The “hilarious and exciting” role that left a bad taste in Edward Norton’s mouth
The problems with playing a beloved childhood character are manifold, not the least being comparisons between other iterations and the pressure from fans who want to see their favourite portrayed right. Add in the dedication that many comics fans have for their cherished heroes, and filmmakers are walking on thin ice. Edward Norton encountered this anxiety when he agreed to take on the role of Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk, directed by Louis Leterrier.
The film, based on the Marvel Comics character, was just one in a long line of representations of the green, muscular giant that emerges from Dr Robert Bruce Banner’s volatile emotions. From Lou Ferrigno to Eric Bana before him, Norton had a vast legacy to step into.
The biggest anxiety Norton felt when he took on the role was the reaction from the people around him. “It’s kind of an honour, kind of hilarious and exciting all at the same time,” Norton told Movies. “You make a choice to do something like that, and you realise you are going to have to run it by your friends eventually.”
From there, Norton went on to explain that he was nervous about their reactions but pleasantly surprised by their warm reception. He said: “I was nervous about doing that because I did not know what they would say or if they would just laugh, but I was really surprised about some of their reactions,” he added. “I was shocked at how excited people were.”
In a roast of Bruce Willis in 2018, Norton criticised The Incredible Hulk, saying that he wanted a better script. While fans may remain divided over Norton’s feelings a decade after the film was released, it must be said that his dedication to the role was evident in his passion for the storytelling craft.
While Norton initially thought the role might be an easier job, he quickly realised the effort necessary to satisfy the childhood dreams of Hulk fans. “People are really invested in this character, in this story, and in the spirit of it,” he said. “It goes from being a whim to something that you have got to start making sure you take it seriously and bring all the stuff you bring to any other film into it.”
And dedicated, Norton was. He reportedly contributed, though he wasn’t credited as doing so, to a rewrite of the screenplay. Sole writing credit goes to Zak Penn. However, in post-production, many of Norton’s additional scenes were removed, essentially leaving the film with the structure of the original screenplay. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only film of Norton’s that’s left him dissatisfied. He didn’t hide his disdain for The Italian Job in 2003, advising fans to “give it a miss”. Though there were talks of a sequel to The Incredible Hulk, it never came to fruition, though multiple other Hulk titles have been produced in the years since Norton’s character took the screen.
One thing that Norton did appreciate about the production of The Incredible Hulk was its commitment to being as sustainable as possible. “Hollywood as a whole needs to look at the physical way a film is made and the footprint that that makes. There is a lot of waste in the way we make films,” he concluded. Norton has had a lifelong commitment to environmentalism, something he describes as being “the family business.”
