Keeping Edward Norton As Bruce Banner Could Have Been Better For Marvel

https://screenrant.com/marvel-recast-hulk-edward-norton-mark-ruffalo-bad/

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have been better if Edward Norton had continued to portray Bruce Banner. Norton first played Banner in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the second film in the MCU and, to date, the Hulk’s only solo film in the entire franchise. The notorious creative clashes that took place between Norton and Marvel Studios on the film eventually led to Bruce Banner being recast, with Mark Ruffalo first assuming the role in The Avengers.

In the years since, Ruffalo has reprised the role several times in the MCU, and while the Hulk has yet to appear in another solo film, Ruffalo’s portrayal has generally been well-received among audiences and critics alike. Norton, meanwhile, has occasionally dipped his toes back into both the comic book and science-fiction waters with appearances in the superhero satire Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and a surprise cameo in Alita: Battle Angel.

As the franchise became a dominant Hollywood force, The Incredible Hulk has arguably become the black sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with William Hurt's General Ross being the only character to return in another movie (and even then, it was a full eight years later in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War). But while Ruffalo’s tenure as Bruce Banner has become a cornerstone of the MCU, there’s a lot to suggest that the series would have been better if Norton's performance as Banner had not been a one-and-done.

Back when The Incredible Hulk was in production, the MCU wasn't the juggernaut franchise that it is today. With Marvel and Universal still wincing from the disappointment of 2003's Hulk, and The Incredible Hulk itself being only the second film in the loosely-defined series, the MCU ship wasn't run nearly as tightly as is the case today. These days, the buck now stops with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, but Edward Norton sought to have far more creative say in the sophomore MCU project. Norton, having done a rewrite of the script, is said to have clashed heavily with Marvel on the tone and direction of the film. The relationship between Norton and Marvel grew tense enough for the actor to be largely absent from the film's promotional tour prior to its release in June 2008.

While Norton appeared set to reprise the role in The Avengers, the creative friction with Marvel Studios proved too great, leading the studio to re-cast Mark Ruffalo in the role for the then-upcoming superhero ensemble. This wouldn't be the last fans would hear of Norton and Marvel's falling out, with both camps giving at-times conflicting reasons behind Norton's departure. Norton himself has made his feelings on the situation known in recent years, including comments taking issue with The Incredible Hulk script, and specifically the loss of his contributions to it.

But even as fans of the MCU continue to debate whether to side with Marvel or Norton, Mark Ruffalo's subsequent performance in the role has been warmly received by audiences and critics. However, looking back on The Incredible Hulk, Norton's departure from the role of Bruce Banner has cost the MCU dearly.