http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67821
That's too bad. Recasting the role is dumb though, it'll be better not to use the Hulk.
No Edward Norton for The Avengers
- Thread starter Dream
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http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67821
That's too bad. Recasting the role is dumb though, it'll be better not to use the Hulk.
Yeah, I read that earlier. I'm hoping it's not confirmed and that Marvel will hopefully change their minds. I mean, you spend all of this time building up to something, and you don't pull out all the stops? It'll definitely be different when you have Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and some other dude that isn't Edward Norton.
It's particularly odd since Norton seemed to be willing to jump on-board. This is typical shrewd businessmen-type behavior on Marvel's part. This is the type of behavior that undoubtedly caused Terrence Howard to exit or be dropped from Iron Man 2 and nearly prevented Jon Favreau from even directing that movie. Marvel needs to prioritize and be selective over their cost-conscious attitude if they want The Avengers to be good, because that's one expenditure you don't want to be cost-conscious about.
It's particularly odd since Norton seemed to be willing to jump on-board. This is typical shrewd businessmen-type behavior on Marvel's part. This is the type of behavior that undoubtedly caused Terrence Howard to exit or be dropped from Iron Man 2 and nearly prevented Jon Favreau from even directing that movie. Marvel needs to prioritize and be selective over their cost-conscious attitude if they want The Avengers to be good, because that's one expenditure you don't want to be cost-conscious about.
Why on earth would Marvel go to all the trouble of setting this up, and not put an Avengers clause in the contract?
Sad, if true, that Norton won't be back. I quite liked him as Banner, and I think his absence would lessen the Avengers film.
Sad, if true, that Norton won't be back. I quite liked him as Banner, and I think his absence would lessen the Avengers film.
A silly decision with a silly explanation. Not to mention needlessly insulting towards Ed Norton. I guess this decision is final if they're ready to burn bridges like that.
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
That could have worked if Robert Downey Jr. hadn't appeared in Norton's movie.
Agreed. They had no need to insult Norton. He really brought a lot to The Incredible Hulk, by not only playing Banner, but The Hulk as well, and even giving an uncredited rewrite. It was his first big Hollywood movie, too. I don't think we'll see Norton appearing in any future summer blockbuster any time soon.
Wow, Marvel's statement is a pretty big "fuck you" to Ed Norton. These things are usually handed with more finesse, at least in PR terms.
Wow, that sucks. Stupid Marvel. 
Edit: Why the fuck did Marvel feel the need to insult Norton like that? Fuck them.
Edit: Why the fuck did Marvel feel the need to insult Norton like that? Fuck them.
Isn't it possible the problem is at least partly script-related? I could see the Hulk being basically the Avengers' CGI punching bag in a few scenes as currently conceived, and Norton wanting to be in the movie only insofar as Banner becomes a bigger player.
Edit: Marvel's statement does come across as a bit dickish.
Edit: Marvel's statement does come across as a bit dickish.
No Norton? No Hulk.
Wow. That's just a big fuck you to Norton, there. He one of the most talented actors working today. I don't know all the behind the scenes stuff, but that statement just seems pretty harsh.
The Italian Job, Red Dragon and Kingdom of Heaven would like a word with you.
Is Kevin Feige the new Avi Arad?
Marvel and Norton did clash on the final cut of The Incredible Hulk. If you look at some of the deleted scenes, Norton actually wanted the movie to be good.
So first Terrence Howard, now Edward Norton, plus all the actors they tried to lowball (some successfully), this could be the beginning of the end of what happens when you have a non-movie guy running the movies.
Marvel and Norton did clash on the final cut of The Incredible Hulk. If you look at some of the deleted scenes, Norton actually wanted the movie to be good.
So first Terrence Howard, now Edward Norton, plus all the actors they tried to lowball (some successfully), this could be the beginning of the end of what happens when you have a non-movie guy running the movies.
I could believe that if anything in the past corroborated that. Ed Norton has been nothing but supportive and collaborative with Marvel from the beginning, at least based on what I have read.
- He co-wrote The Incredible Hulk. When the WGA was determining accreditation, Zak Penn fought hard to have HIS name as sole writer. Ed Norton didn't fight back for whatever reason, probably because he realized the trivial nature of the dispute. WGA awarded Penn full credit on the film, and Norton's work went on uncredited.
- According to director Louis Lettetier, Norton was extremely collaborative during the filmmaking process, even playing the Hulk in the motion capture part of the process. Last time around, Ang Lee did all of the motion capture work. Norton would even help inform how the Hulk should move, act, and function. He was very involved from beginning to end.
- When Marvel took out a reportedly huge chunk of the film, slicing it down from 2 and a half hours to an hour and 45 minutes or so, Norton fought to get the footage back into the film but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Marvel would not budge.
- Post-The Incredible Hulk, Norton did express his displeasure about working with Marvel and the process of how the film was edited and made but seemed very willing to take part of The Avengers. He seemed willing to put that bad experience behind him. According to rumors, he even met with Avengers director Joss Whedon, and apparently Norton was pumped over what he was hearing.
I meant big, summer blockbuster movie. At least, that's how Norton worded it.