So the new poster for “The Incredible Hulk” Marvel reboot film finally leaked online and it’s rather morose, blue and doesn’t exactly scream, “exciting action film for comic-book enthusiasts!” now does it?
Is it because Marvel is trying to subtly tell us they’re melancholy that the New York Times already said the film is basically doomed (and possibly cursed?)? Are Ed Norton’s feelings hurt over all the bad press?
Either way, it’s lack of excitement isn’t going to rally the nerds that are already skeptical. Many are noting that the poster is a rip-off/homage to an issue of the Amazing Spiderman illustrating a dejected Peter Parker (guys, Marvel owns both it really can’t be a bite).
What we think it’s really saying: a subtle cry for help. The Incredible Hulk and David/Bruce Banner needs some love (and perhaps some Suzie Rotolo).
Update: Speak of the devil 20 minutes after we posted. Looks like Edward Norton has released a statement about all the brouhaha.
‘It’s as much Marvel’s fault as it is Edward’s,” ‘Hulk’ director Louis Leterrier told Entertainment Weekly about all the public squabbling that was labelled a “feud” between studio and filmmakers. ”And my fault. It’s everybody’s fault! Or no one’s fault, in a way. I regret that [Marvel and Norton] didn’t come to an agreement where we could’ve all worked together.”
Apparently Norton and Leterrier wanted a more character-studied and nuanced film and Marvel wanted a leaner, more-action-y film. Guess who one? (think lowest common denominator).
After weeks of keeping silent on the matter for fear of looking like a difficult pain in the ass, Norton finally responded to EW in an email statement where he basically says the press made all the fuss, the drama is overblown and the quality of the film will speak for itself.
“Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a ‘dispute,’ seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen. It has always been my firm conviction that films should speak for themselves. All of us believe The Incredible Hulk will excite old fans and create new ones and be a huge hit.” (the full statement is here)
So is Norton the big, pushy difficult asshole he’s made out to be? The director says he was initially wary, but the rumors turned out to be false. “The stories I heard about Edward — they scared the bejesus out of me,” he said. ”I was scared the guy would come in and say, ‘All right, you’re a little French director who’s just done action movies, so you stick to the action and I’ll do the drama.’ Did that happen? ”Not at all!’ ‘I love the guy. He has a voice; he just wants to be heard. And he hates lip service.”
Whatever, we still think this movie about the Green Giant is fucked.
