Some quick background first: if you saw Iron Man 2, you might remember that weird, confusing “Avengers” thing at the end of the movie. Marvel’s next big project is about the Avengers, which isn’t based on the 1960s British TV series but on Marvel’s Avengers comic series. The Avengers are a team composed of all the other Marvel characters, including Iron Man and The Hulk, so basically all the Marvel movies have been building up to this point.
Now, the Hulk was last played by Edward Norton, and Edward Norton is Edward Norton, so Marvel wanted him to be a part of The Avengers. Unfortunately, last week it came out that Eddie had been axed from the project. His people said it was a money thing, because the notoriously penny-pinching Marvel Studios didn’t want to shell out the kind of money a name like Edward Norton demanded. Marvel quickly responded saying the decision was due not to “monetary factors” but the “the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.” In other words, “Edward Norton was being kind of an egotistical prick, and we wanted him out of our movie as soon as possible”
So who does embody all those virtues? According to Chud.com it’s current hermit Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin was last seen in a thick bushy beard announcing the start of his rap career to David Letterman, but Chud seems to think he’ll be following up that appearance with one in The Avengers. Joaquin’s great (and he can certainly play an angry guy), but handing one of the key roles in the main event of their master plan to a guy who may have gone batshit crazy last year is a bold move on Marvel’s part.
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