Edward Norton Responds to 'Hulk' Bashing
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
For the past several months, folks have been questioning The Incredible Hulk and whether Edward Norton's extremely "hands on" involvement hurt or helped the finished product. It took a very long time for any images from the film to hit, and even longer for an initial trailer. Some have claimed that part of the hold-up had to do with a dispute between Norton, director
After trying for more than a month to interview the guy, EW has just published a 257-word statement (approved in advance by Universal and Marvel) from Norton. In it, he briefly addresses some of these accusations in saying, "Every good movie gets forged through collaboration, and different ideas among people who are all committed and respect the validity of each other's opinions is the heart of filmmaking. Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a 'dispute,' seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen.''
I'm sure we won't hear the real story until well after the film is out in theaters (if there even is a real story), but we'd like you to chime in here: Should this sort of off-screen dispute worry fans of the film? And would you rather see a more commercial or meditative cut of The Incredible Hulk (which, mind you, hits theaters on June 13)?
Check out Norton's full statement to EW after the jump ...
THE FULL TEXT OF EDWARD NORTON'S E-MAILED STATEMENT
"Like so many people I've loved the story of The Hulk since I was a kid, so it was thrilling when Marvel asked me to write and help produce an altogether new screen incarnation, as well as play Bruce Banner. I grew up reading Marvel Comics and always loved the mythic dimension and contemporary themes in the stories, and I'm proud of the script I wrote. In every phase of production, including the editing, working with Louis Leterrier has been wonderful...I've never had a better partner, and the collaboration with all the rest of the creative team has been terrific. Every good movie gets forged through collaboration, and different ideas among people who are all committed and respect the validity of each other's opinions is the heart of filmmaking. Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a 'dispute,' seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen. It has always been my firm conviction that films should speak for themselves and that knowing too much about how they are made diminishes the magic of watching them. All of us believe The Incredible Hulk will excite old fans and create new ones and be a huge hit...our focus has always been to deliver the Hulk that people have been waiting for and keep the worldwide love affair with the big green guy going strong.''
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-16-2008 @ 1:16PM
brian said...
A "Statement"?
Jesus Marimba...does this guy have a god complex or what? He's the new Mel Gibson. Worse. I mean, this isn't world politics or saving Darfur or anything else that would warrant a "Statement". Hollywood is absolutely drunk on its own ridiculousness. Norton needs to stop drinking his own Kool Aid and chill. the. f***. out.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:20PM
Zeke_hero said...
Commercial cut. Honestly, we had the meditative version last time and it was not something I felt I could enjoy on repeat viewings. Plus, the franchise depends on a hit, so we need something that kids and fans can enjoy as much as people looking for a deep, meaningful examination of the human psyche.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:22PM
The Addict said...
....but this isn't the Hulk we've been waiting for. This is just ripping off the T.V. show from the '70s, which was a bastardization of the comic from the time. Fans want to see a decent Hulk story, which Ang Lee's film almost delivered, not homage to something that wasn't all that good in the first place.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:23PM
Chupacabra said...
We have this magical thing now called "DVD release", it miraculously allows for multiple cuts of a film to be seen by all. Put the commercial version out at theaters and then release both on DVD. It should be called the Norton Cut and come in a box the shape of Edward Norton's head.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:32PM
William Goss said...
Louis Leterrier, not John.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:37PM
Erik Davis said...
Thanks for catching that one Goss. For some odd reason, I always mix up Louis Leterrier and John Lasseter.
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4-16-2008 @ 12:46PM
Rich Drees said...
If he feels so strong about the flick, how come he isn't coming to NY Comic Con this weekend to pimp it?
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4-16-2008 @ 2:54PM
Morteza said...
Wow! What a real egomaniac! I mean, insisting people call you by your actual name? I'll bet he drinks water out of bottles too, like the rest of those Hollywood jerks.
That's some pretty lame rumormongering.
People complain how studio executives ruin films by their committee mentality. Then, when someone tries to preserve their vision, he becomes labelled as "difficult."
If anything, it's probably those same executives pumping out these "stories" to leverage opinion in their favor. Hollywood is a business, and those execs will resort to Machiavellian tactics to get their way.
Norton's film choices have been way above average, and I do think he's a smart guy. I have my doubts about this film, but I'm glad he's fighting for its integrity.
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4-17-2008 @ 2:05AM
Jim Treacher said...
Jackie Gleason should rise from the grave and send him to the moon.
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4-17-2008 @ 2:05AM
Jim Treacher said...
Wow! What a real egomaniac! I mean, insisting people call you by your actual name?
Yeah! And putting out a written statement after negotiating with Entertainment Weekly for an interview for over a month! Pretty much every regular joe does that!
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4-17-2008 @ 8:03PM
Thad Garrison said...
If Norton is so difficult to work with (as I've heard many times over since American History X) I don't understand why he still has a career. He's not particularly attractive, he's a decent actor but nothing mind-blowing and he's not a huge box-office draw. Why does anyone bother with him?
Is he well-connected by family?
Hollywood execs capitulate way too much to arrogant, demanding, egomaniacal talent. Famous people are a dime a dozen these days -- if they can't behave and aren't seriously helping your bottom line, get rid of them.
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4-23-2008 @ 5:21PM
patrizia said...
sono una ragazza italiana e volevo rispondere all'ultimo commento. io trovo Edward Norton molto affascinante e soprattutto uno dei migliori attori in circolazione oggi. mi spiace venga bistrattato soltanto perchè difende le proprie idee e il suo lavoro!
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6-02-2008 @ 12:09AM
shannon mcgee said...
Edward Norton is one of the most talented actors of our time. He is one who is very well-rounded and diverse in his acting abilities that most actors who have been acting much longer than he cannot say. Everything project he puts out is highly respected and well performed bringing enlightenment, creativity, and/or information to the table. I absolutlely hated the last Hulk movie and I am EXTREMELY EXCITED that he is going re-make this movie into the classic version of "comic book quality" that should have done originally. I also think it is unfair to label Edward Norton as "difficult" when he is doing his assigned duty of writer,actor,and director of this film. I personally think that the media has been trying for YEARS to drag Edward through the mud like they have successfully done to other entertainers buy exploiting his private life. I would hire Edward Norton on a heartbeat as actor/director/writer anytime. I have nothing but great respect for him as an actor/writer/director and an individual who seems to care a great deal about the quality and intergrity of how movies are being made. Maybe others will follow his passionate lead and stop making "overcomputer enhanced movies!!!
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