Edward Norton Out of Avengers, Slammed by Marvel CEO
Ed Norton is out of the new Avengers film as the Hulk, which, in my opinion, is a major blow to the Joss Whedon directed film.
Norton reprised the role of the smashing green giant in 2008, after a less than stellar first attempt with Eric Bana in the lead. According to reports, and now public statements from Marvel and Norton's camp, the split was NOT amicable.
Marvel CEO Kevin Feige released this statement about Norton's departure:
"Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H., Chris E., Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."
Hmmm...that's a serious parting shot. Typically when actors drop out of major roles in films, it IS about money, scheduling conflicts or script issues, but if you read Feige's statement, he's suggesting Ed Norton simply didn't wish to give it his all, wasn't a team player, and had a bad attitude about the project. This is the kind of statement that can taint an actor and have a negative impact on his future career. Film companies, directors, producers and other actors don't want to work with a guy who has a negative attitude and isn't a team player. See what Marvel did there. They shot a major cannon across the bow — which in my estimation means something really nasty happened between the two entities.
As predicted, Norton's camp has their own version of events, and have implied it WAS about the money. Here's what Ed's spokesperson had to say about Feige's statement:
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