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July 12th, 2010
04:30 PM ET
Marvel on the hunt for a new 'Hulk'Let's hope the third time will be the charm. The search is on for yet another actor to play "The Incredible Hulk" after Marvel Studios confirmed that Edward Norton will not reprise his role as the gargantuan green monster for the upcoming superhero ensemble movie "The Avengers." Eric Bana was the first actor to play the Hulk on the big-screen in 2003, with Norton taking on the character in a 2008 reboot. As EW reported at the time, that production was fraught with drama.
Norton, 40, reportedly refused to promote the flick because he was unhappy with its final cut: he wanted a longer, more detailed movie while Marvel went with a faster, edited version. So it's not exactly surprising that Marvel has announced that they're searching for a replacement to team up with Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (the Black Widow), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Chris Evans (Captain America) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) for "The Avengers." "Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members," Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said in a statement, according to MTV. " 'The Avengers' demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts," Feige said. "We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks." That announcement is expected to happen at Comic-Con on July 24, where Feige will be on hand to give sneak peeks to the "Thor" and "Captain America" flicks currently in development. |
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someone tell feige to swallow a turd and get Norton back. The last movie was the best Hulk ever and prolly would have been better if Leterrier and Norton had their way.
Edward Norton fit the role of Banner so well, it's a shame that they're going to re-cast him due to their creative differences during the making of The Incredible Hulk. While the movie was alright due to the good casting (though I liked Jennifer Connelly from Ang Lee's Hulk more than Liv Tyler in IH) and well done action sequences (although IMO The Hulk was just not "strong enough" in this movie, if that makes any sense...here's hoping he's stronger in the Avengers), the tragedy of Banner's life left me wanting more.
Tracy Morgan from Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock! He already runs around with his shirt off when he's angry,perfect casting if you ask me....
The most important question is will the New Hulk Movie be a Cartoon (CGII) or will it have a more realistic feel to it. That's what have been missing from the Hulk Movies......
The thing is Dr. Banner was a braniac/nerd. Getting a hunk to play him wouldn't work. Steve Buscemi wasn't a bad idea. I kind of like Jude Law, or maybe Jim Parsons from the Big Bang Theory.
The Avengers movie doesn't need a Hulk character. After almost 50 years there is no reason to be a slave to continuity. Write the character out and make room for one of the dozens of other heroes who have been members of the group. They've already made Jarvis a computer program successfully so it's not a stretch to replace the Hulk with the Vision or someone else.
Jim Parsons can be the ONLY Bruce. Who else but Sheldon?
all you fan boys whining over Ed Norton need to put your purses down and rejoice in the fact that Marvel got rid of that egotistical, over opinionated, mouthy actor. All he did was slow up progress and cause a whole bunch of drama, trying to rewrite a movie after production started and then wanted writing credits for just adding dialogue. other studios should follow Marvel's example. And for all you Hulk 2003 fans, you should just jump off a cliff. That movie was horrible and everyone else thought so too. It just goes to show that you fan boys will never be happy.
I liked the Ed Norton hulk movie, but I really don't care who plays Banner. I just wish the people making the movies would get rid of the "stupid hulk", who really hasn't existed in the comic for more then a decade. In just the last 5 years, the Hulk was betrayed by the other heroes, exiled on some horrid gladiator style planet, where he dethroned the king, took a wife, and had a child. Then he came back to earth and declared war on the heroes who had betrayed him. I realize the movies can;t have as in depth a story, but they can certainly get beyond "Hulk Smash!"
Hey,
I'll play the Hulk (actually Bruce Banner)!
I don't have a suggestion in mind at this moment but I hope they don't get a foreign actor. I'm still wondering if the new Spider-Man will be saying things like, " 'oi, put that stolen loot down and be off with you blokes", or, "Oh dearrie, past time for a spot 'o tea".
Eric Bana was the best Hulk, I say let him return – he will bring back a lot of fans. He still looks fantastic. Norton is a great actor just not a great Hulk. Bana makes the character likable and sad in a way no one can, bring BANA back and bet you will have a billion dollar worldwide box office.
Why not Eric Banna? I liked the hulk 2003. It got a little dark, but that would be easy to not repeat.
campbsh
Ok dessad because ur the genius with a movie company, comics, books, action figures, fans and a f@#$ing amusment park they must be idiots!
Eric Bana!!
I don't know but if your making another hulk movie. Then why not make a hulk in his original gray color in the new movie! But I'm also saying it better be not satanic like the rest of those old movies!
Al Gore is fat enough green with envy too.
Why is that no one has figured out the no one likes an animated hulk. It would do so much better if the hulk were a real person like on the old TV show.
Bring Back Bana as Banner!!!
Of course Norton quit the Marvel franchise: He wanted a more cerebral Hulk, with less frenetic action and stupid 'movie tricks'. The people over at Marvel are just stupid, and don't know how to trust in a director/writer to tell a story well. Look at what they did to Daredevil; the theatrical version and the director's version are almost completely different. Marvel wanted the 'faster paced' crap fest, while the director wanted a movie with more substance. Norton was smart to abandon the Avengers movie.
Samuel L Jackson "don't make me angry ... you wouldn't like me when I am angry... because the path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish ..."
paint Brock Lesnar green....there's your Hulk....
too bad because I thoguht Ed NOrton was pretty good at the role.
