In a recent interview with the U.K's Independent, actor Edward Norton, who was booked to reprise his Incredible Hulk role in Joss Whedon's crown jewel The Avengers, shares thoughts & feelings on the studios' decision in replacing him.
Firstly, addressing the studios' statement, which reasoned his departure being lack of someone
"who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members", Norton says:
"I found it a cheap and unnecessary representation that it was about things other than money," sighs Norton. "They came to me avidly to talk about it and then at the end of the day it was just flat out a business decision."
Further labeling Marvel's ways of business
"low, unprofessional and very dishonest", Norton nonetheless says:
"I would say that blew back on them much worse than it blew back on me," he avers. "I couldn't have been happier with the experience that I had making the film, but nor do I feel any kind of intensity about doing it again. A really good friend of mine's going to do it now [Mark Ruffalo] and he's awesome! Marvel's going to have to deal with their own karma – they've got bigger problems than me."
"And how could I get anxious over something like that?" he continues. "I couldn't ask for a more blessed position. The way that the work I've done has found its way into people's lives, it's everything that I got into the business to achieve so I just don't feel this relentless intensity about climbing higher anymore. I've got plenty of other things in my life to be getting on with."