5) Edward Norton As The Hulk (The Incredible Hulk)
Despite attempting an admirably unique take on the superhero genre with 2003’s Hulk movie, Ang Lee’s interpretation divided fans and critics alike. While the casting of Eric Bana in the title role wasn’t critically panned, it also didn’t exactly set the world alight, so hopes were high when it was announced that Edward Norton would be tackling the role in The Incredible Hulk.
By 2008, Norton’s career had waned somewhat, but with two Academy Award nominations and a number of iconic movies under his belt, fans were excited to see what the actor could do with the role. His debut as an unbalanced altar boy in Primal Fear demonstrated that Norton certainly had the potential to capture the inner turmoil of Bruce Banner, but his lackluster performance in the film ultimately proved to be disappointing.
It’s not that Norton was particularly bad in the role, but onscreen, he just didn’t seem a natural fit with the character, lacking the charisma that Mark Ruffalo later captured in his acclaimed portrayal in The Avengers.
Marvel Studios seemed to agree, releasing an unusually terse statement following Norton’s dismissal from the franchise. Usually, producers are keen to appear amicable in these proceedings, often blaming fiscal matters for the decision to recast popular roles, even if that’s not the case. However, in their statement, Marvel made it extremely clear that the issue was not money, insisting that they need an actor who “embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members,” and clearly, that actor wasn’t Edward Norton.
Ouch.