Well, since Chris Evans has played the Human Torch and will play Captain America, why not give him the Banner role as well? Someday this actor shortage will be over...
Mel Gibson? Would that be much of a stretch?
How about find a (excuse the pun) hulk of a person (a la Gerard Butler, Vinnie Jones, Tylor Mane) to play both Hulk & Banner. Use CGI & other techniques to make him green and huge for the Hulk scenes. And then CGI & other techniques to make him look frail and small in the Banner scenes.
And try to keep the Hulk face looking at least a little bit like Banner. I didn't see Bana/Norton in either of the Hulk faces. And Hulk should have a rugged look not a baby face!!!!!
CHRISTIAN BALE!!!!!
I liked Ang Lee's Hulk. The story was deeper and darker. Marvel didn't like it for precisely those reasons. They also pioneered the use of motion capture sequences that future Hulk movies would need.They simply wanted a comic book movie. I loved the comic as a kid, but I'm not a kid anymore. I want at least one foot in reality, especially where fantasy is concerned. Otherwise, it becomes some artsy drivel out of which no one can make any sense.
Unfortunately, the problem with getting a mainstream actor to play this role in a movie like the Avengers, is that they're basically going to play 2nd fiddle to the CG role. I can't imagine this movie being much so far as depth of story, and likely more action flick than anything else. That being said, the Dr David Bruce Banner role is going to be limited, while the Hulk role will dominate the screen time. Which big name actor is going to want to do that role?
Maybe they could get Tom Cruise.....he's got nothing to lose!
I nominate Lou Ferrigno, he's still around and in very good shape! Who's better to play the Hulk then the original?!!
For what it's worth, I think they need to take cues from the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno tv series. Ferrigno was terrifying. And the background story with the wife's car accident & gamma ray experimentation to solve the adrenaline rush/superhuman strength question provided so much context for the storyline. That was a beautiful interpretation of the Hulk.
Agreed, the series had a character about it that the movies had not. The TV series was not about action, and the Hulk was just a segue to a violent confrontation in order to set the stage for the next piece of drama.
They continue to try and make Hulk into an action hero epic, and it's just not that kind of movie or character. They've failed in every attempt, and only parts of both movies even come close to being what the movie should have been.
I WANT JUSTIN BIEBER AS HULK!!!
Eric Bana was the better Hulk ... the first one had the better story, showed the origins and how the hulk was born. The desert assault on the Hulk was amazing.
totally agree! I loved Eric Bana! it was a pretty epic movie visually back then!
I will play the role.... just dont make me mad.
Christopher Walken
"Hulk...........Smash?"
This post wins.
"Don't make me... angry. You... won't... like me when... I'm angry, baby."
This team... needs more cowbell!
John Malkovich
"Don't. *make* me. Angry. You wouldn't *like* me if I. were to *become* angry."
Steve Buscemi
Replace him with Mark Ruffalo!
There are so many good (bad?) Mel Gibson jokes to make. So little time.
I think he quit becuase of BP
FRED WILLARD
i guess I was one of the few people that like Eric Bana as the Hulk. I thought that movie was good and didn't need to be replaced. I hate that Marvel feels the need to replace every movie witha "reboot" not even a good 10 years later. What ever happened to just leaving movies alone. I mean look at movies like Back to the Future or Jaws, they're still amazing pieces of film and I love watching them over and over again. so please stop remaking everything. it gets old.
Actually, "The Incredible Hulk" didn't become a reboot until Ed Norton's rewrite of the script. Before that happened, it was a loose pseudo-sequel that had no back story. Still, I agree – Eric Bana's take on the character has become completely overlooked.
I mean maybe I missed the point, but neither Eric Bana or Ed Norton played the Hulk. They both played Bruce Banner. It was a synthespian that played the Hulk. Just generate up another CGI Hulk and BAM! there you, ready for his closeup.
Marvel: If you are not going to have Ed Norton as the Hulk, then just don't have a Hulk character in the Avengers movie. The Hulk was only an Avenger for a limited time anyway. Either that, or get Art Carney to play the Hulk.
Actually, The Hulk was a founding member of The Avegers, so no, they can't cut him out of the new movie... if they try to, there are going to be millions of comics fans who will be extremely upset with Marvel.
I think Ralph kramden would make a better Hulk than Ed Norton.
I completely agree with leaving the Hulk out. There aren't even millions of comic book fans any more so their "anger" really is beside the point.
i nominate Jon Gosselin as Norton's replacement!!!!!
The Hulk looks WAY BETTER than Jon Gosselin.
FAIL!!! I really liked Norton as the Hulk. Marvel has to stop replacing their actors. It really does mess up the whole big Avengers team up for me. 🙁
Both Hulk movies were from different production companies. Marvel Studios is really only recasting Bruce Banner once, not twice.
*X-Men not xman
Marvel needs to give up. Any hulk movie they produce is going to be a fail. Some comic book characters are just not movie worthy. As much as I loved the Hulk comics as a kid, the movies fail to captivate me. I hate to say it, but the Xmen trilogy was better than the Hulk movies (and we all know how crappy the 3rd xman was).
@ fdakdsl: They can"t keep Norton if the actor and the studio have creative differences.
There is a facebook group called
Attention Marvel Studios: Keep Ed Norton as the Hulk in the Avengers!!
join it !
The only idiot here is the one typing in CAPS LOCK. A lesson in grammar wouldn't hurt, either.