Norton Getting Writing Credits on New Hulk Film

Posted by Mister Hand (misterhand@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 16, 2007

Sometimes you get news about an upcoming film that inspires such an intense reaction, you have to wonder about your priorities in life. (And when I say “you,” of course, I mean “me.”) I’m certain it’s not normal to get so all a-flutter over comic book movie news as I do at times. If it is normal it probably shouldn’t be, because that’s sort of sad and maybe a little sick. I mean, really, they’re just movies we’re talking about here. It’s not like these people are out there developing cures for cancer. Let’s get a little perspective.

Having said that, let me share this little tidbit I got via Coming Soon.net:

“…Norton had well-established (if underground) writing experience and strong ideas about how to separate the film from any confusion over its connection to the 2003 Ang Lee version by casting it in a more distinct, starting-over vein like “Batman Begins” or “Casino Royale.”

So Norton’s initial deal included payment not just for his acting services but for his writing talents too, with his draft contractually stipulated to be turned around in less than a month. As it turned out, Norton delayed work on another screenplay job to do “Hulk,” and he continues to tweak the script as principal photography hits its halfway point outside Toronto.”

I read that and I cried. Seriously. Tears. Copious tears of blissful joy.

Okay, so I didn’t really cry. But this is indeed very exciting news. Besides being a fine actor and having starred in some of my favorite movies ( Fight Club, The People vs. Larry Flynt), he’s a Yale graduate with a sharp wit. I’ve heard him give talks to various universities. He is always interesting and right on target with his subjects. So I have no doubt that he’s capable of delivering a first-rate Hulk movie.

The ironic thing is, if it hadn’t been for Ang Lee’s film, The Hulk, I probably wouldn’t give a damn. I always thought the comic was silly and, while I liked the television show as a kid, it hasn’t aged well. But I really like Lee’s Hulk movie–a lot.

Sure, I’ve heard all the complaints: the movie is boring, the mutant poodle fight is silly, etc. Nevertheless, it all works for me. I saw it twice at the theater and I’ve probably watched it five or six times since it came out on DVD. It’s one of those films where I can totally understand hating it, but I love it. The only part of the film that I think doesn’t work is Eric Bana.

When I heard that Norton was first offered the role of Bruce Banner in the Lee version of the film, I couldn’t help but but imagine how it would have been all the more awesome if that had happened. Eric Bana isn’t a bad actor, and I’ve seen him in films where he was pretty damned great. But somehow he just doesn’t quite work in the Bruce Banner role.

So without dissing Ang Lee’s version of the story, here’s to a promising new Hulk movie, with a very gifted actor/writer in the lead.

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