New Incredible Hulk Photos

Two new photos have been released for The Incredible Hulk. Take a look! Cinematical

EN out of State of Play

Variety just reported that EN has left State of Play [Thanks to Pat and Donna for the info!!!]

Posted: Tue., Dec. 18, 2007, 11:03am PT

Norton exits 'State of Play'

Affleck in talks to replace actor

By MICHAEL FLEMING>

Edward Norton is exiting “State of Play,” and talks are under way for Ben Affleck to replace him in the Kevin Macdonald-directed drama for Universal Pictures and Working Title.

"State of Play" is expected to begin production in the first week of January.

Norton becomes the second high profile cast member to disembark, following the exit of his “Fight Club” co-star Brad Pitt just before Thanksgiving.

While Universal threatened legal action with Pitt, Norton’s exit has no rancor. His problem: he had committed to follow “State of Play” by playing the dual leads in “Leaves of Grass,” an independent comedy written and to be directed by Tim Blake Nelson. Norton is producing that picture with his Class 5 Films partner Bill Migliore, and Nelson. Barbarian Films is financing.

Pitt’s exit, and the courtship of Russell Crowe to replace him, moved the “State of Play” start date from mid-November into January. That created a clash, and the studio, working with Norton’s and Affleck’s reps at Endeavor, worked out an exit plan.

Now it will be Affleck who plays a fast-rising politician who is caught up in a murder conspiracy. Crowe will play a journalist who leads a newspaper’s investigation into the killing. He’s conflicted in that he once ran the pol’s campaigns, and he is now romancing his estranged wife.

Still in the cast are Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman. Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing. While Mirren had a stop date so that she could star with Joe Pesci in the Taylor Hackford-directed “Love Ranch,” attempts are being made to work out the dates.

Affleck’s most recent credits include a starring role in last year’s “Hollywoodland” and his directorial debut, “Gone Baby Gone.”

Pride Pics, Auction, Project?

IESB.net has posted several new images from Pride and Glory (I've included some below) IESB.net [Thanks to Robin and Monica for the news!!!]

The Kite Runner auction has started. EN signed the tail of an Afghan kite and the proceeds will support the Afghanistan Relief Organization. EN signed kite [Thanks to Monica for the news!!!]

There is a documentary on arcade game rivalry called The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. New Line is planning on dramatizing the story and potential candidates for one of the roles are Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp and EN The good, the bad and the geeky [Thanks to Monica for the info!!!]

Leaves of Grass

Today's Variety has announced EN will play dual roles in Leaves of Grass. The story was broken by Comingsoon.net, but was wrong in one respect: EN won't be directing the film

Edward Norton to star in 'Grass'

Actor takes on double duty in 'Leaves'

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Edward Norton is set to play dual roles in "Leaves of Grass," a comedic thriller to be directed in spring by Tim Blake Nelson, who wrote the script and will also act in the film. Norton will play identical twins, one an Ivy League classics professorand the other a hedonistic pot-smoking career criminal. He'll make the film after completing the Universal drama "State of Play."

"Leaves of Grass" will be financed by Barbarian Films, which recently co-produced "Powder Blue." Bill Migliore, Norton and Nelson will produce. Norton and Migliore partner in Class 5 Films, which most recently produced "The Painted Veil" and "Down in the Valley."

Norton and Nelson recently starred together in "The Incredible Hulk," in which Norton plays the title character and wrote the script for Marvel and Universal. Nelson had already penned "Leaves of Grass" specifically for Norton, and they've been waiting for the right opportunity to do it.

"The challenge of playing twins for an actor is very special, and I was very flattered that Tim sent 'Leaves of Grass' to me," Norton said. "I liked it so much, and felt so strongly that it was a film Tim understood to his core, that I took it to my partners and suggested we produce it. This is exactly the kind of personal filmmaking that we set out to support."

Nelson, who directed "The Grey Zone" and "O," said Norton "would have been my first choice for either of these roles." If he'd said no, "there would have been no second choice."

Norton will next be seen in the Gavin O'Connor-directed Gotham cop drama "Pride and Glory," which New Line opens in March.

Crowe in Play

Variety just sent out a "Breaking News" email announcing that Russell Crowe has committed to State of Play

Crowe commits to 'State of Play'

Actor replaces Pitt in Universal film

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Russell Crowe has committed to star for Universal in "State of Play," a development that keeps the Kevin Macdonald-directed film on course to begin production this year.

Crowe joins Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn, who were all locked into pay-or-play deals when Brad Pitt abruptly exited the project just before Thanksgiving.

Producers are Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the script.

