“We were robbed”: What If Edward Norton’s Hulk Fought Thanos Instead of Mark Ruffalo’s Green Monster?

SUMMARY

• After a decade of watching Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, MCU fans can't help but feel robbed of the opportunity of seeing Edward Norton's depiction of the character take on Thanos.
• Although the outcome would not have been any different, there is no doubt that Norton's character would have relentlessly battled Josh Brolin's Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
• While the fight scenes may have been intense, with Norton's Hulk lacking the discipline of Ruffalo's, it might have ended with more losses for the Avengers.

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Since its inception in 2008, the MCU has given its fans several unforgettable moments that have left a lasting impact. From watching the Avengers assemble for the first time in 2012 to 2018’s blip after Thanos’ snap and more, some iconic moments have gone down in cinema history. However, one what-if scenario has continued to fuel fan speculation about the grand scheme.

Edward Norton in and as The Incredible Hulk | Credits: Universal Pictures

Recently, Marvel fans have questioned how things would have turned out if Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk had never replaced Edward Norton’s. Just how different would Hulk’s fight against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame have been?

What if Edward Norton’s Hulk took on Thanos?

In 2008, the world got its first and last look at Edward Norton’s Hulk in the film, The Incredible Hulk. While the character stayed the same, a lot was different. In fact, while Mark Ruffalo’s green monster eventually learned how to control his rage, that wasn’t the case for the other actor. Now, over a decade after the 56-year-old took on the role, a post on X claimed that fans were robbed of the possibilities for the Fight Club star’s character. Primarily an intense fight scene with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.

Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk | Credits: Marvel Studios

The post featured two pictures, one of Josh Brolin’s Thanos and the other of Norton’s Hulk. It even read, “We were robbed.” Although fans would have loved to see the two go head-to-head, the outcome would have been no different. In fact, the other Doc Green’s unbridled rage would have made for a more ferocious battle but also likely a less strategic one. With Norton’s Hulk being fueled by unrestrained rage and less internal harmony than Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, he may have been relentless in his pursuit of revenge against Thanos.

However, it’s easy to imagine a scenario where Hulk continues to charge at Thanos, leading to more intense physical confrontations throughout the film. But ultimately, his lack of strategic thinking could have led to further devastating losses for the Avengers. After all, a mindless, rage-filled Hulk could never have outwitted or overpowered Thanos, especially with the Infinity Stones in play. Unfortunately, the world never got the opportunity to watch that unfold.

Why Edward Norton was removed as the Hulk

After the release of Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk, fans were excited to see what was in store for the star and his character. After all, his portrayal of Bruce Banner was filled with emotional complexity, bringing a more tragic and grounded approach to the character, reminiscent of classic monster movie figures. However, their dreams were cut short when Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige released a statement according to reports from CBR that stated they were looking for “an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.”

Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in a still from The Incredible Hulk | Credits: Marvel\Universal Studios

Now, years after the MCU switched out Norton for Mark Ruffalo, the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios shed light on what truly happened. A post on Reddit shared an excerpt from the book that explained that the reasons behind the recasting of the Green Monster were Norton’s challenging behavior on set and his approach to collaboration. After all, the actor had been rewriting the script for the film constantly, and even butted heads with Zak Penn, according to reports from The Direct.

In fact, Norton even rewrote the ending to fit his opinion of what the character would do. With him taking such creative liberties, it is no wonder that Feige has banned him from coming back to the MCU.

Stream Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk and Mark Ruffalo’s Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame on Disney+

Written by Prathika Prashant

Articles Published: 46

With over three years of experience in the field of writing, and a knack for storytelling, she dives into the pop culture world to provide fans with insightful updates and engaging narratives worldwide. Her articles add a dash of insightful commentary and a captivating narrative to ensure that readers get the whole story. When she is not working, you can find her browsing new music or going down a rabbit hole of old timey sitcoms and more.