Marvel doesn’t hold back when it comes to explaining its thought process behind recasting Hulk.
When we think of Hulk in MCU, we think of Mark Ruffalo.
Although other actors have played the part, Ruffalo undoubtedly made Hulk his own.
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But before he was cast, Hulk was played by another well-known actor; in The Incredible Hulk (2008), Edward Norton is the man behind the behemoth superhero.
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Few of us care to remember this piece of MCU information, which begs the question why?
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The film has a 67 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which, while not exactly impressive, isn’t mediocre either.
Putting aside those reviews, though, the film was considered a flop.
Despite being unsuccessful, Norton’s portrayal of the Hulk didn’t turn audiences off.
Yet he was recast pretty quickly.
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While fans’ opinions differ on why the recast happened, Marvel is crystal clear on its decision.
In MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, a telling excerpt highlights the issue, and it seems the problem was Norton.
Speaking of the “limits of collaboration”, the passage states, “Marvel eventually boiled that moral down to its essence. ‘We have a no asshole policy on our movies,’ one Marvel performer summarised.”
Not exactly subtle there, Marvel.
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Upon reading this section of the book, fans started to discuss not just Norton, but other actors who’ve faced the chop due to their behaviour.
The most recent of which is the removal of Kang from MCU next wave of films.
However, for some, comparing Norton to Jonathan Majors and Joss Whedon is “unfair”.
“It's really not fair to lump Edward Norton in with those others,” said SinisterDexter83, “Norton is notorious for being ‘difficult to work with’ [...] But he's not a pervert. He doesn't beat women. And he doesn't act ‘inappropriate’ with kids.”
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Even if you don’t believe Norton the worst of the worst, his purported difficulty on set has left a lasting legacy at Marvel.
And it’s one that has a clear message: don’t be an arsehole.
Topics: MCU, Marvel, TV And Film, Disney