Crowe will play a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads his newspaper's investigation into a killing that leads to a fast-rising pol (Norton). The journalist faces two conflicts: he once ran campaigns for the pol and was his confidante; the journalist develops a romance with the pol's estranged wife (Wright Penn).

Unclear is whether Universal will take legal action against Pitt, after issuing a statement that it would leave open all options. Pitt's reps at the time indicated he wanted to make the movie, but wasn't pleased with the script.

The studio went to Crowe immediately, who'll be making three consecutive pictures for the studio. He just starred with Denzel Washington in the hit "American Gangster," and he will segue from "State of Play" into "Nottingham," a Universal drama that is a revisionist take on the Robin Hood legend and a reappraisal of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the role Crowe will play. Imagine's Brian Gazer and director Ridley Scott, the team behind "American Gangster," will reunite for "Nottingham" in March.

The studio was optimistic that it will keep its cast, even with a November production start pushing to early December in L.A. and D.C. Mirren had an issue, in that she needs to finish in time to start production with Joe Pesci in "Love Ranch," a drama that's being directed by her husband, Taylor Hackford. Expectation is that she'll be done in time, and that Crowe will be finished in time to make "Nottingham."

New Film Rumor???

Comingsoon.net has posted a rumor that EN will star and direct a comedy that starts shooting in March called Leaves of Grass (apparently not Walt Whitman related). Since EN just finished filming The Incredible Hulk and is due to start on State of Play as soon as everything is settled, the idea that he is about to jump into directing another film in March seems a little fishy [Thanks to Monica for the info!!!]

ComingSoon.net has learned that Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson, who star together in upcoming The Incredible Hulk, will reunite for Leaves of Grass. Norton will direct, Nelson is producing, and both star in the comedy.

Norton plays twin brothers - one a philosophy professor, the other a career criminal who gets his more erudite twin into big trouble with some murderous potheads.

Shooting is scheduled to begin on March 8 in New Orleans

More on Play, Buy EN's kite

Variety columnist Anne Thompson gives her take on the writers' strike and its effect on State of Play and other projects. I've included the relevant parts below

Hollywood's new scapegoat

Strike allows some to bail out of projects

By ANNE THOMPSON

During the best of times, movies heading toward production are fragile chemical equations. Add a writers' strike to that mix and things were bound to explode. "It's tough enough to get things right," says one senior agent. "This difficult situation makes it even more difficult. If something is risky it's always the first casualty, whether there's a strike or anything else."

So it was no surprise when five volatile go-projects fell apart last week: Sony pulled the February start for Ron Howard's "Da Vinci Code" sequel "Angels & Demons," starring Tom Hanks; United Artists shut down Oliver Stone's November starter "Pinkville," an investigation into the My Lai massacre starring Bruce Willis; Warner Bros. pushed back Mira Nair's Indian epic "Shantaram," starring Johnny Depp; Weinstein Co. postponed "Nine," Rob Marshall's screen adaptation of the Broadway musical inspired by Fellini's "8 ½"; and when Brad Pitt pulled out of Kevin Macdonald's political thriller "State of Play," Universal threatened to sue.

Players involved in all five pics cited striking writers as a key factor in scuttling the projects. But while the strike certainly made things more vexing, there were also other forces at play. The strike offers studios, filmmakers and movie stars a smokescreen for doing just what they want to do, with a convenient scapegoat.

"It's a get-out-of-jail-free card," says one producer.

Over the past six months the looming writers' strike (with potential director and actor walkouts threatened in July 2008), pushed the studios to announce a raft of green lights sooner than they would have under normal circumstances. Stars jostled for position on projects lined up for takeoff like planes at LaGuardia. But many of those commitments seem less firm than if writers were available to make changes.

[Further down in article]

On the other hand, Universal and Working Title are desperately trying to keep "State of Play," which was supposed to start Nov. 15, on the fast track. The studio was threatening to sue the pay-or-play Pitt, as it once did Mike Myers over "Dieter." (Myers eventually settled.) Now the studio is trying to replace the balky Pitt with "American Gangster" star Russell Crowe, who trying to work out his schedule. He is skedded to start Ridley Scott's "Nottingham" in March for the studio.

Universal and Working Title couldn't afford to wait for Pitt because they had assembled a huge A-list cast, all committed to work for several weeks at a time, all backing into other pictures. Lose Pitt, and the entire house of cards -- Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman-- would come tumbling down. That's why replacing him with another Universal-friendly player was the best solution. "We have a fantastic script," says one Universal exec. "We were ready to go. Everybody knew what we were doing. It was not a writer/script issue. I hope we recast the movie."

