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Poor Edward Norton. Marvel has erased you.

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Didn't Norton rejected to continue his role as Banner/Hulk because in his words "I have better jobs to do", or something like that?
 
I never did see either Hulk movies but I'm confused. I thought Bruce Banner was played by Eric Bana in that first Hulk movie and then Ruffalo played Banner in the second Hulk movie as well as The Avengers? Or did Ruffalo exclusively play Banner in The Avengers?
 
The thing is, I dont think anybody has nailed it when it comes to banner.

The first guy came across more like clark kent
Norton made a good "Guy that turns into hulk" but not Bruce banner
Rufflo (?) Seems too average joe and is just not believable as a nerdy genius.

Honestly, Ive always imagined Bruce banner as a Mark cerny type figure, amazingly nerdy and out of touch in one way, but had an intensity that had you hooked if he talked about his passion. I also expect him to be far more bitchmade about his transformations, even collapsing into floods of tears over the whole thing at times.
 
Didn't Norton rejected to continue his role as Banner/Hulk because in his words "I have better jobs to do", or something like that?

Marvel basically went back on their deal with him, so he walked from the franchise.

I doubt he's really regretting the decision- he doesn't seem like the "need-to-be-in-a-blockbuster" type to me.
 
Well that's a shame. Would explain why I haven't really seen him in anything recently despite his obvious talent. I rather enjoyed his version of Banner/Hulk, but agree that Rufallo did a great job in Avengers; and there's no doubt his face translates quite well to the CG Hulk.

Well he's in the Grand Budapest Hotel and the last movie I saw him in before that was Moonrise Kingdom.

So maybe Wes Anderson is the only one who likes him.
 
I never did see either Hulk movies but I'm confused. I thought Bruce Banner was played by Eric Bana in that first Hulk movie and then Ruffalo played Banner in the second Hulk movie as well as The Avengers. Or did Ruffalo exclusively play Banner in The Avengers.
Bana and Norton Hulks are not meant to be related
 
This is news to me. Details?

Norton is notoriously difficult to work with. He is especially difficult to work with in movies that he has to do out of some sort of contractual obligation like The Italian Job or the Incredible Hulk. He'll also refuse to promote those types of movies.
 
Bana and Norton Hulks are not meant to be related
Thanks for confusing me more. :P

It still doesn't answer my question. The first Hulk movie (2003) was with Bana. I thought the second movie Incredible Hulk (2008) starred Ruffalo but I guess it was Norton. So, Ruffalo was exclusively cast for Banner in The Avengers?

Fake edit: I see what you mean now. One of the Hulk movies from 2003 and 2008 are not part of the MCU.

Also, I liked Rufallo. He resembled a bit of Bill Bixby throwing back to the old 70's Hulk TV show.
 
This is news to me. Details?
He sits in the editing room and over rules director's choices to make himself look better on screen. I think he may also do things like save his best work for closeups and stuff like that. The things he does to put on amazing performances piss off the people he works with.
 
oh thats old. unless the negotiations are final then i remember this being talked about like last month. but then again it could just be a rumor. people sparked one up about Chris Evans leaving Captain America

Yeah it's quite old, but really, what's there to talk away from? Marvel/Feige have commented on how people loved Ruffalo's interpretation of Hulk and that a solo film is definitely not out of the cards. Ruffalo hasn't stated anything about leaving, hell he wants an "eco friendly" Hulk film.
 
To his credit, I enjoy Ruffalo's Banner. I just wish there didn't have to be such glaring differences though.
Thanks for confusing me more. :P

It still doesn't answer my question. The first Hulk movie (2003) was with Bana. I thought the second movie Incredible Hulk (2008) starred Ruffalo but I guess it was Norton. So, Ruffalo was exclusively cast for Banner in The Avengers?

Fake edit: I see what you mean now. One of the Hulk movies from 2003 and 2008 are not part of the MCU.
Norton/2008 is part of MCU. Tony Stark and the Super Soldier formula appear in it.
 
A lot of the Norton bashing I read seems kind of unsubstantiated gossiping. He's definitely a little bit of a chore, but some of the fake rumors people spread seem oddly defensive- like we should hate him for not sticking through Avengers of something.
 
Norton/2008 is part of MCU. Tony Stark and the Super Soldier formula appear in it.
Okay, gotcha.

I like Ruffalo the best. I didn't even know Norton played Bruce Banner! Scares me thinking about him curb stomping the back of someone's head face down on the pavement as the Hulk.
 
A lot of the Norton bashing I read seems kind of unsubstantiated gossiping. He's definitely a little bit of a chore, but some of the fake rumors people spread seem oddly defensive- like we should hate him for not sticking through Avengers of something.
He had that reputation long before getting involved with Marvel.

That isn't to say that comic fans aren't happy to bring that stuff up because they're defensive about the Marvel hive, but that's not where this comes from.
 
The Marvel statement of his curb-stomping was hilariously catty

“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in 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. 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. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."
 
He demands that he be able to basically assistant direct any movie he is in. He's generally regarded as an asshole.

Hmm, that might explain his sudden disappearance lately. Sucks. He's a fine actor. American History Xis still one of the best movies out there.
 
To those saying Edward Norton was a jerk to work with and was doing re-writes out of arrogance or selfish reasons:

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-truth-about-edward-norton-vs-marvel/

"At the meeting Norton offered his version of The Hulk story, and Marvel agreed to hire a screenwriter to work with him on a rewrite of Zak Penn‘s draft. But no screenwriter was ever hired and Norton did a substantial page-one rewrite by himself."

