‘Incredible Hulk’ Star “Heartbroken” After Being Cut out of ‘Dune: Part Two’

in Entertainment, Marvel

(left to right) Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk, and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns from the Incredible Hulk (2008)

Credit: Edited by ITM

What’s next for this Marvel star?

Hulk wearing glasses and smiling
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: ‘Incredible Hulk’ Actor Undergoes “Physical Transformation” for MCU Return in ‘Captain America 4′

Avengers: Endgame (2019) marked the departure of key Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Avengers from the forefront. Most notably, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man/Tony Stark made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good, while Chris Evans’ Captain America/Steve Rogers retired after passing his iconic Vibranium shield to Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson/Falcon.

The Avengers (Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, Black Widow)
Credit: Marvel Studios

With the Multiverse Saga now in full swing, foremost among these “retirements” is Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk/Bruce Banner, whose character development unfolded across several Avengers films throughout the Infinity Saga. Ruffalo’s portrayal depicted Bruce Banner’s internal conflict as he grappled with merging the contrasting personas residing within the same boy — the brilliant yet reserved Dr. Bruce Banner and the more primal and direct persona of the Incredible Hulk.

Marvel Star Cut From Dune

(left to right) Zendaya as Chani, Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune
Credit: Warner Bros.

Related: ‘Hulk’ Actor Banned From Appearing in MCU Ever Again

Nevertheless, Bruce Banner wasn’t initially portrayed by Ruffalo in the MCU, although his portrayal is now widely recognized by most Marvel fans. Instead, Edward Norton, no longer part of the MCU, portrayed the first rendition of the MCU’s Hulk in 2008’s Incredible Hulk. This movie is sometimes mistaken for Ang Lee’s Hulk, starring Eric Bana as the titular character, which is not considered part of the MCU canon.

It is 2008’s Incredible Hulk film, the first movie in the canonical Marvel Cinematic Universe, actor Tim Blake Nelson, who portrayed Samuel Sterns, nearly joined the cast of Dune. Nelson is poised to return to the MCU in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World (formerly Captain America: New World Order), AKA Captain America 4.

Now, the Incredible Hulk star Tim Blake Nelson is opening up about the role that could have been, admitting that he’s “heartbroken” about being cut out of Dune: Part Two.

MovieWeb recently spoke to the actor, who, despite feeling incredibly sad about the whole thing, ultimately respects director Denis Villeneuve’s decision. In fact, Nelson does not even want to say who he was meant to play, and what the scene(s) that were cut entailed:

“I don’t think I’m at liberty to say what the scene was. I’d leave that to Denis [Villeneuve] if he wants to talk about it. I had a great time over there shooting it. And then he had to cut it because he thought the movie was too long. And I am heartbroken over that, but there’s no hard feelings. I loved it, and I can’t wait to do something else with him and we certainly plan to do that.”

The second part of the Dune franchise adapts the second half of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi classic, Dune. Considering that Dune: Part Two involved the Bene Gesserit Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux), a very likely character for Nelson to play (still officially uncast) is the Lady’s Count Fenring. A third film adaptation would likely cover the second book in the Dune series of books, Dune: Messiah wraps up Paul Atreides’ story (Timothée Chalamet).

Seeing as Dune: Part One (2022) and Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has plans to do a third movie, it definitely seems like Nelson is set to return to the planet of Arrakis, and other locations in the Known Universe of Herbert’s creation.

Although Villeneuve has been very open in stating that he does not intend to release an extended cut, Dune fans are not totally without hope. Perhaps the studio could be pressured into releasing a series of deleted scenes once the trilogy is fully wrapped.

Nelson is slated to return to the MCU alongside Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross and Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross/Thunderbolt Ross/potential Red Hulk, taking over from the late William Hurt. Nelson definitely has a future in big franchise films, as he is more than likely to return to (or more accurately, debut in) the world of Dune: Part Three.

Do you think Tim Blake Nelson will return in a third Dune movie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

More on Dune: Part Two

The Sandworm and spice melange-filled Dune: Part Two by director Denis Villeneuve with a score by composer Hans Zimmer, stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides/Paul Muad’Dib Usul, leading the Fremen rebellion on the desert planet Arrakis AKA Dune against House Harkonnen, alongside Zendaya as Chani, his fierce love interest. Rebecca Ferguson plays Lady Jessica, Paul’s Bene Gesserit mother and former concubine of Leto Atreides.

Other cast members include Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring, Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, and Javier Bardem as Stilgar. Anya Taylor-Joy makes an uncredited cameo as Alia Atreides.

More on Captain America: Brave New World

Joining the anticipated lineup is Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America, Sam Wilson. Danny Ramirez embodies Joaquin Torres, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant who assumes the mantle of Falcon. Carl Lumbly takes on the role of Isaiah Bradley, a Korean War veteran and super soldier featured in Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), a Disney+ original series like Secret Invasion (2023) and Moon Knight (2022).

Shira Haas takes on the character of Sabra, an Israeli superheroine, amid debates surrounding the depiction. Xosha Roquemore, Seth Rollins, and Rosa Salazar are also part of the cast, their roles undisclosed, with speculation pointing towards the Serpent Society, though recent rumors suggest this plot element may be omitted. All of this could be working up to a World War Hulk project from Marvel Studios.

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