Addressing The Hulk Casting Concerns

Addressing The Hulk Casting Concerns

The President of Marvel Studios puts his stamp on adding Mark Ruffalo to the cast as The Hulk and addresses the perceived bad blood between he and Edward Norton.

By DogsOfWar - Jul 25, 2010 12:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Hulk

In a roundtable interview from San Diego's Comic-Con, Kevin Feige expressed his excitement over the addition of Mark Ruffalo to the cast of The Avengers:


"Ruffalo is Joss Whedon's Banner. He is the Banner that is going to be in that [Bill] Bixby type, wants to help people and is somewhat ashamed of what he goes through but isn't as strong and angry in his Banner form as he is in his Hulk form, which is something we haven't really seen in the past films."

"Something like how he was portrayed in the Ultimates, a guy who just wants to be left alone and wear his glasses and do his science."

Courtesy of IGN.

Picture of Mark Ruffalo, Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige





In a separate interview with Movieline Feige was asked if had to do it over again would he have been quite as honest in his statement confirming Edward Norton would not return as The Hulk?
He hesitated before answering. “Yeah. I didn’t think I was being all that candid, frankly. It’s something that I think needed to be very clear [about].”

Feige wanted to make it clear why he wanted the statement to sound so truthful:
“It’s because we were talking to other actors. I didn’t want them to think they were in a contest.”

Ed Norton's agent fired back a severe response stating the response was a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light.” Norton responded much more calmly in a direct statement by saying “I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a [part] of the Hulk’s long and excellent history.”

Kevin Feige seemed to be very appreciative of Mr. Norton's response and wants to movie forward:
“I think his statement afterwards was great, and there’s no bad blood.”
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TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 7/25/2010, 12:42 AM
May be for the better, time will tell.
Ironbat95
Ironbat95 - 7/25/2010, 12:45 AM
I wanna see Banner in the Avengers go thru a crazy mental breakdown. Because of this breakdown he gains weight which explains why he will be bigger in the Avengers since he will be played by Ruffalo
JigJRod55
JigJRod55 - 7/25/2010, 12:46 AM
Feige is an idiot, Whedon is awesome, Ruffalo has his work cut out for him in making us forget about the other guy we wanted in the role. Moving on.
spider1489
spider1489 - 7/25/2010, 12:47 AM
damn it i wanted norton to be banner so bad!!! .... but like they say " the show must go on"

LET S JUST HOPE THAT RUFFALO CAN BE AS "INCREDIBLE " AS NORTON!!!
conformist21
conformist21 - 7/25/2010, 12:48 AM
*sigh*
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 7/25/2010, 12:52 AM
Erickz@ Ha Ha U made a silly!
JasonBlue
JasonBlue - 7/25/2010, 1:05 AM
3 different actors in 7 years... Marvel just stretched it.
Its all for the best, considering DC is MUCH MORE REALISTIC. Wait shouldn't they have Spiderman in the Avengers?
OriginalPhysco
OriginalPhysco - 7/25/2010, 1:11 AM
@Caught
Sadly, they have to wait to get the rights back from Sony
Joker08
Joker08 - 7/25/2010, 1:12 AM
I'm just happy Banner's in it. I've put the whole Norton thing behind me.

I was really upset at first, but that's not gonna change anything. So I think we should move on.

But it's probably easy for me to say considering I'm gonna get to play the freaking Hulk - since I'm actually Mark Ruffalo :)

Don't believe me? Here's a pic of me boozing last Sunday around 8am.

Hi guys :)
AVEN
AVEN - 7/25/2010, 1:17 AM
Dammit Kevin Feige...
Rango
Rango - 7/25/2010, 1:21 AM
isn't Ruffalo a bit old,lazy and out of shape and lacking energy for playing banner
kylemf88
kylemf88 - 7/25/2010, 1:45 AM
This really killed the movie for me. :( They already lost a main actor and it's just the first Avengers film... This really gives me hope in marvel movies...
Skeletor
Skeletor - 7/25/2010, 1:47 AM
I seriously don't get how people say Norton's recasting has "destroyed" their excitement. I mean, it's ONE F*CKING ACTOR!

