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More From Ed Norton on a Return To The Hulk

He still doesn't say yay or nay, but in this exclusive chat with MTV, he does give some more details about the POSSIBILITY of seeing him go green again.
"It's purely a function of time," said Norton. "It's always about just working things out on the schedule."

"I get very busy. You have to deal with the demands of your moment," he continued. "I tend to keep my head in the thing I'm doing and I don't speculate or worry too much about what two or three blocks down the thing is going to be. I know all these things will reveal themselves and work themselves out."

Ah just tell us ya git! In fairness, I think if it wasn't going to happen then he would most likely just say so. He may be tight lipped because that's how Marvel and company want it. He goes on to say what he likes about CBM's in general.

"The thing about their universe that's fun is that it all cross-pollinates," said Norton. "Even when I was working on the 'Incredible Hulk' script, I tried to plug in the whole super-soldier serum thing from Captain America."

"There are limitless permutations," he said.





Thanks to MTV Splashpage for the vid
11 Yes
0 No
RorMachine
9/28/2009
mtvsplashpage.com

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58 Comments

Ed Norton is awesome. Here's hoping he isn't to busy when it comes down to Hulk smash time.
BmanHall - 9/28/2009, 10:00 AM
Keep it old school. . Avengers VS Hulk
MultiPurposePoni - 9/28/2009, 10:03 AM
Ed's the man, I'd love to see him back in green.
thwhtGuardian - 9/28/2009, 10:04 AM
multi- it cant be avengers vs the hulk since Bruce learns how to control the hulk at the end of the incredible hulk so they have to face another villain or it could be just how they team up
flames809 - 9/28/2009, 10:06 AM
I may be wrong on this one but was ed norton in the running to play cyclops in the x-men waaaaayyy back?
FORTAPACHE - 9/28/2009, 10:10 AM
Most positive talk we've heard from him yet. Glad to know.
soforizo - 9/28/2009, 10:16 AM
I'm sure he's in. But i'm wondering which other character will as well.
Shaman - 9/28/2009, 10:18 AM
Please let him come back. First in the Avengers movie (Hulk is essential for that movie) and then in a sequel to TIH.
InTylerWeTrust82 - 9/28/2009, 10:23 AM
I wouldnt be suprised if they just use a CGI Hulk for The Avengers after the apparent fall out he and Marvel/Paramount had...I reallyhope thats not the case because the guy is a great actor and an excellent Bruce Banner IMO!
JoshW - 9/28/2009, 10:30 AM
Come on Ed. Be the Hulk again. How could you say "No" to this adorable face?

BmanHall - 9/28/2009, 10:32 AM
He was the PERFECT Bruce Banner, as Robert Downey Jr is the PERFECT Tony Stark.

Can you HEAR US, STUDIO BOSSES???

*cue crickets chirping*
bropous - 9/28/2009, 11:00 AM
He'd be a fool not to be in avengers... After Ironman, robert downy jr's started doing much better... Something as big as this is a must!
Evil1991 - 9/28/2009, 11:12 AM
He's in it!! ; )
LEEE777 - 9/28/2009, 11:26 AM
Avengers wouldn't be the same without him.
ASSASSIN666 - 9/28/2009, 11:27 AM
I think Ed will come back, I hope he'll come back, I think he really enjoys being apart of the Marvel Universe and maybe as Evil1991 said, after seeing RDJ become the most wanted mann in hollywood overnight might have an effect, or maybe just the thought of working with actors like rdj or don cheadle and such, as long as Ed is in it and they make a hulk a hero since beign a misunderstood hero is much more interesting than making him a mindless brute villain, I'm happy ;)
Ryden - 9/28/2009, 11:28 AM
I hope they don't make Hulk the only villain in Avengers. They can use him as the first actual fight for the team (if not what was the point of the Stark cameo in TIH?) but there should be a greater threat that arises that brings the whole team together (Cap, IM, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Hank Pym, Wasp on the sidelines though)
InTylerWeTrust82 - 9/28/2009, 11:33 AM
At least he's not being all artsy-fartsy and acting like he wants nothing to do with Marvel or the Hulk. It sounds like he has a real interest in returning to the role, which is good because he was an awesome Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk movie rocked.
MatchesMalone - 9/28/2009, 11:45 AM
I know he's going to be Banner once again. I think they (Marvel) trying to come up with another story line that will tie into the up-coming marvel movies ahead. This might even lead up to having the Leader in the next moive along with Abomination and maybe bring them into the Avengers movie too. That would be awesome!!!
HULK SMASH!!!!!!!!
THULK - 9/28/2009, 11:51 AM
GOOD POINT Rorschach! If it was definitely not going to happen he would probably tell us that flat out. And what he's saying is essentially is that he wants to do it, but his mind is on other things and they are working on the scheduling.
Very interesting.

