Edward Norton Explains Elements Behind His 'Incredible Hulk' Departure

Edward Norton Explains Elements Behind His 'Incredible Hulk' Departure

MTV News recently chatted with Edward Norton, where he speaks on different elements to why he's no longer playing the Hulk in Marvel's cinematic universe.

By DCMarvelFreshman - Sep 17, 2010 03:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Hulk
Source: MTV



During the Toronto International Film Festival, Rick Marshall of MTV News sat down with actor Edward Norton, who was promoting Stone, his new drama co-starring Robert De Niro. Of course, Norton won't continue portraying the Incredible Hulk's better half Bruce Banner, in Marvel's ever-expanding cinematic universe.

While he's already issued a statement, listen now to Norton as he shares more elements behind his exit from the role.



"I said what I had to say about that," said Norton, "I didn't want to be negative about anything. I had a great time doing that. I was very happy to be part of it all."

"People's response to that film was great," he added. "That's everything you want. If you're going to do one of those, and be in those long traditions of those things we all grew up in, you don't want to be in one of the bad ones. So I'm really happy people had a good thing with that."

"The thing that was disingenuous about some of the stuff that had gone on is it was a very professional and very respectful business situation," he said. "We really couldn't work it out on a business level, and I know that's disappointing to some people but it's nobody's fault."

"I don't have any disrespect for anybody's decisions in the business framework. You do what you feel you need to do on both sides, and that's totally fine," continued Norton. "I have no idea why anybody tried to characterize it as anything other than that kind of a decision, which is absolutely what it was."

It's really sad that this whole issue is over money. That's Hollywood for ya. While there hasn't been any open discussion for a sequel to Louis Leterrier's Incredible Hulk, the Green Goliath's next live-action appearance will be alongside The Avengers; assembling May 4, 2012. Mark Ruffalo will be portraying Bruce Banner, Hulk's better half.
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P862010
P862010 - 9/17/2010, 3:21 PM
translation = $$$
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 9/17/2010, 3:22 PM
You beat me to it DCMF! Damn you!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Lol, great find bud! It's good to hear Norton not being bitter about this...maybe if he had this same humble attitude when he was in the role, he'd still be Bruce Banner! Not that bothered either way when we now have a great actor like Ruffalo! :P
marvel72
marvel72 - 9/17/2010, 3:30 PM
didn't he rewrite the script of the incredible hulk,changed the origin & wanted more creative control.

thats why marvel got rid of him.
dickmastaflex
dickmastaflex - 9/17/2010, 3:30 PM
What ever just give us another hulk
SpiderParker14
SpiderParker14 - 9/17/2010, 3:34 PM
Dudes, don't start! We just got over this!

It's over! Deal with it!
marvel72
marvel72 - 9/17/2010, 3:34 PM
@ dickmastaflex

i agree,marvel studios give us the incredible hulk 2.
DCMarvelFreshman
DCMarvelFreshman - 9/17/2010, 3:36 PM
@JoshW LOL! I really wish Norton wouldn't speak of Hulk in any interviews...because I'm still trying to get used to the fact that hes gone. And today....he has set me back.
patriautism
patriautism - 9/17/2010, 3:37 PM
I wanna complain some more about this, but it's useless.
macfint
macfint - 9/17/2010, 3:39 PM
i wanted Norton back.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 9/17/2010, 3:41 PM
ITS ALL SAID AND DONE, NORTON WANTS IT TO MOVE ON WE HAVE TO TO AND HOPE MARVEL DID THE RIGHT THING. SOMETIMES I FEEL THOUGH THAT MARVEL MIGHT BE GETTING TOO MUCH INTO "THE REBOOT THING"...HONESTLY JUST PLEASE THE FANS, YOU VEER FROM THAT AND YOU GET THE FANS ON NORTON BEING OUSTED RESPONSE..
SpiderParker14
SpiderParker14 - 9/17/2010, 3:44 PM
Dudes, don't start! We just got over this!

It's over! Deal with it!
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 9/17/2010, 3:46 PM
This is funny because at the time he claimed to not have any idea why Marvel didn't want him.
TurdFergunson
TurdFergunson - 9/17/2010, 3:54 PM
face it boys its over...this vid proves it.

Phinehas
Phinehas - 9/17/2010, 4:00 PM
"It's really sad that this whole issue is over money."

Money is the physical manifestation of time and energy. The fruit of one's labors. So when people bargain, those things are taken into account with the trading of money. To generalize it and making money something to be despised, is quite frankly, a tad banal.
Its merely a tool.
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 9/17/2010, 4:16 PM
Exactly Phinehas

It is merely a tool... and so is Ed Norton.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 9/17/2010, 4:37 PM
Arghhh...i was just getting over this.
gaikinger
gaikinger - 9/17/2010, 4:43 PM
he is such a dick
fanboiii
fanboiii - 9/17/2010, 5:05 PM
Yeah he is such a dick for wanting to get paid. LOL, get over it. We don't know even know if he was asking for too much or if Marvel was. You know how Marvel likes those multi-picture contracts and cheap actors. The point is no one backed down, so both sides walked away. Moving on...
SupermanReturns2
SupermanReturns2 - 9/17/2010, 5:05 PM
@ TurdFergunson... AWESOME! That's just the way most of us feel man... "GAME OVER!!!... What are we gonna do now?!"

FCUK Ruffalo.

