Is Edward Norton not a team player or is he just too expensive to cast?
Marvel released a harsh statement about casting Bruce Banner for the planned 2012 release of 'The Avengers,' which would bring together many of their best known characters.
Already signed on are Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sam Jackson, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, and the last person to play the Hulk was Edward Norton in the 2008 movie.
But the studio released a statement over the weekend, saying in part:
"We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members."
But Norton's rep is crying foul and shot back in part,
'This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light... This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings.'