You probably heard over the weekend that Edward Norton won’t be returning to play the Hulk for the AVENGERS movie. Since then, there’s been a bit of public back-and-forth at Hitflix between Marvel and the actor’s reps disputing the exact reasons for his departure. First, there was the company’s statement, then there was Norton’s agent’s response. Now, Chud’s breaking the rumor that Joaquin Phoenix might be the name actor Marvel’s talking to about taking on the role. I don’t think we’ll be getting an official announcement about it until next week in San Diego.

I’m not going to make any conjectures about this situation - - I’ll leave that up to you all. What I will say is that this is a reminder that fans shouldn’t take for granted how ambitious an endeavor the AVENGERS movie is going to be. It’s bold to use four film series to set up one mega film over five years. What’s perhaps even bolder is trying to get the schedules of so many leading men to coincide for this crossover, because it’s a lot more difficult than you think. == TEASER ==

One movie I’m really looking forward to seeing next month is THE EXPENDABLES, which has the unstated premise of putting every action star under the same bill. With 10 big names, already, it’s already got quite an impressive cast, but fans are still asking why Jean-Claude Van Damme or Wesley Snipes aren’t in it. It’s coming out now that they were actually considered and approached, but they either didn’t like their parts or they weren’t available. Issues like this come up for ensemble pictures and it's a trick for any production to surmount them.

Anyway, what does the Comic Vine community think of these developments? Are you disappointed that Norton isn’t returning? Do you figure Phoenix fits the part?
 
UPDATED: Ed Norton's made a statement on his official Facebook page...

I would like to see Norton, but I doubt it will be a big deal either way.

i thought joaquin phoenix quit acting lol

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they could always have eric bana reprise the role. he wasn't that awful.....just the cinematography and direction.....and nick nolte

Is there a Hulk curse now? Every actor now only does one movie each as the Hulk. Should we call this the Lou Ferrigno curse? Did he curse the role so that nobody could become successful off of it besides him? lol

now everyone will watch the avengers and sit through every scene with bruce banner in it going "wow, edward norton could have done that better." breaking continuity is just a bad idea. RAAAGE!!

This is terrible news for two reasons.
1. Ed Norton was/is the ideal Bruce Banner.
2. This is the SECOND time we've had an actor replaced before the Avengers. It's really jarring.

Norton was ok. As long as they don't royally screw it up, I'm sure I won't even care.

I think Nortons drop was because of what happend with The Incredible Hulk. If anything, hes more on par with the current cast than i think anyone else could be.
Isnt Josh Holloway rumored to be in the picture?

i dont think Joaquin Phoenix would be a good choice for the Hulk...Norton was a good choice in my opinion.  
 
Maybe now they should just leave the HUlk out of the movie...I cant believe im really saying that because I do wanna see the Hulk in it but not if its Phoenix playing him

It's these actor disagreements that has made me skeptical of a Avengers movie in the first place there are to many egos and other factors that might prevent it from happening. 

I really want to see Banner in the Avengers movies, and I really really want to see HULK! 
but to be honest I don't want someone to replace Norton because that would mean that there would be a third person playing this same character in movies...
I was somewhat bothered that Rhodey Was replaced  in Iron Man 2... Another replacement int the movies is just weird...

fecks sake 
norton was perfect for the roll 
he was fantastic 
and marvel are making rather large mistakes now 

I think Norton was probably the only one who could have kept up with Downey Jr. talent wise on screen. Not sure Phoenix can really fill the shoes.

I have no problem with him leaving and another actor taking his place. In my comic mind the looks of the charcters change everytime a new artist signs on. So every new movie is a new artist. Just make the movie good and noone will care who plays Banner.

Norton is reported to be hard to work with, maybe there were problems. Of course the way I see it from Marve;'s offical statement, it that they believed Norton wasn't good enough.

Man, I wish he was there to curbstomp the Avengers.

Well, his eccentricities aside, Phoenix certainly has some acting chops. I do feel slightly disappointed, mainly because Norton did very well in the role, but that doesn't mean another actor can't do equally well. Besides, if they had to change an actor, I'd just as soon it be the guy that's gonna spend half the movie being replaced by a giant, screaming CGI effect.

Aww maaan.

