It’s Official: Edward Norton Won’t Be An Avenger

Just do the film without the Hulk then…

@tomdayliht If the reasoning is really norton not being a team player, why sacrifice a popular character from the movie for that reason?

@Josh are you honestly comparing iron man 2 to batman forever or batman and robin? Even if you thin IM2 was not good, it has to be in a diff league than those two atrocious movies.

This is unfortunate, but understandable. Sounds like they're really committed to making The Avengers work as a great ensemble on screen. Considering how varied the characters are, that bodes VERY well for the movie. And, to be honest, the success of it as a movie is more important than any one actor.

Sadly, the three hour long navel-gazing clusterfulk created by Ang Lee caused Marvel to be gun shy about the running time of the Norton reboot (a far more faithful interpretation of the Hulk, imho).

Norton was ticked and said so. Marvel writes the checks so they get to choose who plays with their action figures. This ain't Middle East Peace.

I just hope they find a way to give everyone in the cast some meaningful screentime. Whedon knows how to wrangle an ensemble of actors; I hope he can manage a gaggle of “stars” as well.

Oh, and Mr. Wayne, if nipples on the Batsuit didn't kill the comic movie genre, nothing can.

Boooooo.

I'm ok with this. I remember a lot of Norton's comments after Incredible Hulk came out and he never really seemed like a team player. I liked the Incredible Hulk, but I think an Avengers movie can be done without Norton perfectly fine. Plus, we won't have the ten billion Norton name plugs throughout the movie.

Hulk is a CG character. Not much room in the Avengers story for Bruce Banner anyway. No need to worry about who gets the most face time. They're all going to make oodles of cash for very little work (because there are so many characters), have a blast making the movie, and go on worldwide junkets. Pity Ed Norton who is passing up a big payday. Did they tell you the name of the game, boy? They call it “Riding the Gravy Train”.

I want Steve Buscemi to play Banner. He is perfect.
Eric Bana has the range of wet cardboard and that film was overwrought with far to much introspection. And don't get me started on nick nolte. Hell Jennifer connely who is a solid actress was abot as exciting as watching paint peel also.

Incredible Hulk was a far superior film in every way and was closer to the Comic than the first by lightyears.

The amount of Box office is not how to judge a films worth.
If that was the case, the Twilight films would be masterpieces instead of the drek they are.

I'd love Buscemi as Banner. I almost made that comment myself.

Because there was such a focus on Zsasz in that movie? And if anything Begins was kind of episodic. There was the parts in Asia. Then versus Falcone. Then it transitioned to Scarecrow. Then to Ra's.

Scarecrow was in like 5 min of TDK and then it went Joker and then transitioned to Two-Face's (truncated) tale.

Marvel is taking a risk by going with a new hulk. though given how Marvel seems to have a formula that has worked so far. Marvel must know what they are doing deciding Edward is not going to be the hulk. bet that comment of wanting some one who would be a team player might be a little dig at Edward having a rep of being a control freak with his projects. wonder who the new hulk will be

I remember there were numerous creative differences over character development by Norton over Banner.

Norton was great.
Marvel's pushing it by trying to change Hulk actors again so soon.
I think they want to prove it's the characters and not the actors who are the draw.
But look how much disinterest the casting of the new Spider-Man generated.
It's one thing to replace a disapointing actor (Bana), with a better actor (Norton).
But why change a winning team?
by the way, Did anyone notice how the end of Ironman left doubt that Downey Jr. whould even be an Avenger?

Meh, Norton was okay as Banner; that whole movie was just okay. But he didn't bring anything to character of Banner that any number of other actors in Hollywood couldn't also bring. And those other actors, while doing just as good a job, won't bring along Norton's infamous baggage. So I don't see it as being a big deal.

1) They are probably trying to adapt Ultimates 1 by Mark Millar and Brian Hitch, the modern re-telling of the Avengers Origin, which includes a big fight with the Hulk when the team is first coming together. Before Hulk sort of joins the team.

2) I have had that same thought myself.

Ed Norton… The best actor on the list and they don't sign him up… idiots! They should be getting rid of Jacksons stupid Nick Fury!

It is disappointing to see that Norton will not be in the film as he was very good in The Incredible Hulk, but it is the story they go with and the use of the characters that will make of break The Avengers rather than whether Norton (or any other actor/actress) is in the film or not.

Completely, uneducated guess here, but Norton apparently worked perfectly well with Leterrier, so I'm blaming Whedon. Oh well, I'll get over it. I just hope that they pick somebody quality.

This is based on absolutely nothing except what was in my head when I woke up this morning: What if Marvel is looking for an actor who's also willing to sign on for an Incredible Hulk TV series?

Have to say I think Carmine Giovinazzo would be a pretty good choice if they're wanting a lower pay grade actor who can work in an ensemble cast.

Wow a lot of people here epitomizing the negative stereotype of fan boys. So you all have access to 1) Marvel's negotiations/meeting with Norton re: the role and 2) a finished version of The Avengers film? The same “jump the gun” mentality you're putting into KNOWING Whedon would do a bad job (Because previous comic movie directors were all 100% qualified for job) you are now putting into KNOWING the movie will suck without Norton. Or you're bashing Marvel because you know Edward Norton has never been known to create problems. You have to get over it. There is a chance that this isn't Marvel's doing. There is a chance the film may not be that bad. And there's a chance that Whedon will do a good job. But you have, you know, give someone the benefit of the doubt.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/

# The Avengers (2012) (announced) (rumored) …. Bruce Banner

who tell the true.

1) Norton was good as Banner and could have been great if they didn't edit his character building scenes, like the bit with Doc Samson at Betty's. Instead eveyone was low-key to elevate Hulk.
2) Is Norton really out? Maybe it's a scare tactic. What else is possible?
3 Marvel kicks actors and egos to the curb, Norton, Lawrence and almost Jackson before Iron-man, though Jackson an edge becasue his likeness was used in Ultimates.
4) Psst, Edward tell them you're in, then work subtely to get your ideas across. I bet Downey gets what he wants, but he charms them and is playful. Who likes to be pushed around? Edward ease up! Marvel chill! 11th hour – get it together for all of us involved!

This is unfortunate because Norton really was quite good, and Fiege's statement is comes across a bit immature (whatever happened to politely citing “creative differences” or just saying “he wanted to spend more time with his family”?), but I'm surprised by the negativity toward Whedon. Sure, he hasn't had a big action hit, but neither had the directors of most of the better superhero movies recently. Favreau had Elf, but nothing on his resume showed he could handle a film on the scale of Iron Man. Personally, I thought it was a mistake when they hired him, but I was clearly wrong. Raimi had over a decade of smal budget movies, a few of which got great reviews but nobody saw them. Even Singer only had the Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil and a couple of really low budget independent movies. And as a director Branagh has pretty much just done about a half dozen Shakespeare adaptations and the god-awful Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Hell, Memento and Insomnia didn't exactly set the box office on fire before Nolan got hired for Batman Begins. Whedon's got Emmy and Oscar nominations for writing, Serenity got some relatively positive reviews and he wrote a spectacular run of X-Men comics. I've got some doubts about him handling big-budget action without it looking like a 2-hour episode of a TV show (which, while I loved Serenity, is pretty much what it felt like), but I think he's about as good a choice as any to write the script. I'm willing to give him the benifit of the doubt on directing it for now.

Eric Bana!!!!