Man these guys need to cut through the red tape and make it happen! It's no secret that this is what we want.

I'll tell you what though, folks. Personally I won't be upset if Hulk's not in it. But if Hulk is in Avengers and they get some other clown to play him, then yeah I wouldn't be too happy with that. It wouldn't ruin the movie but I just really feel that Norton needs to be Banner.
DarthMulder - 9/28/2009, 12:12 PM
If you remeber Abomination never died at the end of the Hulk movie. And if my memory is correct didn't we hear that the guy who plays Abomination sign on for more roles in Marvel films as the voice of Abomination. I think there could be something to this whatta think guys? Could we see more Hulk vs Abomination in other Marvel movies and possibly in the Avengers movie with Loki controlling Abomination?
Kratos6 - 9/28/2009, 12:13 PM
Norton just come back already!
Frogman - 9/28/2009, 12:15 PM
@bropous

I agree. There are few actors that could be construed as "perfect" for the roles they take, CBM or not. Downey as Stark was perfect,a and Norton as Banner was as well.

Ed Norton NEEDS to come back and play Banner. A recasting would be ridiculous.
gtrman - 9/28/2009, 12:17 PM
@ flames

in the comics, banner has gone through times where he's been in complete control, but banner ALWAYS ends up losing control of the hulk again. not to mention, in the comics, the avengers fought the hulk because hulk was being mind controlled by loki. so even if he IS in control, someone could take over his mind.

and does anyone else think thats a weak response from norton?? he might be "too busy"??? i would like to know how. he's in MAYBE a movie a year, and thats probably pushing it. but then people like ryan reynolds can throw out 2 or 3 a year. i call bullshit on that response.

CorndogBurglar - 9/28/2009, 12:40 PM
CDB: Maybe he's signed on but they're just trying to keep it under wraps!
JoshW - 9/28/2009, 12:54 PM
Norton rocks! He knows when to keep a lid on it. He's not dumb. He is very much involved. It is just too bad they can't have a Hulk sequel in time before the Avengers movie. I hope Marvel will re-consider since Louie Letterrier has so many ideas to bring to the sequel. It is possible that Marvel is waiting for Hulk 2 after Avengers movie to help boost the anticipation for the sequel.

If there is a sequel before Avengers, then It should come out in January or before the summer movies are released so it can get the credit it deserves for being a good movie. I loved the Incredible Hulk and it was so over shadowed by IronMan, and yet was just as good a movie if not better in my opinion!! Go Big Green Guy!
Hulk2008 - 9/28/2009, 12:55 PM
@ josh

i hope thats the case, buddy!!! because that was just a terrible reply to that question. "i might be too busy". it sounded like he was making an excuse to not go out on a date..."oh, i might be washing my hair that night." lol but at least it sounds like he's interested, and not just saying no, like he has been!