But it was a script issue for Pitt. His reps at CAA insist that "the script was not ready, because there was no writer to finish it." Major stars are invested in not making career mistakes, in feeling confident that they can carry a movie to a win. Thesps like Pitt, who often take chances on riskier material, have to jump in with both feet. Pitt is known for last-minute waffling. (He walked away from Darren Aronofsky's "The Fountain," which flopped with Hugh Jackman, and the Coen brothers' "The White Sea," which never got made, and only reluctantly went ahead with Doug Liman's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," which was a huge hit. He just completed filming the Coens' "Burn After Reading.") "If it's script-related, it becomes strike-related," comments one agent at CAA.

[Further down in article]

... Mega-stars like Pitt have come expect to be able work in conditions that are ideal. But studios are committed to filling their pipelines, and Universal, at least, is willing to butt heads with a major star to do so. Other studios are capitulating. Odds are, Crowe will make "State of Play," Hanks will eventually shoot "Angels & Demons," Marshall will direct "Nine," and Depp will travel to India for "Shantaram." "Pinkville" looks more iffy, but Stone and producer Jon Kilik could revive it on a smaller indie scale.

PRInside.com reports that EN is one of the celebs decorating and signing authentic Afghan kites on eBay starting Dec 5th. "Proceeds from the kite auction will benefit the Afghanistan Relief Organization (AFO), which helps raise cash for the training of teachers and the construction of rural libraries in Afghanistan." It's part of the upcoming release of The Kite Runner

Crowe in Play?

Reuters (via the Hollywood Reporter) is carrying an article that Crowe is in final negotiations for State of Play. However, this morning when I found this story, I checked the Hollywood Reporter website and there was no mention of it. Below is the Reuters story [Thanks to Monica and Robin for the info!!!]

Crowe steps in to "Play" after Pitt's exit

Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:16am EST

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Russell Crowe is in final negotiations to replace Brad Pitt in "State of Play," saving Universal and Working Title's delayed political thriller from shutting down.

Pitt pulled out of the movie last week, citing script concerns that made him uneasy about toplining the picture. That brought him to loggerheads with the studio, which was adamant about going ahead with the script they had. Even meetings with the movie's director, Kevin Macdonald, proved fruitless.

Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") spent the weekend in Australia wooing Crowe, who had to see if "Play" could fit into his schedule; Crowe is scheduled to shoot Universal's "Nottingham," the Ridley Scott-directed reimagining of the Robin Hood story.

In "State of Play," an adaptation of a British miniseries, Crowe will star alongside Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn. He will play a political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton).

Crowe has turned into something of a favorite son for Universal, for whom he stars in "American Gangster," which has grossed more than $115.5 million to date. He also toplined "Cinderella Man" and "A Beautiful Mind" for the studio.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Pittgate on hold: More Hulk pics

A break from our ongoing coverage of the Russell Crowe/Brad Pitt/State of Play saga (Will Crowe take the role? Will Pitt get sued? Will life come to a screeching halt? Stay tuned!!! - Check yesterday's update for the latest). Instead, we now bring you some nice soothing Hulk pics to nourish your tired soul Superheroflix: Hulk Pics

Trying to get Crowe to replace Pitt

Variety.com posted on their website today that they are trying to get Crowe to replace Pitt for State of Play. Filming was supposed to start Nov 15 (which means a lot of people connected to this film did not have the best Thanksgiving). The article is below

Posted: Sun., Nov. 25, 2007, 2:45pm PT

Universal seeks Crowe for 'Play'

Studio seaches for Pitt replacement

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Universal Pictures spent the weekend trying to convince Russell Crowe, its "American Gangster" topliner, to replace Brad Pitt as the star of "State of Play."

The result of that courtship will be known early this week and will determine how ugly things get between the studio and Pitt after he exited the picture over disagreements about the shooting script.

Pitt's exit on Thanksgiving eve not only put the picture in a state of flux, it also left a studio and star with differing opinions on which one caused the exit. And it left Hollywood questioning how valid pay-or-play deals are in a strike climate where studios are venturing into production starts on scripts that can't get a rewrite if they need one.

U claimed Pitt left a pay-or-play commitment and left open the option of suing him; Pitt's camp claimed he was essentially forced out of a movie he's been eager to topline for almost two years just because the studio wouldn't wait for a strike resolution and a rewrite to bring the script back to a place that made him comfortable.

While the writers strike has so far had its greatest impact on network series, it has wreaked havoc over the past two weeks on films including "Angels & Demons," "Shantaram" and "Pinkville," which were postponed. "State of Play" is now struggling to avoid that fate.

