Norton Says Bruce Banner's return in Avengers is Up to Fans

Norton Says Bruce Banner's return in Avengers is Up to Fans

HitFix got the chance to sit down with Edward Norton to discuss his upcoming film, and of course you know who came up. Check it Out

By DCMarvelFreshman - Mar 17, 2010 10:03 PM EST
Filed Under: The Incredible Hulk 2
Source: HitFix



These days, what's a Edward Norton interview, without Bruce banner & Avengers coming up. Sitting down with Ed Norton to discuss Leaves of Grass, HitFix's Drew McWeeny, got the chance to discuss just that.

When I sat down with Tim Blake Nelson and Edward Norton to discuss their new collaboration "Leaves Of Grass," we had a free-ranging conversation that was terribly enjoyable, and it was only when we stood up to leave that I finally broached the "Hulk" subject with Norton. Part of me suspected that he would dodge the query or defer it, which is why I left it to the end. Surprisingly, Norton seemed more than willing to discuss it, and his answers were to-the-point and more optimistic than I would have imagined.

"It's really up to you guys," he told me at one point, and by "you guys," he was referring to fans and the fan press in particular. "Is it important to you? Does that continuity matter?" The answer seems to me to be yes, it does matter to people, and there's something appealing about the notion of Edward Norton, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth together. That's chemistry I'd like to see. Downey's hyper-confident Tony Stark would make an excellent foil for Norton's twitchy energy as the haunted Banner.


A while ago, comic book editors received an Avengers screenplay, which makes me assume Zak Penn & Marvel Studios have a basic story idea for The Avengers. And President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige verbally confirmed Hulk's presence in the film.

To solve the issue, I think they should give Bruce Banner little screen time in The Avengers, only to give off another Hulk film. The Incredible Hulk 2008 film didn't do so well only because people really didn't care about Hulk that much after Hulk 2003. Well putting Hulk in The Avengers is obviously gonna give the Hulk more credibility. And maybe enough to give him another film, giving Edward Norton the chance to play Bruce Banner, as much as he wants.

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DogsOfWar
DogsOfWar - 3/17/2010, 10:32 PM
Gotta love the name Drew McWeeny! It can't be his real name or else he got beat up as a kid.... a lot.

Norton will be there. They will work things out, imo.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 3/17/2010, 10:36 PM
DogsOfWar
Perhaps that's why he was motivated into writing as opposed to a more physical career.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 3/17/2010, 10:38 PM
Off topic, but who decides which articles get taken down or not? I just wrote an article about Chace Crawford being taken out of the running for Cap and my article is now gone, yet someone posted Krasinski as Cap with humongous ears and it made main. I'm a wee bit confused as to what I did to deserve to have my time wasted.
MSJuggalo
MSJuggalo - 3/17/2010, 10:40 PM
Very intriguing news. Nice to see that they are allowing the fans to have that much influence. Should result in a much better collection of "thumbs up"
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 3/17/2010, 10:42 PM
Wow I wish it was up to the fans dude I wish
contrast
contrast - 3/17/2010, 10:46 PM
@gorgeousgeeks--It got taken down because it's old news...you probably didn't see it because it was only on CBM for about a half a day until it got debunked and was removed because Chase Crawford doesn't have a twitter account. (I'm assuming that's what your article was about based on the the teaser you put under the article's title, because it was down when I tried to click on it)
Phinehas
Phinehas - 3/17/2010, 10:48 PM
gorgeousgeeks
"but who decides which articles get taken down or not?"

Appointed editors by the Mighty Galactus, may peace be upon him. They have been endowed with some of his mighty power to destroy all articles that they feel unworthy for the sight of the Great Galactus to gaze upon. If there was anything in it that violated the rules (spelling, old news, bad mechanics, etc) set up for articles, they'll trash it.
DCMarvelFreshman
DCMarvelFreshman - 3/17/2010, 10:48 PM
@gorgeousgeeks it probably got deleted because the supposed Twitter account of Chace was confirmed as fake. So apparently hes still in.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 3/17/2010, 10:50 PM
@Contrast Oh. Okay. I never saw the article on this site and I do check it everyday.
AvengingAngel1022
AvengingAngel1022 - 3/17/2010, 10:51 PM
wat a cool guy
Colton
Colton - 3/17/2010, 10:51 PM
this is gud news. I as a fan want both ed norton and hulk in the avengers!
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 3/17/2010, 10:51 PM
I find it interesting that Norton has suddenly been so vocal about the Hulk character. For a long time, he wouldn't even discuss it. Hmmmm....

I really hope they include Hulk AND Banner in the Avengers. Do I need to mention that another Hulk film should also be made?
luffycapri
luffycapri - 3/17/2010, 10:52 PM
come back lol
contrast
contrast - 3/17/2010, 10:53 PM
@gorgeousgeeks--yeah, I was telling someone else about it back when it happened (almost two weeks ago, I think) and went to link the article...to my surprise it had been taken down, and that was just a few minutes after I first read it.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 3/17/2010, 10:53 PM
@MarvelFreshman I feel like a tart now. I don't follow the tweet but I had been checking it. It seemed pretty real. Wow. I just can't imagine faking a celebrity twitter account.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 3/17/2010, 10:54 PM
"I feel like a tart now."

