Apparently it was revealed in the hustle and bustle of Comic-Con that Edward Norton is not only starring in The Incredible Hulk movie, but also writing it. Yeah, I missed that, too.
The Los Angeles Times (scroll down) delves a little deeper into that panel tidbit, unraveling how the actor — who has a reputation for script revisions — ended up writing Zak Penn’s next superhero film:
…[A]fter another writer’s treatment was declined in early 2006, Marvel hired Penn, who wrote three drafts over a year. By spring 2007, Penn was about to go off to promote his movie The Grand, but the studio and the director, Louis Leterrier (The Transporter), still felt that the screenplay needed work.
When Norton came in to meet about starring as Banner in April, the film had already been greenlighted and there were just three months before shooting was scheduled to begin, just after Independence Day. But Norton had well-established (if underground) writing experience and strong ideas about how to separate the film from any confusion over its connection to the 2003 Ang Lee version by casting it in a more distinct, starting-over vein like Batman Begins or Casino Royale.
So Norton’s initial deal included payment not just for his acting services but for his writing talents too, with his draft contractually stipulated to be turned around in less than a month. As it turned out, Norton delayed work on another screenplay job to do Hulk, and he continues to tweak the script as principal photography hits its halfway point outside Toronto.
The Incredible Hulk is set to debut on June 13, 2008.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Something similar happened with Clive Owen on “Children of Men”. He met with the director about his character and contributed so many ideas that he was given a writer’s credit on the film.
Norton is notorious for contributing and tweaking scripts, not always to the pleasure of the director. I seem to recall he and Frank Oz not getting along on “The Score”. But he’s got good instincts, so I’m lookin forward more to this version of The Hulk than I was for Ang Lee’s film.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:13 am
I heard that Norton staged a coup in post-production of American History X and edited the Director’s Cut into a very new beast. Tony Kaye’s version (the director, that is) was alot more about uncomfortable truths.
Not that I’m complaining…
August 16th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Well, Norton also did uncredited writing for the screenplay on the biopic Frida; Salma Hayek (the star, producer, and Norton’s girlfriend at the time) mentioned that in a number of interviews.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:30 am
The closer the actor can feel to a role like Bruce Banner, the better. Banner’s internal struggle is something that has to be personal, so having the actor write the character is a great idea.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:32 am
good for him…he sure is a talented guy.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Wow - he looks more like Tony Stark in that picture than Downey JR. does.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:37 am
I trust Norton far more than I do Zak Penn, but I hope the pizza guy bit isn’t as lame as it sounds.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
According to my wife’s uncle, some of the special effects guys have left the sets, in Hamilton, because of Norton’s continued non-acting involvement.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Norton is a smart guy.So ii believe in him.I love only1 version of ol’green giant,PAD’s version.I want a smart,skizoid action movie!&,overall,i want Eddie Norton’s action figure!It’s a weird wish,i know…
August 16th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I think Norton is a smart guy as well, although if I were the studio i wouldn’t feel comfortable with him having totalitarian rule over the script
But him citing Batman Begins and Casino Royale is a good sign.
Although with an actor like Norton I’m dubious to exactly how much ‘Hulk’ time there’ll actually be in the movie……………I think I would have preferred an non-Alist actor that wouldn’t mind giving up 60% or more of his screen time to a cgi character
August 16th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Norton’ll be “playing” the Hulk, as well - in the same motion-capture way that Ang Lee played him in the first movie.
//\Oo/\\
August 17th, 2007 at 1:11 am
I knew he was an artistic snob, so when I read about him answering a reporter that “Batman Begins” was his favorite recent film (she didn’t even ask him about comic book films) I realized that he’s a well rounded artistic snob.
You don’t see me complaining.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Considering I disliked both Casino Royale and Batman Begins, I am not thrilled with the reference. However, Norton’s smart and clever and will probably make it better than it might’ve otherwise been. Hulk is a tough thing to do without it being either “Hulk smash!” or way too talky. It’s a hard balance to strike.
August 18th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
My Sister’s second cousin twice removed’s roommates daughter said Edward Norton fired the entire cast of Hulk and replaced them with the cast of American History X. And stuff.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
You disliked both “Casino Royale” and “Batman Begins?” Really? Did you favor both “Die Another Day” and “Batman and Robin,” then? Not questioning your opinion, just legitimately surprised that you enjoyed neither film.
Nevertheless, I agree with you that “The Hulk” will be a balancing act, but Norton might just have the smarts to pull it off.