Ed Norton Dodges "Hulk" Publicity

The new "Incredible Hulk" opens Friday, but don't expect to see its star, Ed Norton, doing much promotion for the film:

Norton, I'm told, has slipped off to a desert island rather than do publicity for the movie he stars in and nominally wrote.

I say nominally because there's been a dispute right along about who did what on "Hulk." The screenplay is credited to "X-Men 3" writer Zak Penn, who definitely wrote the original draft and mapped out the movie.

But wasn't it only last July 2007 that Norton boasted of writing the screenplay at Comic-Con, the convention for people who trade comic books and associated materials? Uh, yes, he did.

I'm told that Norton did substantially rewrite the Penn draft, added lots of dialogue, and worked on the character of the Hulk's alter ego Bruce Banner to make him more human. But Norton fell out with Marvel and Universal and declined to do much publicity. This left the bulk of it to co-star Liv Tyler.

Plus, reas some reviews of "The Incredible Hulk":

Entertainment Weekly gives it a B-

Variety said it's "perfectly solid summer action fare"

The Hollywood Reporter called it "a neat thrill ride"

The New York Times said, "If you really need a superhero to tide you over until Hellboy and Batman resurface next month -- and honestly, do you? really? why? -- I guess this big green dude will do."

Comments

[buffalo66]

I'd like to know from HuffPo why all of my comments were excised from this message board as they weren't obscene, just merely critical of Norton's current choice of roles and his prima donna behavior in Hollywood. In fact most of the critical posts are gone. Did Ed or his reps--probably "Veronica"-- phone you guys?

[Veronica]

No, not one of his "reps," I've been a regular on Huff Po since the start. Just a fan and annoyed by people who get off on bashing respected actors because they think it makes them look smart and discriminating.

[txgal44]

Edward is freakin' brilliant. Rent the "Painted Veil" and "25th Hour" . Those two movies alone will shut you the hell up!

[AntonFuest]

I can imagine the conversation in the Darkened Keep that is Hollywood:

Hollywood: "But Ed, you've got to do the publicity circuit. If you don't you'd be setting a new precedent in our business!"

Ed: "Umm...and don't you think that would drum up enough publicity in and of itself?"

Hollywood (Stunned momentarily like a frightened deer): "Uh...Um..­.Heeeeeyyy­y. Not a bad idea Ed!"

[amantell]

When I saw the original Hulk movie a few years ago, I had several problems with it. The experiment of using an art house director like Ang Lee didn't work out. It just seemed to me he didn't understand the aesthetic of comic books. His misunderstanding becomes all the more evident when compared to Sam Raimi's direction of the Spider Man movies. Raimi loves comics, and his affection came through in how he directed the movie. The same holds true with Jon Favreau's direction of Iron Man. Also, Eric Bana has a naturally passive screen presence, and didn't have the chops to pull off Bruce Banner's conflict. Add the poor special effects use to the mix, and you have a bad movie interpretation of the Hulk.
I haven't read the reviews for the new Hulk movie yet. but I'm going to be cautiously optimistic. Ed Norton is an excellent actor. While his insistence on involvment in other areas of the production is unorthodox, his concerns are legitimized--at least in my mind--every time I watch a movie that's poorly edited or has hackneyed dialog. If he can improve the movies he appears in, good for him.
Also, I'm looking forward to Hulk bellowing "Hulk smash!!!"

[jnkekoa]

Gee, but I liked the fact that the Hulk in that movie moved like a gay Chinese midget!!!! That alone made up for the horrible, horrible crap that otherwise filled the fifteen minutes I could stand.

[ElvisGump]

I wonder if the DVD of this film will contain an extra where Norton transforms into the raging beast which dwells within him: Tyler Durden?

"Hey, I didn't invent some giant green Hulk loser to feel better about myself!"

[falcao]

Looks like Hulk is bringing out some Hulk tendencies. I love Norton -- talented as hell. Difficult -- perhaps ... That's fine by me as long as keeps on doing what he's doing.

[aristippe]

Didn't they do the Hulk like four years ago. Hollywood is pathetic.

