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The Hulk is a classic favorite among Marvel fans because, aside from his incredible strength, he has a massive heart. His willingness to do anything to protect those he cares about makes him even more endearing.
But it’s the actor Mark Ruffalo who has given a lovable charm to the big green guy who loves to smash people. The first Hulk the Marvel fans saw was Norton, who was all about Bruce Banner – no voice acting, no Hulk movements.
But Ruffalo, on the other hand, multitasked the characters – the science guy (Bruce Banner) and the green rage monster (Hulk). But do fans know thatRuffalo was almost the Hulk before he was the Hulk?
Also read:“I don’t think so”: She-Hulk Season 2 Might Not Happen According to Tatiana Maslany for 1 Reason and It’s Not Divisive Fan Reception
Mark Ruffalo was the First Choice For The Hulk Before Edward Norton
Back in the day, before the Hulk was introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, director Louis Leterrier had his eyes onMark Ruffalofor the role. As the director told theEmpire:
“I’ve known Mark for quite a while. I met him on my Hulk a long time ago and it was funny – Marvel didn’t go with him first time around.”
Marvel wanted Norton because he was more famous at the time. Mainly due to his commercial successes inRed Dragon(2002) andKingdom of Heaven(2005).
That’s how Norton secured the role firstin 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk. But fate played its game again as Norton stepped back from the role, and Ruffalo took overthe MCU’s biggest recasting yet. TheDark Watersstar has been playing Bruce Banner/The Hulk from 2012’sThe Avengerssince.
Also read:Mackenyu Reportedly Made Almost 4X More From Just 1 Season of One Piece Than Marvel Paid Tatiana Maslany for She-Hulk
Why did Marvel Replace Edward Norton with Mark Ruffalo for the Hulk?
Edward Nortonwould still be playing the giant green hero in theAvengersmovies. But the backstage drama led to him being swapped for Ruffalo.
Reports after the film’s release suggested that Nortonwas difficult to work with on set. He even caused issues onrewriting the script.
In 2010, shortly afterannouncingThe Avengersat the San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige released a statement covering why the studio decided to fire Norton (viaCBR):
“Our decision is definitely not 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.”
Also read:“Another f—king psychopath”: Mark Ruffalo Reveals His ‘Nasty’ Role in Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 Starring Robert Pattinson After Poor Things
Per the same source, Norton’s agent fired back, calling Feige’s comments“mean-spirited, unprofessional, disingenuous, and clearly defamatory.”
Later, it was revealed that Marvel Studios wanted a more action-packed film with a runtime of under two hours. That is why, Norton and director Louis Leterrier clashed with Marvel over the film’s duration.
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
