Edward Norton has been set by Marvel Studios to play Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk.The Louis Leterrier-directed film will be distributed by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2008. The movie will shoot this summer in Toronto. Norton takes over a role played in the Ang Lee-directed Hulk by Eric Bana. Though that film opened strongly, it didn't fare as well as other Marvel efforts, including Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and, most recently, Ghost Rider.
Marvel Studios, which has a $525 million credit facility obtained through Merrill Lynch, made The Incredible Hulk its second film under that arrangement, and seeks to make a sequel that is less self-serious and more in line with the comic series and TV show. Leterrier directed the action-filled Transporter and its sequel, as well as Unleashed.
The new movie begins with Banner on the run, trying to avoid capture long enough to cure the condition that turns him into a misunderstood green menace.
"Edward Norton is a rare talent and one of the most versatile actors in the business," Marvel Studios production president Kevin Feige said in a statement. "His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Edward is perfectly suited to bring one of the most popular and important Marvel icons to the bigscreen in a new and exciting way."
The script for The Incredible Hulk was written by Zak Penn, who had a hand in crafting two "X-Men" films and Fantastic Four for Marvel. The movie is being produced by Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd and Marvel's Feige. Jim Van Wyck, David Maisel, Ari Arad and Stan Lee are executive producing.
4 comments:
That sounds great, actually.
This whole thing is kind of weird, but potentially good. How often do they just get to do the practice movie to shake the kinks out? It's like they got "do-overs" on the franchise.
All I need to know is that Norton's in it.
I love that guy.
Shh! Jonny Depp might hear you.
Don't tell!
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