Is Marvel Studios Playing Safe With Casting?

Is Marvel Studios Playing Safe With Casting?

I found something intriguing that might be more then a coincidence, check it out! Could this be part of why they did not want Norton?

Editorial Opinion
By Kaboom - Jul 15, 2010 09:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers


This may seem a bit random, and it could just be a simple coincidence, but I dont know, I think I want you guys opinions on this...

So I was just on IMDb today and while looking through different Avengers actors pages, I found this interesting tidbit...

They all have been in a movie (or TV show) with at least one other cast member at some point...

1. Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner) in Zodiac
2. Chris Evans (Captain America) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) in The Perfect Score
3. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) in The Spirit
4. Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) in S.W.A.T
5. Nathan Fillion (Hank Pym) and Eva Longoria (Janet) in Desperate Housewives

Of course, although Fillion and Longoria did NOT appear with any of the Avengers cast, Fillion is a longtime collaborator with director Joss Whedon. The only one that does not fit into this is Chris Hemsworth, but he is an up and coming actor that is guaranteed to work well here.

Just something interesting, but this makes me a little curious... could Marvel be playing safe and getting actors that have worked with the others in the past, which can somewhat insure no problems? I HATE to think they dumped Norton to get Ruffalo, who can work with RDJ.

What makes this theory even stronger too is that obviously because RDJ, Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett all appeared in Iron Man 2 together, of course Marvel does not really need to worry about them working together... then of course Sam is willing to appear in Captain America: The First Avenger, so he will have acted with Chris Evans, and Marvel knows he is "in" for The Avengers.

Edward Norton, even though Marvel and him have been said to have had issues, could another reason be that Norton did not appear in any of the films alongside everyone, and also because Norton was a pain in the ass, according to rumors, is that ultimately why Norton was opted out, in favor of Mark Ruffalo, who appared with Robert in Zodiac?

Even if this really is nothing, it is an interesting thing to discuss!

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tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 7/15/2010, 9:40 AM
I can't imagine them hiring actors solely because they've already worked together.They were most likely the best actors for the role.The fact that some have already worked together and probably get along is a bonus, but probably just a coincidence.
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 7/15/2010, 9:50 AM
this film is gonna be a huge budget and they want to get it right. Norton has a tendency to be part of the filming and nitpicking things to make it more comfortable for him
TANKGIRL
TANKGIRL - 7/15/2010, 10:09 AM
great article kudos

i hate marvel castings it sucks
DCMarvelFreshman
DCMarvelFreshman - 7/15/2010, 10:13 AM
I've known about all these. I'm glad someone finally put them together. Nice job Kaboom!
OriginalPhysco
OriginalPhysco - 7/15/2010, 10:19 AM
I still hate that they threw Norton away. I mean just because he wrote the script and wouldn't let anyone tamper with it. I would do the same shit! He was hired to do a job and he did it (perfectly). They just want stuff they can have control over and Edward Norton wasn't some push over pussy. Recasting Edward is like recasting Heath Ledger as the Joker is he ws still alive; like recasting Tom Welling as Superman/Clark Kent in Smallville; like recasting Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor in Smallville; Its like recasting Hugh Jackman as Wolverine; Its like trying to recast J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.
tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 7/15/2010, 10:23 AM
"They just want stuff they can have control over and Edward Norton wasn't some push over pussy"

Of course they want control over it.It's their movie.I find it ridiculous that he actually thought they would give him any kind of control over the movie.This was the second film they were able to produce themselves, why would they let an outsider have that much input?
f4rrel
f4rrel - 7/15/2010, 10:28 AM
It would makes sense since they're trying to assemble a team of superheroes, but I don't think that's the main reason behind the casting.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/15/2010, 10:35 AM
why do people keep saying Marvel didn't want Norton?? of course they did, if not, then they wouldn't have called him and started negotiating. thats the one thing that both parties agree on, is Marvel called him.

So yes, they wanted him, but he obviously wanted too much. people need to quit saying Marvel didn't want him. They clearly did.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 7/15/2010, 10:39 AM
MARVEL should get BRUCE WILLIS!

For you know who! ; D
AngelAragiel
AngelAragiel - 7/15/2010, 10:39 AM
They get rid off Norton so I think they are playing dumb with it.
InstigatorGIRL
InstigatorGIRL - 7/15/2010, 11:02 AM
@Lansdowne, regardless but RDJ and Norton didn't do any scenes together in Hulk.
marvelguy
marvelguy - 7/15/2010, 11:12 AM
@Kaboom,

You forgot to add in Kevin Bacon. Hollywood is not a large community in terms of who is "in." I appreciate your effort, but Marvel is picking known actors of varying hotness--if you will.
There have always been rumors of Norton being difficult because he wants more creative control. He has just made the mistake of not signing on as a producer as well as the star.
Now, Marvel is making a big mistake. Their trying to create one cinematic universe looks a lot weaker when they keep switching about actors in major roles. It would be one thing if you were talking about Betty or Happy Hogan, but switching out actual superheroes was the demise of the Batman 90's movies.
And it just doesn't look coherent.
sergal
sergal - 7/15/2010, 5:26 PM
http://www.flickfilosopher.com/blog/2008/10/warning_stolen_biological_mate.html

S.J. is stolen biological material, taken against will and formed to clones line 200 pieces total. DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS, sign of dangerous criminal activity. Original Scarlett Galabekian future pediatrician doctor, pediatrician nurse license she obtained in 2008.
slimybug
slimybug - 7/15/2010, 10:29 PM
Why are there only the three options? I clicked "No, it is just a coincidence," but in all honesty, it's not even that much of a coincidence! I mean, this is reeeeealy stretching it!
Orphix
Orphix - 7/16/2010, 3:55 AM
Slimybug@ Absolutely! And how can you even count SLJ?

He has been in EVERYTHING!
SirJediFrank
SirJediFrank - 7/16/2010, 11:35 AM
it is good you wrote this article

I think ther is someone who has HUGE influence in MCU these days...RDJ. He changes the script to his will, JThearoux(?), the writer for IM2, had every day problems following RD´s change of mood about the script.. RDJ was allowed recently to go to Thor´s production filming for god's sake.. what DOES HE have to do with that one??!! he is not a producer for Thor nor for the Avengers.. but yet he has this tremendous trust with K Feige and the rest of Marvel..

..Now go figure.. RDJ saying: hey, why don´t WE just dump Ed and bring Ruffallo, he is a nice pal.

Yeah. you do the math!
Ven0m
Ven0m - 7/16/2010, 3:31 PM
Harrison Ford For Bruce Banner! Might as well everyone else sucks beside Ed Norton!
jusme6
jusme6 - 7/20/2010, 1:20 PM
booting Edward Norton for Mark Ruffalo is like swapping steak at Ruthe's Chris for steak at TGIFridays, Demmi More for Lindsay Lohan, Justin Timberlake for Kevin Federline, a Hummer for a Ford Explorer. If Ruffalo gets the part... I don't even want to think about it!
Joker08
Joker08 - 7/25/2010, 1:03 AM
@jusme6: While I prefer Norton - all of your little comparative analogies are really just splitting hairs... I mean, if anyone swapped Justin Timberlake for Kevin Federline would any of us notice?
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