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Hulk's Edward Norton mum on Avengers
With The Avengers gearing up while three Marvel character films—Iron Man 2, Thor and The First Avenger: Captain America—are in the works, Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige didn't even know if the Incredible Hulk would be part of the ultimate team-up.
Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in the reboot, The Incredible Hulk,, and the actor gave a careful "no comment" when asked if he would reprise the role in The Avengers.
"I probably won't comment on that just because they keep a pretty tight rein on what they are letting out," Norton said in a group interview today in Pasadena, Calif., where he was promoting the documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama as part of the Television Critics Association summer press tour.
Deferring to Marvel suggests a cordial relationship with the studio. Rumors surrounded the release of The Incredible Hulk that Norton was not happy with the final cut. Already he seemed an unusual participant in a major superhero movie, and the scant press he did fueled rumors that he preferred an alternate cut of the film. Now he is suggesting that he's following company orders.
"I'll let them [address it]," Norton said.
For fans of Norton's film, the good news is that he did not say no to participation in The Avengers, nor he did he seem unhappy about the question. After all, if he'd had his fill, he would have just dismissed it and moved on. Respecting Marvel's secrecy might mean that he's hoping they give him a call. Of course, maybe they'll just use the CGI Hulk and not include pesky human Banner in The Avengers at all?
By beans at 10:29 PM ON 07/30/09
Get a life
By speaker for the dead at 10:45 PM ON 07/30/09
TearEm.. Relax. Seriously.
By hrdKarmel at 11:00 PM ON 07/30/09
yoga, punching a pillow, square breathing, counting to ten, hypnosis, tranquilizers, stress balls, hugging your mom, petting a get-well-therapy-dog, brewski, that dream where you're flying... just a few suggestions Tear.
By Muldfeld at 11:58 PM ON 07/30/09
Kudos to Norton for helping to write the new Incredible Hulk. My older brother watched it months after I did and we both agreed that it was pretty good until the last 3rd, when it got totally cliche and stupid and action-filled in the dumbest way; this was due to the studio-ordered rewrite to which Norton objected; he was right and I hope his instincts prevail in any future Hulk films.
By Muldfeld at 12:02 AM ON 07/31/09
TearEmUp, NBC has proven itself to be further to the right of Obama (How about Tom Brokaw's butt kissing interview of George W. Bush in 2002 and the generally nationalistic stance of its reporters and moderators on all political discussions?). Moreover, Obama is to the right of any potential for socialism. You can't just listen to talk radio and Fox News. There's actually very little difference between Obama's actions recently and those of Bush's 2nd term, and that makes me upset FROM THE LEFT.
By Aaron at 1:29 AM ON 07/31/09
Probably a martini and a BJ would do better than yoga and pillow punching TearEm.
I'm kinda pleased to hear that it's not a definite no. I liked Hulk, Norton was a perfect Banner, the films biggest problem was that it laboured in the shadow of some very good super hero films at the time.
Fingers crossed for Norton's Banner in the Ultimates movie... er, I mean the Avengers...
By Aberzombie at 6:27 AM ON 07/31/09
I thoroughly enjoyed The Incredible Hulk (much better then the Ang Lee travesty) and hope that Edward Norton participates in an Avengers movie.
As for the remarks about our President - I do not agree with him on many fronts and firmly believe that he leans a little to far into a socialist way of thinking. However, I see no problem with mentioning his name in an article, as long as it was in context (which this was).
By Scooty at 8:31 AM ON 07/31/09
Why don't you guys take the political discussions to a more "political" type forum. This is a "SCI-FI" news article. Please?
By UnRiel at 11:42 AM ON 07/31/09
As a Marvel Comics collector since the early 80s and having read friends' collections going all they way back to origins, I don't think it's a good story to include the Hulk as an Avenger. He was a member briefly when he was the gray Hyde-like character that could reason and speak. He has been an opponent of the Avengers for nearly his entire history and through all his changes. None of the comic to movie projects have been done without sacrificing parts of the original story. A 2 hour film requires it. Unless Hulk was on an uncontrolled rampage, I don't see a need for him in an Avengers film at all.
Hulk is a great standalone character and an assemble in a 2 hour +/- package incl Hulk, Iron Man, Cap and Thor and more Avengers would be too much to treat any of the heroes well.
By chifu at 11:42 PM ON 07/31/09
The first Hulk ovie sucked, i thought the second one was awesome. I think Nortan was a great and the movie was good.
By Max at 2:48 AM ON 08/01/09
I would really like it if Norton was in The Avenger
By Angelus7181 at 5:48 PM ON 08/01/09
The Avengers would suck without the HULK and formost without NORTON, they can have the HULK help the Avengers but then in a twist battle the HULK who turned against them in rage.
Marvel don't mess this up!
By andries price at 6:01 PM ON 08/01/09
i like edward norton as the hulk he's cool i like edward norton as bruce banner// the hulk he's cool so i like edward norton i will see ed norton on hulk 3 and the avengres so i will see the avengres in theatres may 7th 2012 see ya
By Dazzler69 at 8:12 AM ON 08/03/09
I hated new Hulk movie, needs another Banner. CGI HULK way better than first one however, keep that. I hope they reboot again with better story. See trailer for Planet Hulk to see what I mean. Can't wait for World War Hulk also.
By TPNE 10 at 5:38 AM ON 12/04/09
Once promising ---now rich and sold-out
-Norton with his latest waste of time.
-striclty for the circle-jerks.
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TPNE 10:
Once promising ---now rich and sold-out -Norton with his latest waste of time. -striclty for the circle-jerks....More »