It's not like every single actor was recast.

People need to stop being so god d*mn stupid and watch the f*cking movie before their excitement is "destroyed".
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 7/25/2010, 1:52 AM
This f**king guy looks nothing like any Banner I've ever seen. He looks more like some guy on a weekend long bender. Marvel can really go and f**k themselves for this casting. How many other times are they just going to up and change castings because some actors like Norton have the talent to back up their input to the role they are playing. Feige is a f**king moron who will never understand the actors process, or the ability to draw people to invest in a role. I expected this kind of shit from DC with them screwing Routh over, this is just the same, maybe worse beacause of Norton's unmatched acting ability.
eleven11
eleven11 - 7/25/2010, 1:55 AM
@skeletor
it's because they have changed the actor like each hulk movie been made! and everybody gotten used to ed norton since the incredible hulk was a build up to this movie. but stil we have to move on sadly
Skeletor
Skeletor - 7/25/2010, 2:05 AM
eleven11 - I'm sure non-comic fans were used to Bana too...
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 7/25/2010, 2:17 AM
They haven't lost a main actor/character! Banner will or should only have a bit part in the movie. Hulk may be a main character, but not Banner.

ASSASSIN@ He looks fairly close to what Bill Bixby looked like. As far as I am concerned, Bill Bixby is much more Bruce Banner than Norton could have ever dreamt to be.

Skeletor@ couldn't agree with you more. If Norton had made a couple Hulk movies, then I may be a little more understanding of the whining going on, but like Bana, he was only in one movie. Doesn't seem like that turned out so bad when Bana was replaced after one movie.
eleven11
eleven11 - 7/25/2010, 2:19 AM
just to clear out my frustation on feige

"isn't as strong and angry in his Banner form as he is in his Hulk form, which is something we haven't really seen in the past films." - didnt we get that from the previous hulk movie?

"Something like how he was portrayed in the Ultimates, a guy who just wants to be left alone and wear his glasses and do his science." - isnt the banner from ultimates look skinny and weak unlike ruffalo here?

ruffalo here is a good actor. the only way he can make ppl forget bout norton is by bringing the intelligence of bruce banner out and not just the same old weak side.
JoshCharmley
JoshCharmley - 7/25/2010, 2:27 AM
@Ranger12 Thats because Bana's Hulk Sucked Donkey Balls! lol Edward Norton is Also the Best Actor ever cast in a CBM, so to loose such talent is a Damn shame.

@Assassin I agree with you bro. Except for the bashing DC part anyway.
Ryden
Ryden - 7/25/2010, 2:33 AM
@JoshC- I think you're forgetting Heath Ledger and RDJ dude ;)
blinkuldhc
blinkuldhc - 7/25/2010, 2:36 AM
Seriously, get a grip everyone.

Hmmm, let's see. What do you picture when you think about the (movie) Avengers?

Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and THE HULK. Which one of these characters will NOT be played by any human actor? HULK!!! I don't see Bruce [frick]ing Banner running onto an epic battle scene with Iron Man firing his repulsors, Cap throwing his shield, and Thor bashing skulls in with mjolnir. No, it's going to be about the Hulk, it has always been about the Hulk.

Personally, I went to go see both Hulk movies to see a big green thing smash shit up. I saw Iron Man because of RDJ. I'll be interested in seeing how Evans portrays Steve Rogers, and Hemsworth playing a god/alien/human whatever. But for the Avengers and the next Hulk, I just wanna see HULK SMASH!!

God forbid an actor known for his portrayal of vulnerable and awkward characters get cast as Bruce Banner.

DDD
DDD - 7/25/2010, 2:50 AM
Blinkuldhc@ When I picture the first Avengers I see
this.....Strange I don't see any Hulk there! But I
do see Hank/Giant-man & Jan/Wasp!

Photobucket

DDD
DDD - 7/25/2010, 2:51 AM
Hulk was gone after 4 fricking issues!
FOUR!!!!!!!!!!! Replaced by someone with
a fricking mind....Cap America! lol
DDD
DDD - 7/25/2010, 2:53 AM
They ain't gonna need Banner or Hulk for AVENGERS
2!!!!!!!!