Weeks ago, "State of Play" headed toward its Nov. 15 start date with a sparkling cast. Now, if Crowe doesn't fit in the pic before playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Ridley Scott-directed U drama "Nottingham," which begins shooting in March, "State of Play" will be in jeopardy.

Actors like Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks are available after their pictures ("Shantaram" and "Angels & Demons," respectively) were postponed, but Universal is in a hurry to keep "Play" cast members Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman in place. Mirren needs to begin production soon so she can finish in time to start "Love Ranch" early next year with husband-director Taylor Hackford and co-star Joe Pesci.

The role Pitt exited and Crowe is considering is a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads his newspaper's investigation into a killing that leads to a fast-rising pol (Norton). The journalist faces two conflicts: He once ran campaigns for the pol and was his confidant, and the journo develops a romance with the pol's estranged wife (Wright Penn).

If the studio chooses to sue Pitt, it would test the validity of a pay-or-play deal. Universal believed that Pitt signed one, while Pitt's reps believed he didn't, because he never approved a shooting script that got rewritten numerous times and never to his satisfaction.

Pitt was dedicated to "State of Play," having been attached for 16 months to a project that has been a high U priority since the studio, producers Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner landed the project after a hot bidding war. Pitt had a say in selecting the director and the cast.

Unfortunately, Pitt and the studio never quite meshed on the script, said several sources. He sparked to Matthew Michael Carnahan's original adaptation of the Paul Abbott-created British miniseries but apparently liked it more than the studio. While the actor made several movies in quick succession, Universal got rewrites by the likes of Peter Morgan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray. Pitt's vision departed from that of the studio somewhere along that rewrite trail.

Pitt wanted to wait for a strike resolution to get a rewrite that brought the film closer to Carnahan's original. Studio, eager to keep its late 2008 release date, told Pitt it liked the script as is and encouraged him to honor his commitment. The start date was postponed, while helmer Kevin Macdonald and the studio spent several days trying to make Pitt OK with the script they had since rewrites weren't an option.

U announced his departure in a statement released last Wednesday: "Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of 'State of Play.' We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter."

The studio has sued stars before. It filed a breach-of-contract suit against Mike Myers when he ankled "Dieter" because he was unhappy with the script. A settlement was reached.

NYT on Pitt's decision

Today's New York Times has an article that talks in depth of the ramifications of Brad Pitt leaving State of Play Below are excerpts from the article: For Film Companies, a State of Flux

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 — When Brad Pitt dropped out of the political thriller “State of Play” at the 11th hour on Wednesday, he did more than throw a wrench into the works of one of the highest-profile movie productions under way in a Hollywood already overheated by strike-related contingency planning. He might have helped tip the balance of power between actors and studios, at least temporarily, in the employers’ favor.

For weeks, lawyers and agents say, employers have had to pay a premium of as much as 10 to 15 percent over actors’ normal salaries to book them into the dozens of movies that are filming between now and June, when the Screen Actors Guild’s contract expires. But with talks set to resume on Monday between striking writers and the movie and television companies, the chance of a quick settlement has added a gust of uncertainty, which producers say could work to the advantage of studios that are trying to lock in their last few deals with actors.

Mr. Pitt’s departure from “State of Play,” for example, prompted Universal Pictures to begin talks with the actor Russell Crowe, whose next assignment, after all, is Ridley Scott’s “Nottingham,” a reimagining of the Robin Hood story from the sheriff’s point of view, also for Universal.

But if Mr. Crowe balks at picking up Mr. Pitt’s leftovers, Universal at least has the comfort of knowing he is not the only A-list actor available. Tom Hanks is suddenly free, his “Da Vinci Code” sequel, “Angels & Demons,” having been postponed by Sony Pictures because Akiva Goldsman’s script was not quite where the studio wanted it to be when the writers walked. (The movie’s scheduled release was pushed back from December 2008 to May 2009.)

And Johnny Depp was to have gone into production in February on Mira Nair’s “Shantaram” for Warner Brothers, playing a heroin addict who flees prison, poses as a doctor in the slums of Mumbai and winds up battling Russian criminals in Afghanistan. But that film was delayed indefinitely, Warner Brothers said, as efforts to scale back the movie’s cost required Eric Roth to rework his adaptation more than he had managed to do before the writers strike began. And a delay would mean the production would get caught in the Indian monsoon season.