@ hulk

yeah, i'm thinking the sequel will be after the avengers, which is probably a good call, then they can move forward from whatever happens to him in the avengers. in all honesty, i thought the end of IH left it completely wide open, it could have gone in any direction. at least after the avengers, he'll have somewhere to go from there. also, i was never a hulk fan, i always view him as kind of a weak character (and no i don't mean strength). but my god i loved the incredible hulk!
CorndogBurglar - 9/28/2009, 1:01 PM
Norton has the best look for bruce banner. To replace him would mess up the movies. Just look at Iron Man 2. It's gonna be a great movie, but there's always gonna be that splinter in our sides as we see Don Cheadle as rhodey. Just because he's african american, doesn't mean he's right for the part
supermarioworldE - 9/28/2009, 1:06 PM
CDB: Yeah, lol - thats why im kinda hoping what i said is true because that really is one helluva lame response! :)
JoshW - 9/28/2009, 1:06 PM
I hope he plays the hulk again
Kevin Tabor - 9/28/2009, 1:09 PM
@ Hulk2008: I agree. It was unfair how the latest Hulk movie was treated. Mostly because Hulk was so awful it left a bad taste in our mouths that, unfortunately, didn't dissolve by the time The Incredible Hulk had it's debut. However, I am confident to say that when the Avengers blows everyone's mind, the Hulk will get it's sequel and he will have it's day in the sun.
BmanHall - 9/28/2009, 1:16 PM
Norton's an artsy film freak.

we knew he wouldn't be dedicated to this character. Jackman will follow Wolverine wherever that character takes him.

Norton will go wherever he sees a wierd movie that is anti-commercial - so unless he's already done 2 of those artsy kind of movies before a new option for Banner comes up - don't expect to see him wrap his schedule around it - in order for this to work he's basically saying - if I'm not doing anything and need to actually make some money, then I'll play Banner.
Keven - 9/28/2009, 1:31 PM
Hey Keven! You SERIOUSLY need to check out the entire series of the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno Incredible Hulk TV show on DVD! I guarantee you won't be disappointed!! It's a classic and is one of the best shows ever done!

CorndogBurglar - You're a weird guy! LOL! How can you love TIH movie without loving the Hulk?! What made you want to see the movie in the first place? I've always loved the Banner/Hulk dynamic! Contrasting Banner's two personalities is what makes the character work!
JonF - 9/28/2009, 1:44 PM
You know what'd be cool?

If they just got all the actors who were playing the Avengers to direct the movie.

I know it's unrealistic, but it would be so badass.
MovieTheaterLad - 9/28/2009, 1:53 PM
@ Everyone, I think this is the first article in a long time where everyone so far is really happy with the choice and performance of an actor in one of these CBM. its a nice change of pace.
valeriesghost - 9/28/2009, 3:02 PM
Yeah, I'm a skeptic but even I think he's gonna do it. Cool. He's got baggage but he does a damn good Banner.
antz1104 - 9/28/2009, 6:09 PM
quite frankly even if he's busy, how much would bruce be in the film? a few scenes? the rest is cgi. he's got to do it!
Robsaggs - 9/28/2009, 7:14 PM
Its nice to see someone reallty care about the script and staying true to the comics. AWESOME
KillerOfSaints - 9/28/2009, 7:20 PM
Robsaggs, that's true that Banner probably wouldn't get much screen time but from the point of view of an a list actor committing his time to a project, he still has to be available and that probably means not working on anything else at that time.
DarthMulder - 9/28/2009, 9:08 PM
@ jonf