"Marvel decided they wanted make a shorter, more action-packed cut of the film, discarding a lot of the character development pieces that Norton had brought to the screenplay."

"Norton was understandably pissed. He was brought onto the project under the premise that he would have considerable creative control. But the final cut was, of course, not his. Norton and Leterrier lobbied for a more nuanced cut of the film that ran about two hours and 15-20 minutes, but Marvel stuck to their guns."

So basically Marvel is the bad guy in this story.
 
He wasn't bad as Bruce, but the Hulk in his film was the worst.

He demands that he be able to basically assistant direct any movie he is in. He's generally regarded as an asshole.

Have input to the director or be an actual assistant director? because if it is the second, I can't imagine anything worse than an actor managing the schedule of shoot and telling the crew to hurry up or be quit on set.
 
To those saying Edward Norton was a jerk to work with and was doing re-writes out of arrogance or selfish reasons:

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-truth-about-edward-norton-vs-marvel/

"At the meeting Norton offered his version of The Hulk story, and Marvel agreed to hire a screenwriter to work with him on a rewrite of Zak Penn‘s draft. But no screenwriter was ever hired and Norton did a substantial page-one rewrite by himself."

"Marvel decided they wanted make a shorter, more action-packed cut of the film, discarding a lot of the character development pieces that Norton had brought to the screenplay."

"Norton was understandably pissed. He was brought onto the project under the premise that he would have considerable creative control. But the final cut was, of course, not his. Norton and Leterrier lobbied for a more nuanced cut of the film that ran about two hours and 15-20 minutes, but Marvel stuck to their guns."

So basically Marvel is the bad guy in this story.

in that case i'm surprised he went through with the movie.
 
To those saying Edward Norton was a jerk to work with and was doing re-writes out of arrogance or selfish reasons:

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-truth-about-edward-norton-vs-marvel/

"At the meeting Norton offered his version of The Hulk story, and Marvel agreed to hire a screenwriter to work with him on a rewrite of Zak Penn‘s draft. But no screenwriter was ever hired and Norton did a substantial page-one rewrite by himself."

"Marvel decided they wanted make a shorter, more action-packed cut of the film, discarding a lot of the character development pieces that Norton had brought to the screenplay."

"Norton was understandably pissed. He was brought onto the project under the premise that he would have considerable creative control. But the final cut was, of course, not his. Norton and Leterrier lobbied for a more nuanced cut of the film that ran about two hours and 15-20 minutes, but Marvel stuck to their guns."

So basically Marvel is the bad guy in this story.

Yeah. You can easily see the Hulk, as a character, going either way, and Norton seemed to want to keep things a little more cerebral, whereas Marvel wanted to keep to the action a bit harder.

Norton hasn't really been starved for work since 2008, and I also don't think he's been gunning for $200 million budgeted movies either.
 
Yeah. You can easily see the Hulk, as a character, going either way, and Norton seemed to want to keep things a little more cerebral, whereas Marvel wanted to keep to the action a bit harder.

Norton hasn't really been starved for work since 2008, and I also don't think he's been gunning for $200 million budgeted movies either.

Yeah he is doing phone commercials!
 
The Marvel statement of his curb-stomping was hilariously catty
In the movie world, Avengers are people who don't play well together and are anti-authority, but are forced to assemble in a moment of crisis.

In the real world, Avengers are people who fit the schedule and don't hassle the producers.

eyekantspele said:
in that case i'm surprised he went through with the movie.
There's more irony. They include a bunch of homages to Bill Bixby Hulk but forgot the character development and tragedy elements.

Instead we got Liv Tyler yelling "Bruce!" a hundred times
 
He was still under contract. Same way he got strong-armed into doing the Italian Job; he just sleep-walks through the movie.

damn if Italian job was him sleep walking. i'm eager to see him wake up
In the movie world, Avengers are people who don't play well together and are anti-authority, but are forced to assemble in a moment of crisis.

In the real world, Avengers are people who fit the schedule and don't hassle the producers.


There's more irony. They include a bunch of homages to Bill Bixby Hulk but forgot the character development and tragedy elements.

Instead we got Liv Tyler yelling "Bruce!" a hundred times

wait was norton's character development script based of bill's?
 
It would be weird for them to show Norton in future films, since he isn't returning to the role.
Switching actors 3 times is a pretty big fail already. I feel like all 3 of the actors have done a pretty good job, none of them have impressed me that much though.
 
I actually liked Norton as Hulk, but maybe it was because Ang Lee's Hulk was utter trash and skewed my perspective.

Ruffallo was good too, but I didn't yell to myself "This is Banner/Hulk!"
 
In the real world, Avengers are people who fit the schedule and don't hassle the producers.

Haha. Lames like Sebastian Stan are probably eternally grateful for the 15 film contract since they have literally nothing else to fall back on.

I've noticed the bigger actors don't really buy into it as much since they want to have a more flexible schedule
 
Marvel even made a public passive aggressive statement about it. Specifically citing that they were dropping Norton not for monetary reasons, but because they want a "team player" basically.
After being in talks with him to get him back, which shows which of the two parties was being an asshole. The one that came out with a passive aggresive statement because they're cheapskates.
 
#TeamBana

Would have loved to have seen him in Avengers. I think he did a great job in his Hulk version, it's just that the rest of the movie didn't do him any justice.
 
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