Michael Fleming of Variety:
Edward Norton (pictured) has been set by Marvel Studios to play Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk."
The Louis Leterrier-directed drama will be distributed by Universal Pictures, with an opening set for June 13, 2008.
It is a decided return to the mainstream for Norton, who recently has starred in such indies as "Down In The Valley," "The Painted Veil and "The Illusionist." Pic will shoot this summer in Toronto.
Norton takes over a role played in the Ang Lee-directed "Hulk" by Eric Bana. Though that film opened strongly, it didn’t fare as well as other Marvel efforts, including "Spider-Man"X-Men ," "Fantastic Four" and, most recently, "Ghost Rider."
Marvel Studios, which has a $525 million credit facility obtained through Merrill Lynch, made "The Incredible Hulk" its second film under that arrangement, and seeks to make a sequel that is less self-serious and more in line with the comic series and TV show. Leterrier directed the action-filled "Transporter 2," and "Unleashed."
The new pic begins with Banner on the run, trying to avoid capture long enough to cure the condition that turns him into a misunderstood green menace.
"Edward Norton is a rare talent and one of the most versatile actors in the business," Marvel Studios production president Kevin Feige said in a statement. "His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Edward is perfectly suited to bring one of the most popular and important Marvel icons to the big screen in a new and exciting way."
The script for "The Incredible Hulk" was written by Zak Penn, who had a hand in crafting two "X-Men" films, "Fantastic Four" and "Elektra" for Marvel....
Norton, who will next be seen starring with Colin Farrell in the Gavin O'Connor -directed New Line drama "Pride and Glory,"...
Norton makes for a fine choice to take over the role from Bana. Anyone who has seen his work in Primal Fear or American History X knows that Norton can play intense, conflicted and sympathetic characters very well.
At one time, Norton was rumored to be in the running to play the villainous Two-Face in The Dark Knight...Now, he gets to play the hero for a competing comic book flick...
It sounds like the plot of the film is going to follow the premise behind the classic 70's TV series of the same name--rather than the comic book. Time will tell.
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