[Further down in the article]

The crisis surrounding “State of Play,” meanwhile, seemed largely of Mr. Pitt’s making, to hear it from people connected to the production; his publicist could not be reached for comment on Friday. The movie, based on a hit six-hour BBC miniseries about a star politician and an ace reporter who are caught up in all sorts of intrigue, was adapted by Matthew Michael Carnahan (“The Kingdom,” “Lions for Lambs”) for Mr. Pitt to star in. To satisfy itself and then to try to allay Mr. Pitt’s concerns, Universal brought in a parade of A-list script doctors: Tony Gilroy of the “Bourne” series, Peter Morgan (“The Queen,” “The Last King of Scotland”) and, finally, Billy Ray (“Breach”).

Two people connected to the production, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to pay a price for antagonizing one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, said that the producers asked Mr. Pitt for a speedy answer about its latest version of the screenplay several days before the writers’ strike, but that he registered his dissatisfaction with the script only several hours after the strike had begun — and just 10 days before filming was to have started with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman as Mr. Pitt’s co-stars. (This was not the first time Mr. Pitt bolted a production at the last minute; he did so on Darren Aronofsky’s film “The Fountain,” which was then reworked for Hugh Jackman to star in.) Another associate of Mr. Pitt, reached late on Friday, said that Mr. Pitt had rejected the last version of the script on Nov. 3, two days before the strike, and had tried to work out a compromise with the director, Kevin Macdonald, before pulling out.

The project was delayed while the studio tried to cajole Mr. Pitt into proceeding with some version of the script. Universal then released a statement saying, “We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie.” Now, with sets built and crews hired, the producers face a short window to replace Mr. Pitt or face other casting challenges: Ms. Mirren begins shooting “Love Ranch” in January, meaning that she will have to leave the cast of “State of Play” if it doesn’t start up by mid-December.

Pitt out of Play

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Brad Pitt has dropped out of State of Play

Brad Pitt has pulled out of Universal's political thriller "State of Play" because of script concerns.

The move comes after a couple of weeks of meetings between Pitt and director Kevin MacDonald in an attempt to iron out the concerns. The script cannot be worked on due to the writers strike.

Universal is on the fast track to replace the star. Sources said the studio is looking at Johnny Depp, whose own movie "Shantaram" just got postponed at Warner Bros., as well as Russell Crowe.

Pitt was set to star with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn in the Matthew Michael Carnahan-scripted adaptation of the British miniseries. He was playing a political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton).

Sources said the studio is mulling its legal options and might sue the actor.

Universal confirmed Pitt's departure in a statement: "Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of 'State of Play.' We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter."

New Hulk poster

Superhero Hype has posted a new promo poster in which you can see the features of the new Hulk.

The Blogger News Network reports that Larry Flynt is hosting a fundraiser for Dennis Kucinich. EN is one of the committee members. The event would have taken place last night. EN has previously raised funds for Barak Obama (his production company is also producing a documetary on Obama).

More on Brazil filming

Monica sent a link to more photos of The Incredible Hulk filming in Brazil. She was also kind enough to translate two of the articles into English [Thanks so much Monica!!!] Ego Fotos

Edward Norton estende seus domínios para a Lapa (Ego article- translation below)

November 13, 2007

Edward Norton enlarge his lands in Lapa

The Incredible Hulk actor films in the mosaic stairs of Selaron in Rio.

Edward Norton's time in "Carioca's" lands (carioca is the name given to the natives of Rio de Janeiro) goes on at full speed. After filming in Leblon, Catete and Santo Cristo, the actor expent more than 3 hours of the 13th (November) in Lapa. Reason? The filming of THe Incredible Hulk, with the Brazilian Débora Nascimento being part of the cast.

The scenes were shooted in the mosaic stairs created by the plastic artist Sélaron, one of the tourist attractions of the region. The filmings will continue at 14:00 until 15:00. Many takes were repeated.

Um dia ao lado do 'Incrível Hulk' (Ego article- translation below)

A day next to The Incredible Hulk

An obstinate and careful actor. That is how Edward Norton is on the set of The Incredible Hulk that has some scenes filmed in the favela Tavares Bastos (my note: favelas are very poor and normally dangerous neighbourhoods in San Paulo), to which Ego has access on the 7th November.

Since 10:00 am the actor that plays the green hero in the new version for the cinema is on set. In one of the houses, temporarily transformed into the general head quarters of the production, Norton, known in Brazil for American History X and Fight Club, watches in a monitor with director Louis Leterrier the rehearsals of the first recordings.

At 11:00 am is the moment for Norton to get into the character of Dr. Bruce Banner, a scientist that transforms into the Hulk. In the plot, Banner goes to Brazil to search for local plants to try to obtain a cure to stop him transforming into the green creature.

