Edward Norton, star of the first enjoyable Hulk film (since I’ve been alive), is being replaced. While the jury is still out on who is going to be replacing Norton in the up and coming Avengers (2012), the film will likely suffer as a result. How much has yet to be determined.
Comic fans have a right to feel miffed by this. While this is likely a money-move by the studios to replace Norton with someone less costly, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of fans have come to respect the efforts studios have put into the casting for these films. Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man is a prime example of putting a heavy weight at the forefront of a superhero movie fans will delight in seeing. Some could even make the argument that Iron Man 2 owes all of its success to the Downey, period. He carried the film – iron suit or nay.
So why cut Norton?
It’s all speculation at this point but what we do know is that this wasn’t Norton’s decision. All indicators point to his being excited about the project. They also point to fans feeling slight vertigo at what may be a downward spiral for the Avengers project. That, too, is all speculation. As someone who has been looking forward to the end result of this long project (Thor , Captain America and a 3rd Iron Man have yet to hit screens), I can only say that Norton’s axe, thus far, rings louder than Thor’s hammer.
leave it to hollywood to start screwing with something that isnt broken.
More like Hulk Smash Ruffalo’s career.
MARK RUFFALO AS NEW HULK? HULK SMASH PUNY MARK RUFFALO EVEN THOUGH HE STAR IN HULK’S FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME 13 GOING ON 30.
He wouldn’t have gotten much screen time, regardless…