Wouldn't mind Bana coming back if Norton is gone. Phoenix  may be crazy but has proven to be a decent actor, so this wouldn't be the end of the world either.

icemizer has a point.  the look of every comicbook character changes everytime they have a new artist

Didn't Joaquin Phoenix go all crazy and decide to become a rapper? And Edward Norton was perfect for the role. He's a better actor than Bana and Phoenix, and he just seems more Bruce Banner like. I won't be surprised in the least if at least 2 of the headliners for The Avengers end up dropping out.

I'm really of two minds about all this. I've read both Marvel's and Norton's reps about the reason behind all this, but the truth is what really caused all this will probably never be known. I kinda have to go with all the fuss that started after TIH was finished that Norton supossably pitched a fit about the ending. Even though it was quickly dismissed by both parties the way I see it is that the rumor had to start somewhere. I just find it interesting that all this happened just after it was reported that he meet with Joss Whedon about the Avengers storyline. I mean what really happened during that meeting? I just hope who ever takes up the role bares this in mind, and that is that the Bruce Banner character takes a minor role compared to the Hulk, so they should check their ego at the door.

I actually liked Eric Bana in the 1st one. The stupid cut scenes and horrible villain were the problem. Is Hulk gonna be the villain in the Avenger movie?

i will keep hope in my mind that this is a gimmick and that they will announce norton's return at comic con, so for now, i do not believe this news.
let's hope i'm right.

weak..

 Joaquin Phoenix is a pretty good actor so I'd like to see his take on the role. I think that we fans are used to this sort of thing and won't have any trouble following the movie. The ones who might have trouble are the rest of the audience, who might be wondering who Bruce Banner is at the beginning of the movie or even until he changes into the Hulk (unless that happens really early on).

i liked ed norton as hulk, but the movie was just ok.

I liked the movie alot and thought Norton did a great job but he did have issues with Marvel. He dicked them around and messed with the director and the producers. He didn't go out to promote the movie because he was just being him. So it is very hard on their end to just wash that away especially when we are talking about promoting the movie that could have helped it make more money. I would love for them to just get this all hashed out and work together though. I think Kevin made a bad move with his statement basically slandering Norton, deserved or not.

Wow marvel are really doing everything they can to make their movies less appealing to me.

I did this topic yesterday and it got locked.

" Wow marvel are really doing everything they can to make their movies less appealing to me. "

"  Joaquin Phoenix is a pretty good actor so I'd like to see his take on the role. I think that we fans are used to this sort of thing and won't have any trouble following the movie. The ones who might have trouble are the rest of the audience, who might be wondering who Bruce Banner is at the beginning of the movie or even until he changes into the Hulk (unless that happens really early on). "

 In starting to lose my faith in the Avengers film if this is the direction with the casting Marvel are taking. 
If they are looking for an actor that has and I quote "  an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members."  that means they are going against one of the factors that has made the Avengers such a good team, this being team dynamics, If you want a team filled with different heroes with different quality's your not going to get that if all of your actors share the same qualitys. and as for Joaquin phoenix  playing banner
 
We want a fighter not a country western singer

what i heard, it was that when  Jean-Claude Van Damme    was approach for The Expendables, he was already sign for another project and he couldnt make time to be part of it, so he said no 

That's terrible news.  Hulk is probably my least favorite out of the Avengers announced, but I think that Norton did a good job with the character and can't imagine anyone else doing it at this point.
I'd hate to say it, but I'm already disinterested in the Avengers movie following this announcement.

Phoenix can't pull off a role where the main characer is intellectual and scrawny; Norton pulled it off, he can't. Simple as.
 
Also, I find that Kevin Feige's statement was an insult directed straight for Norton. How can he think some about the actor, when he obviously gets along with casts; he would easily get along with the ensembled cast for Avengers. This just looks bad on Feige's part.

What a spit in the face to the fans... and not to mention continuity. Bad enough i f'n HATE Joss Whedon, now no Norton as Banner? Eugh. Way to go Feige.

I heard they also considered digging up Charles Bronson's corpse for the Expendables to make it even more BA.

The one thing I'm wondering about is if they change the actor does it change what the Hulk looks like because the Incredible Hulk version is very cool. lol