CHASE IN TAVARES BASTOS

Norton films scenes in which Bruce is chased by the men of Emil Blonsky, the villain Abomination, played by Tim Roth, who was also in action. In Tavares Bastos the men chasing the Hulk are called “Men of Bope” (my note: BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion), is the elite group of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro) due to the black clothes they wear and the weapons they carry.

This part of the film takes place in a narrow alley of the community, known as Rua Cinco, and lasted until 13:10 when the team stopped for lunch. Beyond Norton and Roth, William Hurt is also in Brazil to film. Only Liv Tyler, who plays Betty Ross, was excluded of this Brazilian excursion.

EDWARD NORTON: A PERFECTIONIST ACTOR

At 14:00 Edward Norton walks again looking for the next location that would be in front of the pub Bar do Mineiro, in one of the entrances to the favela. Talking to two of the members of the production team, the actor wanted to know his position, where the cameras would be, and still suggested a take to see a tent (my note: in the sense of poor house) covered by a canvas under which a simpatico group of gentlemen were playing domino. “We can film from that side to catch the canvas”, he suggested. Norton is also the co-writer of the film script.

In the middle of the doubts of the actor, a child of the technical team interrupted him to ask for a picture with him, and he was quickly attended. After this, the actor went to the house where the production is held and took a bath to refresh from the heat close to 36ºC, and returned to film new chasing scenes.

MEN OF BOPE

Now is the turn of the Men of Bope (the real ones) who move into action. They send off the paparazzi that were in a flagstone trying to take pictures of the scenes.

The policemen are part of a special police quarter that makes Tavares bastos the only favela in Rio de Janeiro without dealers or militias

In spite of being polite, the policemen, who also have supported the filming team, were also very emphatic insisting the photographers to descend. After the incident, the filming continued until 19:00.

FILMING IN OTHER LOCATIONS IN RIO

Moreover than Tavares Bastos, the team will film in Lapa, Ipanema, Floresta and Tijuca. The images filmed in Brazil will be part of the first part of the film, that will be premièred in June 2008.

The works were planned to be done from 5 to 16th November. But due to the bad weather, works were started on the 6th, so the expectation is that they will spread to the 17th of this month. This is better for the extras, all of them locals that earn R $50 for day.

The technical team, stage design and security are also local. Some local traders are not happy, because the production brings the drinks and food that is consumed on set. A proof that not even The Incredible Hulk is able to please everyone.

More Rio pics, Enterprise Gala

There are more pics of EN filming The Incredible Hulk: Ego Estrlando More from Ego. I've included a pic below. [Thanks to Camille and Kamila for the info!].

Enterprise is holding its 2007 Gotham City Gala on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at The Pierre hotel in NYC. EN is the honorary chair of this event. The money raised from the gala will be used by Enterprise to "build decent, affordable housing for New York’s lowest income residents." Enterprise is a favorite charity of EN. It was co-founded by his grandfather James Rouse. EN is on the Board of Trustees and previously gave them $1.1 million. Gotham City Gala. More about Enterprise

Rio filming

The Incredible Hulk has been filming in Rio. There are several pictures from a few different sources featuring photos of EN (all the photos were shot by Robson Moreira/Ag.News) Virgulando, Te Contei, Ego, Made in Brazil, UOL, and a story in The Guardian. I've included a few below [Thanks to Kamila, Monica, Mary Beth, and Kathryn for the info!!!]

Pride and Glory trailer, previous Hulk actors

The Pride and Glory official site is up and features the trailer. I can't wait for this movie!!! The site also features pics. [Thanks to Esra and hisgirltobe for the info!!!]

MTV Movies Blog has comments from actors from the 2003 Hulk picture on the upcoming Incredible Hulk

“The Incredible Hulk,” a reboot of Ang Lee’s 2003 take on “The Hulk,” isn’t upsetting the actors from the last go-round, at least not enough to cause any real tears. “Boo hoo,” said Sam Elliott, pretending to cry over being replaced by William Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. “That’s a little weird [to see someone take your part]. But I happen to be a huge Edward Norton fan, and I think he’s a great choice for the Hulk. I’m sure he’ll be incredible.”

Ditto for Jennifer Connelly, who played his daughter. “I love Liv [Tyler],” Connelly said of the next Betty Ross. “She’s a friend of mine and I’m so excited that she’s doing it and I can’t wait to see it. I love Ed [Norton] as well, and I can’t wait to see what Ed does with it.”

Still, Elliott wishes they’d have considered using some of the 2003 cast, “because I’d love to have done another one. But I’ll be looking forward to seeing this one.”

