Norton Talks New & Old Hulk

By Ryan 'The Rican with the Irish name' McLelland on January 24, 2008

Irish Rican here - reading this interview with Edward Norton and The Sun where he thinks his shit doesn't stink.  It's over the Hulk which they have gone into total redux.  First movie is thrown out the window and here we are with a new film that combines the television show with Bruce Jones. 

What and who?  Fanboys may be way too young to remember the TV show and probably, at this point, don't want to know.  Bruce Jones, writer of the Hulk's comeback story Return of the Monster, penned a great story that they are now mashing together with Norton's rewrite of the film.

The verdict?  Many have hope but I think that Iron Man and Dark Knight will be the superhero victors.  Why?  Well Iron Man already has the monster jump with the WOW factor plus it has a bevy of HUGE stars in it.  Dark Knight didn't need to show any footage to you - it already had alot going for it.  Then the kickass trailer came out and I know that I was very fireworky, "OOOOOOH AAAAAAAAHHHHH WWEEEEEEE!"

The revamped Hulk?  We have shit talking, no trailer, and some decentish people in it.  Yes Liv Tyler is good but let's face it - she's no Jennifer Connolly.  And there's always those who are in LOVE with Edward Norton for films like Primal Fear and American History X.  Yes I LOVE those films as well, but his creative output in the past eight years is nothing like it was when he first burst on the scene.

Here's what Norton had to say to the Sun:

“First off it’s utterly unrelated to that film.  “This is in no way a response to it or picking up from it."

"I think like Chris Nolan and those guys did with Batman, we just said: 'We’re going to start completely with our own version of this myth or saga.'"

“When the phone rings and someone says, ‘Hey, would you be interested in the big green guy?” there’s that part of all of us that doesn’t want to look like an idiot.  There’s the wince factor or the defensive part of you that recoils at what the bad version of what that would be. And I did that, basically. I said ‘no’ to it a couple of times.”

“To me the whole thing was to envision it in multiple parts.  We left a lot out on purpose. It’s definitely intended as chapter one.”

So no he's not bashing the film per se but it is the way I read between the lines.  We also get that he didn't want to be in the role.  Say no a couple times = No, more money, no, more money, no, more money, okey-dokey!  Does he care about what fans of the Hulk wants?  I really don't think the filmmakers care.  Will it be good?  You know what - I'll suspend disbelief for right now...but with low expectations going into the film if it's even decent I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Do you think Hulk will be great?  Good?  Not so good?  Hit Ryan up at ryan@latinoreview.com!

Source:The Sun