@ EVERYONE... "If you're good at something, never do it for free!" -The Joker, The Dark Knight.
CasualFanatic
CasualFanatic - 9/17/2010, 5:12 PM
Here's my spin on why we shouldn't worry about Norton not being Banner anymore. With a few exceptions, Edward Norton has built his career on playing guys you love to hate. Banner was a departure, but I never looked at him and empathized. I recently watched The Incredible Hulk and imagined Ruffalo in every scene and I was immediately more interested in the Banner character. I think Ruffalo will bring a more human element to the character. So, business is business, but if you didn't nail it, you get a better hammer.
airbeyonder18
airbeyonder18 - 9/17/2010, 5:25 PM
We will all miss you Edward Nortan.
cgrass5150
cgrass5150 - 9/17/2010, 5:31 PM
Been a Hulk fan since 1975. Couldn't give 2 shit's anymore about Norton, Ruffalo or anyone other dink who was considered to play Banner. Let's all be honest...Hulk smashing is the money shot we all want to see. Nuff' said!
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/17/2010, 5:34 PM
This is how I look at it..from what we know.

IF Norton wanted a bit more money than Marvel were willing to give him, [frick] MARVEL. How much money do they frakking have? This was probably down to a measly 500 grand or so or else Norton had to be compensated for having to drop another project. The talent always comes out on top. It was up to Marvel to give us the continuity they had already set for us and not drop him because he wanted a bigger pay day. They have all the [frick]ing money on the planet!

Then of course you have to look at it the other way. The principles. Then its [frick] Norton for not having enough passion for the character and the fans to make a few sacrifices and play the part.

Bottom line is nobody KNOWS what happened. But what we do know is that Norton was completely classy about the situation, Feige was a c#nt. Draw your own conclusions.

Either way Ruffalo is a great replacement..mark my words!
valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 9/17/2010, 5:43 PM
ROR Sums it up pretty good
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/17/2010, 6:04 PM
Gusto, me too! I'm surprised I actually got the last rant out...

Anyway, I'm off to watch wrestling
LOGAN2010
LOGAN2010 - 9/17/2010, 6:20 PM
when you take away key elemnts of your movie and you want to do a franchise with the actor, who obviously is a money magnet, example ed norton downey jr. sam jackson, at least have the balls to meet them half way in negotiations. this avengers movie will fail if it has no name actors, example (brandon routh) superman. marvel sucks when it comes to movie business, cause they kow nothin about negotiations. marvel get your shit together.
DetectiveCinema
DetectiveCinema - 9/17/2010, 6:22 PM
I wish Norton was still the Hulk :(

Mark Ruffalo has BIG shoes to fill, lets hope he can pull it off.

Please feel fee to check out my Daredevil FANCAST

just click the pic above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 9/17/2010, 6:32 PM
Sad that he is not Hulk anymore, but ouh well... lets just f*cking move on!
bobbo68
bobbo68 - 9/17/2010, 7:38 PM
Ed Norton did a helluva job as Banner.And,no matter who they cast as Banner they probably will never live up to the performance that he did.Screw Marvel Studios.
BrotherQStark
BrotherQStark - 9/17/2010, 7:44 PM
Bill Bixby+Lou Ferrigino=Classic Clashing always will be great
Eric Bana+Lou Ferrigino=Horrible Movie, alright clash
Edward Norton+Lou Ferrigino=Epic
Mark Ruffalo+Lou Ferrigino=???
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 9/17/2010, 9:26 PM
Money....yeah...let's throw in Norton's ginormous ego in as part of the reason as well. Norton classy? Shyeah....riiiight. ;-)
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 9/17/2010, 10:06 PM
Casual Fanatic is random poster of the decade.

Dude, I've never seen you post before, but you just hit one outta the park.

Gusto

Fk you rule. You are in a fkn class of your own my man. Seriously, you're my dig dug. Detroit's best export. How's it feel to be the champ?
gaikinger
gaikinger - 9/17/2010, 10:10 PM
i wasnt talking about norton's greed for more money....i just think nortons a dick.
ScarletSpidey
ScarletSpidey - 9/17/2010, 10:15 PM
I love Norton as an actor and I loved The Incredible Hulk. I'm sorry things didn't work out for whatever reason. I'm over it.

Go Ruffalo! Best of luck and make us proud!
prototype87
prototype87 - 9/17/2010, 10:42 PM
seems like his heart was never into Hulk. if this is the case, hollywood actors & actresses,... please at least learn to like the super hero more than the money... i mean seriously...what else do you all want? to buy another planet?
Deathlok
Deathlok - 9/17/2010, 11:16 PM
Part of what bothers me about this is that Norton really could have any role that he wants. It's not like he's hard up for cash. He could have said to his agent, "Hey, I'd really like to do this, so just take their best offer", and that would have been the end of it. I think he let his agent just do business as usual and Marvel felt they couldn't deal or didn't want to. It kind of sucks that Ed didn't seem to care one way or the other. But whatever, it's his life.
Bryanferryfan
Bryanferryfan - 9/18/2010, 1:38 AM
Wait, Wait, Wait!.... You MF's are something else. You bitch and moan about Ed Norton not being Banner in the Avengers movie or future Hulk films... Now he's a "dick" or a "tool" or "greedy". WTF is wrong with you bastards? Now you're singing Mark Ruffalo's praises. What a bunch of hypocrites! I HATE HATERS! Two months ago you were pretty [frick]ing cruel about the Norton/Ruffalo deal. Some of you sonofabitches were upset that Ruffalo got the deal. Now you hate Norton. [frick] ALL OF YOU HATERS AND GET OUT OF MOM's BASEMENT. STOP WEARING CRUSTY TRENCHCOATS AND LAME ASS ARMY FATIGUES AND GET SOME PUSSY OR A JOB OR BOTH!
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