Ferrigno on Hulk

Former Hulk Lou Ferrigno filmed a cameo in Incredible Hulk and had some complementary things to say about the film Lou Ferrigno Says Hulk Cameo A ‘Smash’

“I was in the movie. I just finished filming,” Ferrigno said, smiling. “It’s a spectacular movie. Very impressive.”

Ever since 1977 when he began playing the character in a famous television series, Ferrigno has had a lot of time to ruminate on the Hulk. Norton, he says, shares a similar obsession.

“We talked about it. I believe he rewrote the script because he’s very involved with the character,” Ferrigno related. “He’s not just doing another movie, he wanted to be involved with the character. I think that’s going to bring it to the next level.”

Lou went on to give Norton and the production his highest seal of approval, in fact, saying the work they were doing on the film will “be like the TV series.”

“[Ed actually] reminds me a lot of Bill Bixby,” Ferrigno confessed, referencing the actor who played Banner in the series. “He has a similar physique, similar personality. Ed is a very fine actor and it adds tremendous credibility for him to be involved with the movie.”

Another bit of casting news on the Incredible Hulk front: 411mania.com reports that Ty Burrell has been cast as Doc Samson. Burrell costarred with EN in the Signature Theatre Company's production of Burn This and also appeared in Down in the Valley with EN.

Solar Neighbors, More Strange Days, Milestone

Ecoorazzi reports some good news with EN's Solar Neighbors program. Through this program, when a celebrity purchases solar panels for their home, BP donates a similar system to a low income family. It was announced on Monday that Jacob’s Place, a sustainable multi-family affordable housing development in the South Bronx (equipped with a solar electric system from the Solar Neighbors program) was complete. Owen Wilson's participation in the program resulted in the donation to Jacob's Place. Below are EN's comments:

"Many people perceive environmentally friendly practices as costly and available only to wealthy people, but Jacob’s Place is a great example of the many ways sustainability is being achieved on low-income homes in places like the Bronx. The solar panels we provided through the Solar Neighbors program are only one element of the solutions that dynamic groups like Fordham Bedford are bringing into the equation.”

You might remember seeing Strange Days on Planet Earth, a four part series shown on PBS that EN hosted and narrated. As part of the Clinton Global Initiatives, the Sea Studios Foundation will produce "Strange Days on Planet Earth 2020" which will include "periodic primetime television events featuring Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton; a dynamic Internet strategy that includes an interactive Web site hosted by PBS.org, an iTunes video Podcast series, and ongoing "Search for Solutions" contests." Plenty Magazine [Thanks to Donna for the info!!!]

With Pride and Glory not coming out until March 2008, and Hulk updates usually amounting to not much more than a mention of where filming took place, it's been rather slow on the news front (which after vacation can only be a good thing). Hopefully, it won't last too long. I'm a little late on another milestone (6 mos late). April 7, 2007 was the 9 year anniversary of this website, but since I was piled over with work at my regular job, I just let it pass. In April 1998, only Primal Fear, Everyone Says I Love You, and The People Vs. Larry Flint had been released, American History X and Rounders were in post-production, and Fight Club was about to start filming. In the 9 years, it's amazing what changes and what stays the same. At the time, EN was touted as one of the best actors of his generation- an overblown title bestowed by the press that few actors can hope to live up to. Yet EN has managed to reinforce that belief again and again, exceeding expectations. In addition, he has moved behind the camera: forming his own production company (Class 5), from contributing to scripts to actually writing them (Frida, The Incredible Hulk, and Motherless Brooklyn), and to directing (Keeping the Faith). As his reputation grew, so did his visibility in charitable projects such as the aforementioned Solar Neighbors Program, Friends of the Highline, and countless others. I look forward to the future.

Other than EN films, my favorite films tend to be documentaries. I was lucky enough to catch an amazing documentary The Rape of Europa. It details many aspects of the looting and destruction of art during WWII. It deals with Hitler as a failed artist, the use of Germanic art to reinforce ideology, the destruction of Slavic art and architecture (such as the Warsaw Castle) under the Nazi mindset that it is inferior art, the evacuation of the Louvre, the siege on the Hermitage Museum, the plans the Allies made to avoid historic sites before bombing Florence, the bombing of Pisa, and the Monuments Men (Allied soldiers who went in to preserve monuments and art from destruction during the war). The film also talks about the recent lawsuit over the Klimt paintings and the continuing controversy of Trophy art . If you have a chance, please go see it. Another good documentary along these lines is Stolen which looks into the theft of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (available from Netflix).