Well, unless they fabricate a total lie!!!!!!!!
(That Hulk is in ALL the AVENGERS movies!)
DDD
DDD - 7/25/2010, 3:00 AM
What a CROCK if Hulk is in any AVENGERS past the
first damm one!!!!!!!!!!

Hulk should stay in his own Jeckel & Hyde monster
movies after AVENGERS 1!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 7/25/2010, 3:30 AM
Personally, I think that this guy is a great choice to play Bruce Banner...perhaps even better than Ed Norton! ;) I really like the sound of the direction Whedon plans to take the character in as well. Hopefully, this will be a fresh start for the Hulk and a new solo franchise will be born from The Avengers!
PunyParker89
PunyParker89 - 7/25/2010, 4:23 AM
@Teabag - I agree. I think I was hoping for Norton just for past performances, but really, he didn't do much in The Incredible Hulk. I think Ruffalo in Eternal Sunshine shows glimpses of Banner.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 7/25/2010, 4:27 AM
He was perfect in INCREDIBLE HULK!

ED NORTON or don't bother!

Just have the [frick]ing HULK, and IF HANK & JAN arn't in it, they can [frick] off! : P



BANA should come bk if not NORTON!
DDD
DDD - 7/25/2010, 5:22 AM
Leee my friend Norton is gone for good!

I'm going to move on! Ruffalo is a good actor
I think he can do the tiny bit of Banner that
should be in THE AVENGERS! If they expand the
Banner roll it'll be stupid! Hulk is the one there
in the first Avengers. He left after issue 4
so there shouldn't be a lot of him either!
But as Bropous pointed out the suits in Hollyweerd
don't give a damm toot!!!!

They just want to PANDER (WHORE THEMSELVES OUT LIKE
THE DAMM WHORES THEY IS!-Altho' there's times when
a ho can come in a little bit handy! lol)

Dems just da facts Maam!!!!
lc
lc - 7/25/2010, 5:23 AM
eough tho i cant [frick]ing stand the hulk with a passion
i do have to say norton is the best ,but hey thats just me!
XmutantX
XmutantX - 7/25/2010, 5:31 AM
i dont get how u think he jus mummbled...oh wait..u guys say the same thing about worthington too...anywayz...ed did a fantastic job as banner..better than we all could hav hoped for...they r makin a big deal about this Rffalo dude and he prolly will be in the movie all of 10 minutes lol
XmutantX
XmutantX - 7/25/2010, 5:34 AM
lets face it..it was a money issue...Norton=A list actor..Ruffalo=C list tv actor :)
InTylerWeTrust
InTylerWeTrust - 7/25/2010, 6:14 AM
I'm unimpressed by Ruffalo but Renner makes up for him.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 7/25/2010, 7:05 AM
Norton was great, and now Hulk is going to suck. For some reason, i'm just not excited about Hulk Smash.

Where's the sci-fi? Where's the world-ending villain? Why does The Hulk have to be the main focus? If Hulk is the main focus, the movie is gonna suck
LibertySeaOtter
LibertySeaOtter - 7/25/2010, 8:00 AM
@teabag

Everything you said Norton didn't do for you, he did for me. So I'm opposite man today.
mk
mk - 7/25/2010, 8:00 AM
i wish ruffalo is there for 5 mins only! and at the ending only :) more hulk the better
vtopa
vtopa - 7/25/2010, 9:25 AM
Feige is beyond arrogant. Bean counter, not an artist. Shoulda swallowed your pride and get Norton you moron. Norton showed real class in dealing with this. Feige is basically a punk. His casting decisions have not been great. I'm sorry but Chris Evans as Captain America??? Of all the characters in Avengers that is the one that needs to have some gravitas. Does anyone see him telling Thor and Iron Man what to do?
dancingmonkey08
dancingmonkey08 - 7/25/2010, 9:42 AM
Wait until we see him as Bruce Banner, give the guy a break, Im sure he will be great
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