After appearing as Bruce Banner in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which was the only solo Hulk movie in the MCU, Edward Norton was shown the exit from the role. Even though MCU was at its very beginning during the release of the movie, considering that Robert Downey Jr. went on to reprise his role in the following MCU projects, the exit of Norton was a little surprising at the time.
And following his untimely departure, the Fight Club actor wasn’t quite relished with Kevin Feige’s decision as his agent wouldn’t hold back while calling out the MCU on behalf of the actor.
MCU’s decision to replace Edward Norton as Hulk didn’t sit well with him
Despite the movie’s underwhelming performance at the box office, Edward Norton was initially praised by fans and critics and the movie went on to garner okay reviews. However after he was shockingly shown the exit from the MCU, the actor initially didn’t take it kindly, as his agent at the time went on to deem Feige’s action as “unprofessional, disingenuous and defamatory.”
However, following the reports from The Independent, it seems that the Fight Club actor wasn’t phased after being fired from the now multibillion-dollar franchise. As the actor reportedly went on to state, “My life’s way too good on too many levels to be over-intense about things like that.”
But it seems that his departure from the role of Hulk was allegedly a result of his behavior with the rest of the film crew, as Feige claimed that he wasn’t the easiest person to work with.
Kevin Feige claimed that Edward Norton wasn’t the easiest person to work with
After Edward Norton’s surprising release from the role of Hulk, Kevin Feige did come forward and made a statement about the situation. While speaking with Vulture, Feige explained that the reason behind his exclusion from the MCU was the actor’s behavior with the rest of the film crew. Feige clarified that even though they could afford Norton, they weren’t okay with the behavior that Norton was showcasing during his time on sets. He said,
“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. 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.”
However, getting fired from the MCU didn’t have much impact on his career, as he went on to star in several classics, including The Grand Budapest Hotel. And things did work out for MCU too, as despite losing Norton, they were able to find Mark Ruffalo, who exceeded fans’ expectations in the role of Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk is available to stream on Apple TV.
Source: The Independent
