The Green Giant from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Hulk, is one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. The character was initially portrayed by Edward Norton, but unfortunately, his tenure as the Hulk didn’t last very long. After appearing in his solo Hulk film, the actor was replaced by Mark Ruffalo.
Ever since Ruffalo joined the franchise, it has indeed become difficult for fans to imagine anyone else playing the character. However, Norton’s performance cannot be ignored either. Even after he departed from the franchise, his impact has not faded. The president of Marvel Studios himself claims that Norton’s version of the Hulk is his favorite.
Kevin Feige is proud of Edward Norton’s version of the Hulk
Previously, Kevin Feige appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where they covered various topics, including how actors interact with their fans. During their conversation, Feige claimed that Edward Norton’s version of the Hulk is the best. The superhero character Hulk, a.k.a. Bruce Banner, has been portrayed by two actors.
The character currently linked to Mark Ruffalo was previously portrayed by Edward Norton. However, right after appearing in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, the actor retired from playing the character. Yet his notable performance did impress the critics, and one of the admirers of his Hulk’s performance is the president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige. During the podcast, Feige proudly said,
“He’s my Hulk, he’s the best Hulk.”
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Not just his Hulk’s performance, but Feige is also impressed by Norton’s performance in Fight Club. During the same conversation, the host of the show, Joe Rogan, expressed his opinion and said that Ruffalo’s portrayal of the Hulk is remarkable as well.
However, Feige, who had already made up his mind about his favorite, continued his statement by praising Norton. Feige said,
“When Leanne dumped me, I watched Fight Club on repeat over and over and over and again.” Further, Feige said, “Edward is my motherf*cker, he’s a dude, I love that guy.”
Despite giving a notable performance as the Hulk, Norton departed from the franchise.
Why did Edward Norton leave the MCU?
Edward Norton has portrayed many iconic characters throughout his career. Among them is his notable performance as the Marvel comic character Hulk. The actor appeared in the role of the green giant in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. The actor’s performance was appreciated by the audience, making the film a blockbuster hit of its time.
Yet the actor didn’t pursue the character further and decided to retire from playing the Hulk. The actor left the franchise primarily due to contractual issues and creative differences with the makers. Previously, Kevin Feige released a statement announcing that Norton’s tenure in the franchise had come to an end. He said,
“We have made the decision not to bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one 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… We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming films.”
Norton soon responded to this statement through his agent Brian Swardstrom and claimed that what Feige stated was offensive and misleading. Later, the actor issued a statement claiming that he enjoyed playing the role of the Hulk and was blessed to be a part of the MCU in the past.