A 'tard maybe, but not a "tart" for this.
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 3/17/2010, 10:55 PM
@gorgeous- people have done a lot worse than pose as a celebrity.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 3/17/2010, 10:55 PM
@MultipurposePoni I just checked my email and read your comment. I apologize.
valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 3/17/2010, 10:57 PM
Norton is perfect for the role, he really nailed it and enjoys doing it, him and the hulk deserve another 2 movies.
Peteyparker
Peteyparker - 3/17/2010, 11:06 PM
NORTON NEEDS TO BE IN THE AVENGERS!!!!
contrast
contrast - 3/17/2010, 11:07 PM
I always liked the rumor I heard around the time TIH was released--that The Incredible Hulk's sequel would be the same movie as Iron Man's sequel. We'd see Tony don the Hulkbuster armor, AND it would be a more clear-cut lead in to The Avengers.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 3/17/2010, 11:16 PM
Norton should reprise the role. I get personally really upset when they switch out actors and I was okay with the whole entire Hulk reboot. However, I think people are going to be annoyed if Norton isn't Hulk and it would be so wrong to not have Hulk in the Avengers film.
theartofoneness
theartofoneness - 3/17/2010, 11:22 PM
NORTON WAS THE PERFECT BRUCE BANNER. I thought he was great. Really did a superb job. Ide love to see him in a wonderfully epic film (series?) with such power.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 3/17/2010, 11:25 PM
I wonder how you become/became an editor? Are they a small circle of friends?
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 3/17/2010, 11:28 PM
@Fartman- I'm pretty sure it involves activities that are illegal in some states.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 3/17/2010, 11:30 PM
@ecksmanfan
Like sodomy and weed? lol
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 3/17/2010, 11:31 PM
Possibly and not necessarily in that order.

@multi- So that's why you were so eager to become an editor...giddy up! Oh...and what can we (by we, I mean you and Galactus) do about that lovely Titans ad that's popping up?
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 3/17/2010, 11:37 PM
Pretty sure it's already hit the sh!tter as far as that goes.
JLAvenger23
JLAvenger23 - 3/18/2010, 12:27 AM
Well where do I sign in?? NORTON IN!!!!

I totally agree on him getting back on Hulk. I have Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk on DVD, and this Hulk movie is THE Hulk movie. Way too cool and great piece of work, it's bad that it didn't get so well accepted, but personally I like it a lot, and a 2nd one will rock by far.

Go Edward, please. And let's hope Marvel can make a great Hulk sequel, because it is deserved!!!

HULK SMASH!!!
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 3/18/2010, 12:41 AM
That's a collaboration I can go for. But what is the cost gonna be on the cast?
austen
austen - 3/18/2010, 1:22 AM
i'll sign a petition for bruce banner/hulk in the avengers but only if ed norton plays him
whatshisnameMD
whatshisnameMD - 3/18/2010, 1:38 AM
My vote is come back! I just finished the movie a couple hours ago & it gets better every time I watch it. ED NORTON FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! haha
48and2
48and2 - 3/18/2010, 2:03 AM
"The answer seems to me to be yes, it does matter to people, and there's something appealing about the notion of Edward Norton, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth together."

AND Samuel L. Jackson

AND Chris Pine =P

YES YES YES

I'm sure I speak for most - this is a no brainer.

You guys know he did the facial expressions for the cg Hulk too - it goes over that process in the blu ray.

How can we prove it to ya Norton - I went to see it, and bought the dvd and the blu ray.

whatshisnameMD - that's been my experience with the film as well. It's a slow burning creeper. I'm probably up to ten viewings now and it gets better and better - just incredible in 1080p.

If they feature Norton as Banner up against Loki, something like what they did with Hulk Vs. - it's just going to rule.

Hell, Norton even makes Brett Ratner look good.
Banner123
Banner123 - 3/18/2010, 2:55 AM
Just throwing it out there, and obviously I'd love to see norton back, but if not, Adrian Brody for banner?
continuezero
continuezero - 3/18/2010, 3:02 AM
Look everyone knows that they set a precedent when they cast RDJ. The second they cast him they set the bar as far as the calibre of actor that they need for Thor, Cap and Hulk. They all need equal screen presence to Iron Man in order to properly sell the movie and do justice to The Avengers. The thing with the Avengers is that they are a team with a bit of a leadership issue. Fury puts Cap in charge but everyone sees from the start that Iron Man wants a bit of that action. Hulk and Thor have always been a bit on the roge side, Hulk obviously more than Thor but this isn't Supes and the Justice League. That is why Civil War was so BAD ASS....Iron Man vs Cap...Two Sides divided by the same team...(If Marvel owned the rights to Wolvie like they should then they could cross Wolvie with the Avengers...and have Jackman take on Norton's Hulk)it almost makes them as integral, if not more than The X-Men...That being said Norton is the best human alive for Banner...Hulk isn't anybody and will always be the same thanks to CG...we are looking for the best Bruce Banner and that was Ed Norton. Bottom line, no questions asked. Go watch The Incredible Hulk and find a flaw in Norton's performance...I can only hope that one day we are graced with the Ed Norton Directors Cut...(He is easily far superior actor to Eric Bana and showed up Lou Forigno on the same screen and shot...) He is Banner...
continuezero
continuezero - 3/18/2010, 3:06 AM
@Banner 123 I would consider Brody if there was ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of Norton coming back...I see what you see...proper personality for Banner...there are too many people that try and cast Hulk..we're not casting Hulk we never have or will...we are casting Banner and Brody could be considered if Norton asolutely walked away...
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