i was just saying that the movie was that good! i'm not a hulk fan in the comics, you can only do so much with his character. (i do like when he's in other people's comics though). and if i can enjoy a movie about a character i don't really care for, then the movie did its job! thats the point i was trying to make. and i saw it in the first place because i want to see all the avengers related movies. plus, i go see all CBM's, i'm just happy we have so many choices these days!
CorndogBurglar - 9/28/2009, 9:32 PM
hmmm i havent read this article yet i just want to know if my account works being away for a while, wasnt in my native land for like a month so asap i get back am just checking whether my acc works on cbm, lol.
legionbecks - 9/28/2009, 11:37 PM
Yes it does Legionbecks :)
teabag - 9/29/2009, 4:06 AM
yeaahhhh it works :), how have you being teabag where is leee is he still campaigning ackles for caps ;p...great to be back cant wait to post fanfic articles and cbm news (Note: which i get from other site, and ps i do mention where (sites) i get the articles ;p).
legionbecks - 9/29/2009, 4:19 AM
Legion@ lol ......remember no LEEE hates Ackles but loves him realy..otherwise he wouldnt have sooooo many topless pics of him lol :P
teabag - 9/29/2009, 6:00 AM
I'm with CDB. Hulk's concept is very weak. Sure it works for a feature film but not for sequels. TIH prooved it. TIH was a way better film than Ang Lee's. And the argument of the first film leaving a bad taste in people's mouths is ridiculous. First of all, Ang Lee's Hulk did great at the box office. A movie doesn't make that much money just from it's opening weekend. The only reason it did so great was on account of nostalgia. People missed their favorite 70's show when that concept was concidered smart for it's time. They flocked to see how it evolved and even with a shitty script, they liked what they saw and paid to see it more than once. So Hulk was not the reason why TIH being a better film, didn't do as great. When critics and fans cheer at a movie's magnificience, NORMALLY people flock to see it no matter what followed it. Batman Begins ring a bell? No, this time around people were just sick and tired of another film about a guy transforming into a monster. The concept is lame and overdone. IMO, it doesn't deserve a sequel other than a part in Avengers. As a fan, i would love to see where they were going with Leader's origin but i wouldn't want to risk a sure flop. It's also the same thing with Thor being Donald Blake. That just wouldn't work in our day and age. Hopefully, they'll just have Thor falling from grace and needing Jane Foster's help to fit in with society as a new mortal. I don't want him to magically tranform into a doctor. That would be campy as [frick] and would flop big time!
Shaman - 9/29/2009, 10:48 AM
teabag @ lol oh leee ;p, well i think leee's heart will be broken if the producer's pick someone else other than ackles and jason lewis. and some cbm users will be smiling you know who you are guys lmao.
legionbecks - 9/29/2009, 10:56 AM
Shaman - I can see I've found yet another person on here that's not all that familiar with the comics...If you think the concept of the Hulk is weak, then you need to check out Peter David's run from Incredible Hulk #'s 328 - 467!

You do realize that the Hulk is a comic book character, right? There were heavy allusions made to the TV show in TIH, which is why I enjoyed Ang's version much more:it was truer to the comics in a lot of ways!

First off I can't understand why the mystery of the Hulk's identity isn't used in the films! This would create great suspense for at least half of the movie, with the whole game changing once General Ross finds out that Banner is the Hulk! This was done to great effect in the comics!

Secondly, I can't for the life of me figure out how in two films and one live-action TV series, Rick Jones is still not used! He's the reason Banner got into this mess in the first place!! Plus Rick and the Hulk had a great buddy dynamic that hasn't been shown on screen yet!

The problem with the Hulk is that the concept can't be kept going forever! Sooner or later, Banner has to be cured permanently, otherwise the same story keeps being repeated over and over again. The plot for the films should have been planned out as a trilogy so that the story would have an effective, captivating origin; an action packed sequel; and a logical conclusion with closure and resolution! Then we definitely would've been good for a total of 3 movies starring the green giant!

By that time any future use of Banner could show him as a pardoned, working scientist whose life has gotten back on track and who has the monster inside fully under his control! Now it's kind've up in the air...
JonF - 9/29/2009, 5:27 PM
Jonf- You do bring a good point! If they had established MORE than just the Betty/General/Banner triangle, it could fit in a briliant trilogy. And i fully agree with you in saying that Hulk's concept is meant to finish. Which is why i say it's weak. It's a brilliant stand alone concept for the purpose of telling ONE story. Not to establish a franchise. The concept can work in comics because it doesn't cost as much to produce. But at the box office, they need as many butts in the seats as possible to make a profit. Hulk just doesn't have what it takes. It would be the same for the Wolfman. One movie is enough or maybe if the story is good enough, it can be told over a span of three films but preferably two. It's not like James Bond, it can't sell for a series of films. It gets old real quick. And Marvel screwed it up with the two Hulk films, they didn't bring a good enough story that was worth telling over three films.
Shaman - 9/30/2009, 8:31 AM
I thought the last Hulk movie rocked... Ed Norton was Classic & Ang Lee's Hulk put me to ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
HeckYeah - 9/30/2009, 12:52 PM
Shaman - Now we're seeing eye to eye! You made my point for me! I KNOW that the Hulk doesn't have that mass appeal, which is what makes him all the more special to ME! I identified strongly with the character at the very young age of two years old!

