When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), most fans regard it as one of the most successful and meticulously planned cinematic universes in history. Yet even colossal accomplishments have humble beginnings. One of Marvel Studios’ most important early lessons was the failure of Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk, which brought to light the value of teamwork as well as its limitations.
After being largely criticized as a disaster, Bruce Banner/the Hulk was recast after this 2008 MCU venture. Still, Norton was a little taken aback by the way that decision was made. An alleged disagreement with the producers led to the actor leaving the franchise after portraying the title character in Louis Leterrier’s film. Despite being a part of a sizable franchise, the 2008 movie only made $264.8 million at the box office.
Edward Norton’s Uneasy And Tense Split From Marvel Studios
The $264.8 million film, which looked like guaranteed success at the box office, fell apart, endangering not only the earnings at the box office but also Marvel Studios’ hopes of winning. Yeah, we are referring to the 2008 summer release, The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton, which is still among Marvel’s least popular films.
Nonetheless, it imparts to Marvel Studios some crucial early lessons regarding the limitations of teamwork. According to the new book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige’s MCU discovered that “top-down authority” and “creativity” are not necessarily incompatible. Marvel was eventually able to distill that moral to its essence. According to one Marvel performer quoted in the book:
“We have a no-a**hole policy on our movies.”
Meanwhile, Feige revealed to Vulture that Norton’s interactions with the other members of the film crew were the reason for his exclusion from the MCU. The President of Marvel Studios made it clear that they did not approve of the behavior that the Primal Fear actor was exhibiting on set. The former remarked:
“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.”
Edward Norton Called Kevin Feige’s Recasting Of Hulk ‘Unprofessional’
While critics and fans initially gave Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk favorable reviews, the film did not perform well at the box office. But initially, Edward Norton, 54, did not react well to the shocking announcement of his MCU departure. In an official statement on the actor’s behalf, his agent said that Kevin Feige‘s recasting of Hulk was (via The Independent)
“Unprofessional, disingenuous, and clearly defamatory.”
Still, Norton revealed that he enjoyed the experience and got along well with the MCU boss. As per MovieWeb, the former shared:
“I laid out a two-film thing: the origin and then the idea of Hulk as the conscious dreamer, the guy who can handle the trip. And they were like, ‘That’s what we want!’ As it turned out, that wasn’t what they wanted. But I had a great time doing it. I got on great with Kevin Feige.”
It is hard to say how much Feige’s remarks affected Norton’s career overall. It is also evident that the Oscar nominee has not had any trouble finding new films. He appeared in two Academy Award-nominated films in 2014, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman. Other noteworthy movies are Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch (2021) and Collateral Beauty (2016).
The last time we saw Norton was as Conrad Earp in the 2023 comedy-drama Asteroid City, which was written, produced, and directed by Wes Anderson.
Disney Plus offers The Incredible Hulk for streaming.
