Entertainment Weekly dives head first into the “controversy” around the Incredible Hulk movie and the working relationship between Edward Norton and Marvel. They talk to Louis Leterrier, the film’s director, and also run a statement from Norton:
Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a ‘dispute,’ seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen.
You can read his entire statement over on their website.
I agree that it’s unfortunate that this tension between Norton and Marvel has been highlighted to such an extent. I can see how having your conflict under the spotlight would make it harder to work it out. I hope for the best for this film, and desperately want it to be good. Best of luck to everyone involved.
Comment by Owen — April 16, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Well, I’m sure Norton will be able to shape the DVD release - but Marvel seems to have learned a pretty valuable lesson from the first flick - regardless of what it’s artistic merits may have been, the first film wasn’t “Hulky” enough for a younger fan-base. There’s no reason a Hulk film shouldn’t have a PG rating and be designed to loud and fun. Just my opinion.
Comment by Sean — April 16, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Agreed, Sean… It might be fun to get a Director’s Cut DVD and compare the two later on.
Anyhow, I’m sure both parties simply want an entertaining, fun film that captures what the Ang Lee film did not. I want and expect some films to have some drama and depth to them (Nolan’s Bat-films, certainly), but a Hulk movie? Nah, give me action. AND lots of smashing!
I still expect this to be a better film than the first one, and I’m confident it will be. I think Norton’s lack of willingness to do the usual press for the movie could hurt its box office though. But that’s OK, I’d rather watch Liv Tyler be interviewed any day.
Comment by Shaun — April 16, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
To me, it seems like Norton is being a sour grapes. I mean, it seems like Marvel did give him a fair bit of control. Just that he wants ‘more’. I love Norton but could he be trying to bully the upstart studio? Not doing the press circuit seems really, really petty. If there are no ‘hard feelings’, why is he not doing the press circuit? He also seems to have forgotten that at the end of the day, it is Marvel’s property, not his.
Comment by Tyler — April 16, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
That’s now two articles that tell us how utterly popular the Hulk in the comics. Which is true right now, but wasn’t the case for decades. And which seems unlikely to last, given the response to the Loeb Hulk comic. But if Marvel tells reporters that the Hulk is big now, they have no way of knowing his old status.
Comment by Simon DelMonte — April 16, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
I think that I’ll reserve my judgement until I see Leterrier’s HULK on-screen. After the Ang Lee incarnation of HULK I have high hopes for this version especially given the Cast and Crew.
Comment by BGBT1975 — April 16, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
I don’t think they’re referring to the Hulk as a popular comic book, necessarily, more that he is Marvel’s most well known character after Spider-Man.
And it’s hard to blame Marvel for not wanting a longer, “more meditative” film when the whole point of hiring the director of The Transporter was to reboot the franchise and make the public forget Ang Lee’s lengthy, meditative Hulk movie. That’s all they need is for the critical reviews to start noting how similar this movie is to Ang Lee’s.
Comment by Joseph — April 16, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
You can’t just follow what some of these nay-sayers or bashers say about the new Hulk comic that Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness are working on. There are those that enjoy the new Hulk series and I’m proud to say that I’m one of them.
Whatever happen to good ol’ honest news where you just didn’t hear one side, you got to see and hear both, but now these days, it’s one side and if you don’t like that side, you or anyone else against it are labelled some kind of outsider or enemy and it just isn’t right.
For over 40 years the character that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created known as Hulk is a world wide hero. We all want to be smart and do right like Bruce Banner, but we also love to pretend to hulk out and rant and rave with sayings like Hulk Smash or Hulk is the strongest one there is, it’s just like Superman where you tie a red towel to act as a cape and you fly around, to end this I will say that the Hulk is just like what they say about Coke-A-Cola, classic, can’t beat the real thing.
Comment by John — April 16, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
maybe im nuts but the trailer leaves alot to be desired. Too many references to the old tv series. Abomination looks ridiculous. Ang Lee may end up being the winner here. I didnt think his version was all that bad.
Comment by they call me Bruce — April 16, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Does Ed Norton usually do much press, though? Now that I think about it, I don’t recall seeing on any talk shows in a while.
Comment by Tommy — April 16, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
I don’t think it was bad either.
The trailer for this was just terrible, I really honestly can’t stand the way The Hulk looks in this.
Where the first film tried to be really artsy about The Hulk, here it looks like they’re just going staight for the cheesey B movie jugular.
Comment by Scott — April 16, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
I don’t think Lee’s Hulk was nearly as bad as it’s made out to be. There were some excesses and missteps (the attempt at using multiple screen images to suggest a comic book page, the overdone father issues, the ever growing Hulk, the murky final battle with whatever the hell that was) but there were some interesting ideas, well drawn characters and solid visuals as well.
Comment by kalorama — April 16, 2008 @ 11:31 pm
Don’t believe the hype, the media is always starting trouble, the Movie is looking great, love the new poster!
Comment by Gazoo — April 17, 2008 @ 12:50 am
Why is an anti-virus company getting involved in a funny book movie?
Comment by Rick Rottman — April 17, 2008 @ 7:41 am
Tommy kind of nailed it-Norton has never been that big on the marketing part of the equation when it comes to films. Him not doing the talk show circuit for Hulk isn’t really that big of a deal as the news story makes it out to be. Marvel had to know they weren’t signing on a Tobey Maguire type when they took him-his entire career is full of stuff like this.
Comment by Tucker Stone — April 17, 2008 @ 7:55 am
Anyone know if the Hulk in this movie is played by an actor or if it’s CGI?
Comment by David — April 17, 2008 @ 9:44 am
The Hulk is not CGI at all. He’s played by a gorilla in a Hulk costume
Comment by Spid3y — April 17, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
@Tucker (et. al.), they’re not pushing the Hulk yet because they would be stepping on Iron Man’s toes. It makes no sense to spend their ad dollars competing with themselves. Expect the marketing push to come out in full force AFTER Iron Man comes out.
Edward Norton went to frickin’ Comicon for this; of course he’ll hit a talk show or two.
Comment by Gordon — April 18, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
This movie can’t be any worse than Ang Lee’s craptastic version. At least he’s not going to be fighting a giant poodle. I hope.
Comment by Nathaniel — April 20, 2008 @ 10:18 pm