As Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all have movies in either pre or post-production we always knew all three would eventually be appearing in The Avengers along with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. However up until now we haven’t heard whether our green friend with anger issues would also be making an appearance. In the past producer Kevin Feige couldn’t answer the question of whether The Hulk would be in The Avengers, although he did say “there will be some members of the Hulk universe in the film”. Now in an interview with SFX Magazine (via SHH) he confirmed The Hulks involvement while discussing future Marvel films:

“My only concern is that when we launch a franchise–whichever character’s franchise that may be–it should stand on its own two feet… So by the time ‘The Avengers’ comes in 2012, it’s not just a team superhero movie with a bunch of characters with powers. It’s three people – four including the Hulk; five including Nick Fury – who you’ve seen before in other movies, coming together for the very first time.”

Catch that Hulk bit? Feige also said that he won’t rule out the possibility of a second Incredible Hulk film with Edward Norton. “That would be post-’Avengers,’ if it happened… I think there’s a chance. It’s certainly our intention to use the same actors from film to film where we can.”

Feige was asked it will be difficult to meld the fantasy of Thor with the high-tech science fiction in Iron Man and The Avengers. “No,” he said, “because we’re doing the Jack Kirby/Stan Lee/Walt Simonson/J. Michael Straczynski ‘Thor.’ We’re not doing the blow-the-dust-off-of-the-old-Norse-book-in-your-library ‘Thor.’ And in the ‘Thor’ of the Marvel Universe, there’s a race called the Asgardians. And we’re linked through this Tree of Life that we’re unaware of. It’s real science, but we don’t know about it yet. The ‘Thor’ movie is about teaching people that.”

Edward Norton said last year that having The Hulk as the villain in The Avengers “would be a fun way to go” and I agree, however I think there should be an even bigger villain that the team have to battle with, and they can only do that by getting the Hulk on their side. Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand) is currently working on the script (lucky guy) and The Avengers will probably begin filming this time next year for it’s May 2012 release.

MTV spoke with The Incredible Hulk producer Gale Anne Hurd, who said she has every intention on making a follow-up and that Edward Norton is signed on:

“It’s all going to depend on the screenplay and where his character goes in any sequel, because he does have a multiple-picture deal,” she said of Norton, who told us recently that he’s waiting to hear from Marvel regarding Hulk’s future. “[Norton's situation] is the same with every franchise like this, when you have one of the top actors of his generation.”

But first, we are most likely going to see him in The Avengers:

“Next, he’s likely to appear in an ‘Avengers’ movie, but that’s completely up to Marvel,” she explained. “It’s wonderful that Marvel now controls so many of their own characters, and they can create a Marvel universe in film and populate it with so many of their characters who naturally exist together. I think an ‘Avengers’ film is a very exciting prospect.”

There has been talk recently that if the Hulk does appear in The Avengers, he will most likely be the villain.