Marvel No Like Edward Norton. Marvel Hire New Hulk.

EDWARD NORTON IS BRUCE BANNER. NO ONE ELSE SHOULD DO IT.

I'm not sure this is a mistake. If the Avengers is going to be three films and it's going to have several very big name stars (Chris Evans and the guy playing Thor aren't really big names but they're really attractive) then clearly money has already become an issue. And if they're going to want to keep Whedon on for three movies and if the first one becomes a blockbuster, then CLEARLY they have to do preemptive financial damage control RIGHT NOW.

Besides, Edward Norton's star is in clear decline WHICH IS WHY HE'S SO DESPERATE TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT.

it would be a mistake to let Norton go. He was good Banner. Whats the point of linking all the films if your going to keep changing actors?

Big mistake on Marvel's part. Norton is a fantastic actor who has a passion for the Hulk, what more could Marvel want? They should have known from the start that a project this ambitious was going to cost something. Pry open the wallet, Marvel, and make a real Avenger's movie.

That's disappointing. I really liked Norton as Banner. I hope it's not too late for this to be fixed, although I suspect it is. This makes me sad.

I think recasting War Machine was not good for Iron Man 2 (the two actors were just too different) and I hope common sense prevails here one way or the other… Marvel should think carefully about why it's putting this film together.

Didn't like Norton in Hulk. Happy to see him replaced.

I'm a huge Norton fan as an actor and would love to see him as Hulk. BUT he has a terrible on-set reputation as a control freak who insists on re-writing scripts and usurping the director. Marvel may not want such a disruptive force on a set that will already be hard to control with all the characters/plots going on. Seems like the reason if he is willing to be reasonable on money.

In fairness Terrance Howard should NEVER have been cast as Rhodey. He's too much of a lady-man.

Eric Bana?

Norton was GREAT as Banner. I have no desire to see someone else in the role.

Money is an issue? Are you kidding me? Like Marvel doesn't have enough in their coffers to meet Norton's offer. The film will make tons of money, and if they cast another unknown in the role it may falter. It certainly will with me. The more I hear about Avengers, the less I like it. A 20 something as Cap, Hulk as a possible villain (!), maybe no Norton, more than likely fifteen different new origin stories to juggle plus an overarching plot, and the unfortunate news of Bendis' involvement.

I'm curious, but I'm very skeptical.

KEEP NORTON.

It wouldn't deter me from seeing the movie but I'm a little bummed out. But a lot of people could play Banner.

I get trying to say money but it's not like Edward Norton is going to demand something 20mil. At least get the best actors for the roles, I know recasting happens but this is pretty blatant and stupid. I mean if the Cap movie doesn't sell like hotcakes are they going to replace Chris Evans too?

I hate the way acting talent is seen as being so disposable. I’ve seen other comic fan sites nearly start petitions to hang Tom Cruise because he had a high asking price to play Stark. Norton’s contribution was a worthy and necessary contribution to Marvel’s growing library of films. Zack Penn and Norton's direction and portrayal of Banner was far more human than Ang lee and Eric Bana's effort and Banner's portrayal of the original movie. In a Hulk story, most of the narrative exposition is (usually) communicated by Banner. Just because industry behind-the-scenes participants want a bigger paycheck doesn’t mean the film will not be remembered for who appeared on screen.

Despite Don Cheadle’s excellent performance, I still think Terrance Howard is the Ironman franchise’s Rhodey. Regardless of Marvel’s smear campaign, I can’t wait to see how much audiences hate Marvel’s decision to ditch Howard when Marvel eventually decides to market the box set. When you are trying to make a fast buck you forget how audiences are likely to appraise the whole enterprise later. Marvel thinks within 10 years we can now handle a third Bruce Banner. Thanks Marvel.

After all, one of the cast members from the current Batman franchise won an Oscar so we have to be more careful today regarding creative decision making and inclusion. Though this hasn’t been one of finer aspects of Marvel’s reputation (remember company responses to Stan Lee collaborators like Kirby, Ditko, etc.) treating your creative participants like garbage does help audiences see the entire enterprise as garbage. In the past when comics were still considered pop cultural dreck, it wasn’t as necessary to consider fine inclusions of developmental participants. Unfortunately few remember how Downey Jr.’s drug addicted reputation was an obstacle to even getting the franchise started. Unlike Robert or Gwyneth, Terrance was the only stainless pony in Marvel’s stable. Therefore the movie would not have been made without him. His wanting an increase in his paycheck did not make him an egotist or a zealot. Regardless of how producers were seduced by the roaring call of money, Terrance Howard deserved far better than the ugly treatment he received at sequel planning time. And we as greedy comic’s consumers rushed back to the sequel and proved that Marvel was right; we would forget Howard for the sake of a few well-anticipated thrills.

Think of how much better the thrills would have been if they had been delivered by the same actors whom we saw support Downey’s Stark in the prior movie. The Box set will not be able to supply that emotion affirming continuity either. If anything needs avenging it is Terrance Howard’s reputation.

I believe marvel is doing its absolute best to make sure general audiences associate comic book movies with being dreck again. And I think they should reconsider their strategy.

What we the fans have to understand is that Marvel is choosing a potential novice actor in favor of Norton’s potentially far finer acting skill and directorial logic. I want to respect Whedon’s judgment but let’s face it many don’t expect the Hulk to be a long term member of that franchise anyway. And Norton’s salary may have kept some executives from splitting a hire fraction of the last Hulk’s payday but it did not sour the film. As usual the replacement of Banner actor puts the quality of the overall narrative in danger.

That decision making is scary, whether Marvel cares about its reputation or not! We want the Avengers movie to be about action, but understanding the characters is key to appreciating the heroes collaboration (dysfunctional or not). Despite a lot of poor attempts from the past, this is the first A-list superhero team-up in history and I hope Marvel doesn’t mess it up by assuming the audience will stomach lower quality.

I forget that everyone here works at Marvel/Disney and knows what went down…thats great

Marvel has got to be out their minds since fans have shown with the other solo films they are so use to certain actors like Robert as iron man in the roles that to decide that now Ed should not be the hulk or banner and bring in a new player late in the game. that is marvel trying to follow a page from foxes play book with marvel films. for they should let Ed be hulk he works as hulk and banner. if nothing else cut out some other avengers like sadly hawk eye.

I really liked Norton as Banner and would have loved to see him come back, but I agree, he doesen't really seem like a team player. If he's going to be an obstruction, move on and cast someone who can commit to a long-term vision for the Avengers family of movies.

Meh. He phoned in his performance in that movie anyway. I preferred the 2003 version.

Anyone can say that Ed Norton was not their first choice to be the alter-ego to the Green Goliath, but that is the actor Marvel went with. My biggest concern with the Avengers flick is that the powers that be will not be able to sign on all the respective actors from their solo films to make an all-star ensemble. They should suck it up and come to terms with Norton and give us fanboys a unique movie which will redefine comic book movies like Chris Nolan has with done with the Batman films so far.

Iron Man 2 sucked. Hulk 2 sucked. Avengers will suck.