[rmetz74]

Yes, and it was terrible, and the company who actually owns The Hulk wanted to do it right. You don't want to see it, don't see it. Jeez.

[PhDiva]

Norton is talented, but he's a spoiled brat. He's always doing crazy stuff like this when he doesn't get his way. However, I have to say his performance in The Painted Veil was lovely.

[racetoinfinity]

I don't know why he dodgedspublicity for it, or if he co-wrote it, but can we have some ADULT movies for a change, instead of all these magical and mythical child and teen aged-level films we're deluged with? Ah, the 70s - the golden age of maturely themed movies - then came "Jaws" and "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" and fxxxed that up!

[phantom5551]

ADULT themed movies are available, just don't look to hollywood for them

[TroubleNYC]

Good actor. But I'm more interested in seeing his documentary on Obama.

[GWHayduke]

Hulk hate puny purple rhino! Death to Smoochy! HULK SMASH!

[expatstudent]

1) Edward Norton did a recent set of Nike commercials. He's not anti-establishment. No matter what he may tell himself. Especially disappointing from the narrator of "Fight Club."
2) In addition to The Hulk and apparently The Score (according to another talkbacker), he was accused of hijacking American History X where Tony Kaye tried to have his name removed as director. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, during the making of Red Dragon, he talked about how Brett Ratner didn't have experience directing a higher caliber of actor and it seemed he tried to take that over as well. (granted I'm sure he was quite correct on that as Ratner = sucky).
3) The original Hulk was actually quite interesting, just not in the same way a summer blockbuster is supposed to be. It was mis-marketed. Much like the J-lo film "Angel Eyes" which was a serious drama marketed as some supernatural thriller, or "The Village" which was very different than the Sixth Sense and Signs - yet the screenplay was very incisive.

[Veronica]

Just thought you should know, Tony Kaye recently admitted to the Onion A.V. Club that he had been the one who was unreasonable throughout that entire American History X debacle. Apparently he had agreed to let Norton have a certain amount of editorial control but then his ego made him clam up when the time came.

And you're right about the Brett Ratner thing...Norton was simply right about him.

I think Norton deserves credit for being so uncompromising regarding his portrayal of the films he's in...it's made him one of the most respected actors alive. And he deserves it, IMO.

I haven't seen those Nike commercials but I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with raising money for environmental causes, he's really big into that. Among Hollywood Stars, Edward Norton is nowhere near the top of the "sellout list," that's for sure.

[tweedy54]

Veronica,
Ignore these fools that are harassing you about Ed Norton.
I totally agree with you. I am also an artist. EVERY artist wants and tries to get some control into the way their work is portrayed. There is NOTHING wrong with that.
I suspect that all the back seat drivers that are posting negatively here about Norton's control issues, (or what they PERCEIVE as control issues), are NOT ARTIST.
If any of these posters complaining were EVER in a situation that involved their creative input, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THEY WOULD NOT KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT, ( not unless they just trying to get a body of work established).
If they have PROVEN themselves in their profession.. That is one of the PERKS, that comes with accomplish­ments...NO­T... to say you have to be an ass about it.
In the creative world/arts, ( no matter what the field), ego/emotions are always involved with the progress. THAT MEANS MOST INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, NOT JUST THE PRINCIPLES.
If you ever worked in the field you would know that and NOT just post some uninformed comment about a process you know little or nothing about.
Plus, none you people bitching know anything more than what you read which is usually just gossip.
To the poster that said the reviews were terrible, he/she are incorrect, the reviews are very good across the board. She/he found 1 review to try to support his argument and ignored the whole.

[recruitgal]

I saw the movie today, and it was a perfectly entertaining way to pass a few hours, but nothing special. I'm a big fan of Ed, and was hoping that he'd make "just another superhero movie" into something worth watching. If he is frustrated that they cut some interesting material, resulting in some standard popcorn fodder, I have some sympathy with him.

Incidentally, I won't do any spoilers, but the last 2 minutes of the film made this gal whoop with glee - I hope they follow through on what they promise!

[InternationalObserver]

she-hulk?

[hilts]

Norton is wasting his time with garbage like the Hulk. He should set higher standards for himself.

[Leroy]

Feedback could take Hulk.