trailer which will play before Iron Man in about two weeks. Essentially, the military have Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) on the run. They chase him into this glass tunnel, lock both entrances on either side and launch two smoke-type bombs into the area. Outside, jeeps and a slew of troops gather awaiting Banner's transformation. They want this monster and they want him bad.

Suddenly, as the smoke builds up, we see Banner press his hands against the glass -- his eyes go green, his face fighting the beast within. Smoke fills the screen; it's quiet. Everyone waits. Then ... BOOM! -- the Hulk crashes out of the glass onto this huge field, running for his life. Several jeeps give chase, guns firing from every corner of the screen -- bullets ripping into Hulk's skin; he bumps one jeep and the vehicle rolls over. He gets to another one, picks it up and proceeds to smash it until the thing is in a million pieces. Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), who at this point has been given a few injections of that super serum, heads out to where Hulk is. Hulk tries to beat down Blonsky, but the latter has an extra bounce in his step. For some reason, he's not like the others -- he can move pretty fast. After a brief cat and mouse, the two approach each other (seen above). Blonsky says, "Is that all you got?" Hulk looks down, winds his leg back and goes to deliver a giant kick to Blonsky's stomach ... and we ... cut to black.

I have a confession to make. When other little girls were prancing around with Strawberry Shortcake, I was all about The Incredible Hulk. I even had a super-awesome pair of green Hulk pajamas. Unfortunately, my young love for that television show tarnished me for what's to come. I just can't get into fake Hulks. I get that he's supposed to be huge, but it just looks silly when a human being turns animated -- especially when Lou Ferrigno looked so damn cool all green.

Since there's still no trailer for the new Edward Norton-starring version, I give you my beloved Lou, in all of his green glory, and the wonderful Bill Bixby. Above you can see the opening theme with the first-ever transformation into the Hulk, and then you can head through the jump for the "final hulkout."

It's taking forever to get more of a taste of one of this summer's biggest flicks, but Superhero Hype was just sent a promotional poster that shows a pretty nifty Hulk in all of his light green/grey glory (click on the image to the right for a slightly larger version). You'll remember that back at ComicCon, another promotional poster was revealed, only it showed the silhouette of Hulk. This one, however, gives us a tiny glimpse at what director Louis Leterrier and crew have in store for our favorite emotionally unstable and conflicted superhero. He's big. He's got muscles. And he looks pissed. Yeah, I don't think I'd want to make him angry.

Due out in theaters on June 13, this updated version of The Incredible Hulk stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson and ... Lou Ferrigno. Yes! Maybe I'm warped, but I'd love a scene in which The Hulk throws Ferrigno through a glass window. Maybe? Possibly? Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the film; I feel they've probably learned from the mistakes of Ang Lee's version and I expect a pretty kick-ass flick this June. Additionally, a rumor was going around earlier this week that stated the first trailer for The Incredible Hulk would premiere during the Superbowl. Not sure if it will hit the internets beforehand, but either way we shouldn't have to wait too much longer.

Although we still haven't been able to see what the new and improved Hulk will look like in action, thanks to a whole new batch of set pics, we now get a taste of the green monster's destruction. Some dude named Ronin Kengo snapped a bunch of pics that show Yonge Street in Toronto done up to look like the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. And let's just say said neighborhood appears to have had a very large beast stroll through for a little car crunching. The dude has all the pics up over on his blog, and my favorites have to go to the two of three that feature a smashed-up car sticking out the side of a NYC bus (one of which you can see to the right of your screen and click on for a larger version). Damn, I'd love to know how long it took to set that shot up -- nevermind what it will look like when the scene unfolds on the big screen.

Apart from the aforementioned "car sticking out of bus" photo, there are a few others which show a NYC street lined with cars that appear to have been stepped on by Hulk, as well as a shot of the famed Apollo Theater (not the real one, of course) and a few NYC-style shops (gotta include the pizza place!). Additionally -- and this should really excite you hardcore Hulk fans -- Superherohype confirms (via a Variety story I cannot find at the moment) that none other than Lou Ferrigno will have a role in The Incredible Hulk. Ferrigno, as you should be aware, starred as The Incredible Hulk back in the day opposite Bill Bixby's Bruce Banner. No word yet on who he will play, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's a character who, at some point, comes face to face with the green dude -- this way they can adequately play up the "Oooh, look at that cameo" moment. The Incredible Hulk will stomp its way into theaters on June 13.

Over at the SuperheroHype message boards, new Hulk director Louis Leterrier stopped by to answer a handful of questions from eager Marvel fanboys. In between the "I don't knows" and the "it is too early to tells" were a collection of interesting details. Watch out, here come the bullet points!

• Jason Statham (who appeared in other Louis Leterrier flicks) will play the part of Betty Ross.*
• Leterrier is not concerned about a possibly small-ish (if you consider $180 million small) budget, because he made most of his early flicks for around 20 million or less. To him, $180 million is a fortune, and he promises every penny will be on screen.
• Eric Bana is not officially out of consideration for the lead role.
• Neither is Lou Ferrigno, at least as far as voice work is concerned.
• Leterrier thinks he can top the action from the first flick.
• He also considers himself "a maggot" compared to Ang Lee, and will not try to imitate his style in any way because it would be "an enormous failure."
• Leterrier will surround himself with the very best fight coordinators for this flick.
• Zak Penn's screenplay is phenomenal. If this is true and not hyperbole, it is very good news, as Penn is apparently the next best thing to God in Marvel's eyes. The Dude is writing a ton for them.
• No release date/schedule is in place yet.

*It should be pointed out this was an attempt at humor on Leterrier's part, just in case someone didn't pick up on it.

Just when we've all adjusted (sort of) to the fact that The Terminator really is the governor of California, things out there on the left coast have gotten a little weirder: The Hulk (not, sadly, Hulk Hogan - the green one, aka Lou Ferrigno) is now a Los Angeles County Sheriff, at least he will be come Monday. What the hell is going on out there with you people? Are there no normal human beings available to fill these positions any more, or are there simply so many famous body-builders-turned-actors in California that a government/law enforcement takeover was inevitable? Either way, it's starting to freak me out. Next thing you know, it'll hit this coast, and Roddy Piper will be running for Mayor of New York. Come to think of it, I could get behind that. Maybe California's onto something after all.