14 DAY TRIAL // Though his take on the angry green monster The Hulk in the 2008 movie “The Incredible Hulk” was not welcomed by the fan community as warmly as the movie studio may have hoped, Edward Norton was supposed to reprise the part in Marvel’s 2012 “The Avengers,” coming to join an A-list cast. Just the other day, Marvel Studios announced Norton would no longer be part of the film because of differences that had more to do with his temperament than his schedule or money issues, the Los Angeles Times writes.
The rumor that Marvel was thinking of dropping Norton and thus decide to swim against the current (replacing a well-known face on such short notice does come with risks, but Marvel has done it before – and successfully – with Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard in “Iron Man”) first started to circulate a couple of days ago. The decision, it was said, had something to do with money, which meant that probably Ed was asking too much or, at the very least, more than the studio was willing to pay him. To debunk this, Marvel has issued a statement – and it’s not casting Norton in too favorable a light.
“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 [Downey Jr.], Chris [Hemsworth], Chris [Evans], Sam [Samuel L. Jackson], Scarlett [Johansson], 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,” Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige said in a statement.
This means that, if money was not the reason behind the decision, Norton’s temperament was, the aforementioned publication notes. Before “The Incredible Hulk” arrived in theaters, production had to overcome several obstacles, and most of them had to do with the actor’s strong personality on the set and his tendency to become extensively involved in the development process. Then again, given the all-stellar cast, chances are fans will not even sense the difference – or be that upset that they see another, perhaps lesser know actor, interpret The Hulk instead of Edward Norton.
“Marvel might find some initial resistance to the presence of a new Hulk. But it’s not like Norton, for all his acting skills, was that deeply associated with the character anyway. And as important to the canon as the Hulk is, a lot of film-goers probably be caught up in seeing the character on screen in this context as much as they’ll be scrutinizing who’s playing him, especially if they’re already being feted with the reassuring sight of an iconic fixture like Robert Downey Jr., as Iron Man. […] When you’re building a super-group, you can afford to replace the drummer,” the LA Times writes.
“The Avengers” will be directed by the legendary Joss Whedon and is scheduled for a tentative release in 2012.
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