On June 20, 2003, the first live action movie of the hulk came out. The movie starred Eric Bana as Bruce Banner and Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross. Edward Norton had expressed interest in the role of Bruce Banner for the first film. He initially turned down the part for this film, recalling "there was the wince factor or the defensive part of you that recoils at what the bad version of what that would be", as he felt the previous film "strayed far afield from a story that was familiar to people, which is a fugitive story".
When the Hulk released, it received mixed reviews. It recived both positive and negative reviews; some calling the Hulk "a ticked-off version of Shrek". At the time of the release of Ang Lee's
Hulk, screenwriter James Schamus was planning a sequel, featuring the Gray Hulk. He was also considering the Leader and the Abomination as villains. Marvel wanted the Abomination because he was the most famous enemy, and because he would be an actual threat to the Hulk, unlike General Ross.
The film was a financial disaster at the box office but it was successful enough to make a sequel. This began to rebooting the series with The Incredible Hulk. The movie starred Edward Norton (Script Writer for the movie) as Bruce Banner/Hulk and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. When Edward Norton met Leterrier and Marvel, however, he liked their vision, and believed they were looking to him to guide the project. Thus, Norton rewrote the script. "Edward's script has given Bruce's story real gravitas," Leterrier said. "Admittedly I'm not the most adult director, but just because we're making a superhero movie it doesn't have to just appeal to 13-year old boys. Ed and I both see superheroes as the new Greek gods."
Zak Penn, who wrote a draft of the first film in 1996, said the film would follow up
Hulk, but stressed it would be more tonally similar to the TV show and Bruce Jones' run on the comic. He compared his script to
Aliens, which was a very different film to
Alien, but still in the same continuity. He included two scenes from his 1996 script: Banner jumping from a helicopter to trigger a transformation, and realizing he is unable to have sex with Betty. Penn wrote three drafts, before departing in early 2007 to direct
The Grand. Edward Norton, who had rewritten previous films he starred in, wrote a new draft that pleased the director and the studio in establishing the film as a reboot.
Leterrier acknowledged the only remaining similarity between the two films was Bruce hiding in South America, and that the film was a unique reboot, as generally audiences would have expected another forty minute origin story.
There were previous discussions to set the first act in Thailand. Leterrier felt audiences were left restless waiting for the character to arrive in Ang Lee's film.
Gale Anne Hurd noted fans dubbed the film a "requel", a portmanteau of reboot and sequel.
Norton explained of his decision to ignore Ang Lee's origin story, "I don't even like the phrase origin story, and I don't think in great literature and great films that explaining the roots of the story doesn't mean it comes in the beginning."
"Audiences know this story," he added, "so deal with it artfully." He wanted to "have revelations even in the third act about what set this whole thing in motion". The new origin story references Ultimate Marvel's take on the Hulk, which also had him created in an attempt to create super soldiers.
Norton deleted Rick Jones and toned down S.H.I.E.L.D.'s presence. Norton rewrote scenes every day.
Ultimately, the Writers Guild of America decided to credit the script solely to Zack Penn
who argued Norton had not dramatically changed his script. Wow, now that's harsh. Journalist Anne Thompson explained "The Guild tends to favor plot, structure and pre-existing characters over dialogue." Before either Penn and Norton joined the project, an anonymous screenwriter wrote a draft and lobbied for credit.
As of April 6, 2009, the film has grossed $263,427,551 in worldwide box office and it made $58,448,280 in DVD sales, bringing its total film gross to $321,875,831. The film out grossed its predecessor and received generally positive reviews. Despite this positive reception Marvel chose to put off a possible sequel until after 2012's
The Avengers, in which Banner will no longer be portrayed by Ed Norton.
The fans of his work took this hard and rumors spread fast that it was just a publicity stunt. It was too hard to believe how they could throw away one of their most talented actors and Scriptwriters. I could see and didn't care that they replaced Terrance Howard as Rhodey in Iron Man 2. Edward Norton's script and portrayal of Bruce Banner was so amazing, some say legendary. Like how Robert Downey Jr. is truly Iron Man/Tony Stark, Edward Norton was truly Bruce Banner. He cared for the plot and deeply cared for the role of Bruce Banner that himself was cast. He embodies the true character of Bruce Banner. Not only did he play Bruce Banner well but he played the Hulk perfectly. He made the hulk resemble him, he did the expression, his movements, etc. He also embodies the true character of the Hulk. Also, he couldn't do it without Lou Ferrigno's voice for the Hulk. We also thank you Lou and hope you'll voice the Hulk on Marvel's continuity.
Sadly, our Edward Norton is being replaced by... sad to say, Mark Ruffalo! It was officially announced at Comic-Con, introduced by Robert Downey Jr. The reason is still unclear why Edward Norton was replaced but Marvel states
"Ruffalo is Joss Whedon's Banner. He is the Banner that is going to be in that Bill Bixby type, wants to help people and is somewhat ashamed of what he goes through but isn't as strong and angry in his Banner form as he is in his Hulk form, which is something we haven't really seen in the past films. Something like how he was portrayed in the Ultimates, a guy who just wants to be left alone and wear his glasses and do his science." This is a huge and unnecessary step that marvel has made. Some have wiped their tears and moved on with the fact that Edward is gone and Ruffalo might be right for the role. Some people still weep, like me, and can't see the fact of moving on. We really don't need that type Marvel speaks of. Its Edward's version and way we need that already satisfies us. Ed Norton's agent fired back a severe response stating the response was
a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light.” Norton responded much more calmly in a direct statement by saying
“I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk’s long and excellent history.” You were in the Hulk's and Banner's long and excellent history and will always be remembered for it.
We fans also hope you jump back in involvement in future installments, like you have when you got up out of 2003's Hulk. We as fans, have done everything in our power to get you considered for the sequel but the chance of you returning has failed. Like Michael Jackson in music, you will always be remembered by your dear fans and viewers. We love you Edward Norton and you have showed your love to us. This is our goodbye and hopes to seeing you in the future.