It was bittersweet, after all these years, to finally see the true, definitive COMIC-BOOK version of the Hulk onscreen!! With the TIH follow-up, we went right back to seeing homage paid to an off-shoot adaptation of my fave multi-media star:the TV version!

Ang did all he could to reconcile the many comic book incarnations of green genes, which is why it stings the child in me so much to hear so many of you bashing this masterpiece of a film!

While Ang's film inspired nostalgic sentimentality from its intended audience, Letterier's film only seemed like a pale big screen copy of the exceptional Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno series, with a few cast members from the comic thrown in to appease the fans of the first movie! Clearly the intent was much more shrewd with the second attempt, while the first comes off so obviously as a labor of love! More care was put into Lee's film to make something daring, unique and original, whilst LL went strictly for the easy, cheap action thrill! The Hulk deserved a more sophisticated, complex take then Louis gave him, thus forcing me to surmise that the only solution is to combine the best elements of both pictures!

It's also important to realize that Ang's approach was much truer to the character, even though many prefer the CGI used in TIH! What everyone should be focusing on is which film more accurately portrayed the Hulk character-wise, which the 2003 flick truly did, as opposed to which take looked more realistic!

People seem to think that if you didn't like just ONE thing about Ang's version, that you have to hate on the ENTIRE film! Please, everyone, be more open-minded and less judgmental! Looking at it in dollars and cents, fans of TIH really have no arguement there, as the first film slightly outperformed the second!!

Ang's take on the whole was MUCH closer to the version that true fans of the COMIC BOOK Hulk waited DECADES to see!! The second one was made with the tastes of general audiences in mind! That should settle that debate once and for all! It isn't so much an issue of quality, as it is an issue of preference!

As far as the Hulk being one dimensional: See the TV series! The Hulk should be used sparingly, while Banner claims the bulk of the spotlight! It worked perfectly 32 years ago - if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!!
JonF - 9/30/2009, 3:59 PM
Hulk doesn't have mass appeal? Huh?

I really like the fact that Ed Norton LIKES the character of Bruce Banner/Hulk, and had this movie not been released so dang close to Iron Man, it would have done better at the box office. Norton was the perfect Banner, he brought a lot of depth to the character. I am hoping he stays with Banner for a while because there is a lot of story to tell there.

And, JonF, The Hulk worked perfectly 32 years ago? We must have a different definition of "perfect". There was a LOT that was weak about that series, mostly because they never really did anything but have "David" Banner go to a new town, try and live low profile, get mad, turn into Hulk, and hitchhike off to that sappy piano line each and every week. No depth, no connection to the storyline, no supervillains, nothing. Heck, even Roger Corman's Fantastic Four pilot had more going for it than that total honker.

Even though there were weak points, I still think that The Incredible Hulk movie with Norton is THE best effort bringing Banner and The Big Green Ugly off the comic book page, and would love to see even more.
bropous - 10/5/2009, 8:34 AM
Hulk doesn't have mass appeal? Huh?

I really like the fact that Ed Norton LIKES the character of Bruce Banner/Hulk, and had this movie not been released so dang close to Iron Man, it would have done better at the box office. Norton was the perfect Banner, he brought a lot of depth to the character. I am hoping he stays with Banner for a while because there is a lot of story to tell there.

And, JonF, The Hulk worked perfectly 32 years ago? We must have a different definition of "perfect". There was a LOT that was weak about that series, mostly because they never really did anything but have "David" Banner go to a new town, try and live low profile, get mad, turn into Hulk, and hitchhike off to that sappy piano line each and every week. No depth, no connection to the storyline, no supervillains, nothing. Heck, even Roger Corman's Fantastic Four pilot had more going for it than that total honker.

Even though there were weak points, I still think that The Incredible Hulk movie with Norton is THE best effort bringing Banner and The Big Green Ugly off the comic book page, and would love to see even more.
bropous - 10/5/2009, 8:36 AM
...and, in the interests of full disclosure, I watched The Hulk each Friday night in the original run (and I also watched the original Star Trek in its original run, clue on how old I am). I remember it, and even then was incredibly disappointed. It was terrible!
bropous - 10/5/2009, 8:37 AM
bropus - Good thing I check old posts from time to time! The TV show was geared toward non-comic fans. For that reason, I think the tone of the show perfectly captured the pathos of the comic book! You're supposed to sympathize with Banner and the Hulk, the misunderstood monster. In that, Kenneth Johnson accurately captured the spirit and essence of what the Hulk was about!

The lack of special effects I let slide, due to obvious budgetary concerns! The series worked because the Hulk was the ONLY unrealistic element in the show! Adding super-villains would have made the program too unrelatable to the average viewer. Not having any super powered adversaries also helped to take away some of the stigma associated with genre media projects.

You contradict yourself - how can you like LL's TIH and hate the series when so much of the movie was inspired by the very same show?! And if it was so bad, why do millions of viewers have so many fond memories of it? That was a simpler time when we weren't afraid to use our imaginations! Now, our culture has spoiled us, as we expect flawless special effects to be spoon-fed to us without the filmmakers trying to cater to the broader audience necessary to bring in enough cash to justify the use of said special XF!!!
JonF - 10/6/2009, 6:26 PM
garunteed to be in it .. a source told me
FrankCastle1 - 10/24/2009, 2:16 PM

how was the "old tv show" so close to the new film? by your logic, he fights a villian, we see relationships that BANNER makes, its not isolated in one town or another. the big "similarity" between the show and new film? BANNER is nomadic. but that lies right in line with the HULK comics. so i think you got a mute point bro. i get you love the HULK but as a "true" hulk fan i dont understand your rational. ANG'S HAD A "NONSENSICAL VILLIAN" AND IT STAYED VERY LOCALIZED AROUND THE SAME LOCATIONS, EFFECTS ARE WEAK, BANA SUCKS ACTING WISE (SAY WHAT YOU WILL BUT HE ISNT ED NORTON!). I COULD GO ON AND ON, IT PUT ME TO SLEEP TOO. ALSO I GET IT WAS "FACTUAL" TO THE COMICS BUT IT PICKED AND CHOOSED WAY MORE. I KNOW HULK DOGS ARE "FACTUAL" BUT DO I NEED TO SEE A "POODLE-HULK" NOT ON YOUR [frick]ING LIFE! AND YES, THERE IS A COMIC THAT SAYS AT ONE POINT IN THE MYTHOLOGY THAT "CHILD ABUSE" MAY HAVE BEEN THE CRUX OF THE HULK'S RAGE ETC. BUT COME ON! IN THE HULKS LONG PATHOS THERE ARE BETTER THINGS IN HIS "STORY" TO HIGHLIGHT.
dellamorte1872 - 12/4/2009, 1:10 PM
@CDB - 90% OF COMICS ARE ALL "PERPETUAL" 2ND ACTS! THINK ABOUT IT, OBVIOUS CHOICES ARE SPIDER-MAN, HULK, AND THE UNCANNY X-MEN. THEY ALL GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AT SOME POINT..SPIDER-MAN BRAND NEW DAY, HULK (BRUCE JONES AMAZING RUN IS A "PRIME" EXAMPLE), UNCANNY X-MEN (TOO MANY TO LIST)
dellamorte1872 - 12/4/2009, 1:34 PM

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