OneVoice, EN's father

EN is one of the actors who will contribute video messages to be shown during two concerts on Oct. 18 urging an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Bryan Adams is headlining two concerts, one in Jericho in the Palestinian Authority and one in Tel Aviv, Israel for the One Voice Movement. Other actors involved are Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Portman, and Jason Alexander. Bryan Adams' Mideast Peace Plan [Thanks to Donna for the info!!!]

EN's father Ed Norton spoke at the Harvard Law School about his work in the Nature Conservancy in China and Indonesia. Ed Norton Speaks About Environmental Reform in China

Hulk script review

IESB.net managed to get a copy of one of EN's drafts of the Incredible Hulk script dated 5/13/07 and they've posted a review. Story Details: The Incredible Hulk

Land Conservation

Today's Reno Gazette Journal has an article on EN's efforts in land conservation. Last week, EN and former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced the creation of the National Conservation System Foundation to raise awareness and funding in an effort to protect lands designated as conservation areas . Actor Norton highlights monument preservation

More Play casting

Tomorrow's Variety and Hollywood Reporter state Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn are joining State of Play (HR reports they are in negotiations, Variety reports it as definite). "McAdams will play a reporter in the middle of a career-making story, as her newspaper investigates the death of the mistress of a fast-rising congressman. Mirren will play the steely newspaper editor. (Bill Nighy played the editor in the mini.) Wright Penn will play the estranged wife of the congressman. She becomes romantically involved with the pol's former campaign manager (Pitt), who leads the newspaper's investigative team. (Variety description)" [Thanks to Mary Beth for the info!!!]

Play casting, Wolong, BEADS, Fujimori

Today's Variety reports that Jason Bateman is joining the cast of State of Play with EN and Brad Pitt. "Drama revolves around a newspaper's investigation of the murder of a girlfriend of a fast-rising congressman, played by Norton. Pitt plays the former campaign manager of the pol who spearheads the paper's investigation, and Bateman will play one of the key reporters chasing the story." Also, People.com reports that Pitt visited the Washington Post newsroom Friday while researching his role.

I just got back from Shanghai a few days ago (whenever I go on vacation, big EN news always materializes without fail). Longtime visitors of the site have endured my complete obsession with the Tai Shan and the National Zoo Panda Cam. When it was announced that National Zoo panda curator Lisa Stevens would be leading a Friends of the National Zoo tour of China and their panda reserves, I signed right up (and my VISA bill will never be the same). The trip itself was organized by China Advocates and every aspect from the food to the hotels to the activites was absolutely stellar. But one place stood out for me as a panda lover: Wolong. It was unbelievable. I can't even find the words to describe the natural beauty of Wolong. At the Wolong Panda Reserve, pandas were in large enclosures that stretch up the side of the mountain, weeks old cubs laid in incubators in the nursery, and one year old cubs wrestled each other on playgrounds in the kindergarten. They offered photos and playtime with the one year old cubs for a donation to the Reserve. It was a life changing experience. I could go on and on, but instead I'll include a few pictures. The first needs a little explanation: right around the Beijing Hotel, there is a shopping district and on a side alley, there are some interesting culinary choices including scorpions and seahorses on a stick.

Outside of her work at the National Zoo, Lisa Stevens is a cofounder of BEADS for education, an organization that provides school scholarships for African girls, promotes business development for African women and supports conservation through education. One of the ways that they raise money is through hand-crafted products such as keychains, dog collars, headbands, and Maasai Necklaces available on their website BEADS for education. All of the products are reasonably priced and very beautiful.

And yet another unrelated topic: Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has just been extradited to face human rights abuse and corruption charges. Fujimori's administration fought its own war on terror against the terrorist group Shining Path. With the current debate over our war on terror, it's important to take the past into consideration. There is an excellent documentary "The Fall of Fuijimori" available through Netflix that chronicles Fuijmori and his actions.

New Project!!!!

Variety reports that EN is reteaming with Brad Pitt in State of Play. I'm still on the run these days [Thanks to ikeagirl for the info!!!!]

Norton, Pitt reteam for 'State of Play'

'Fight Club' duo to star in Universal adaptation

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Edward Norton is getting back in the ring with his "Fight Club" partner Brad Pitt.

Duo will star in "State of Play," Universal Pictures' adaptation of the British miniseries. Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") is directing the Matthew Michael Carnahan script.

Norton will play a congressman whose speedy political rise is threatened by an investigation into the death of his mistress. Pitt plays a politico-turned-journalist whose relationship with the solon is compromised when he oversees his newspaper's investigation into the murder and develops a relationship with the pol's estranged wife.

Project has been a high priority for U since the studio won an auction for rights to the six-hour mini written by Paul Abbott. Though Pitt has long been attached, he had been courted for other pics while Tony Gilroy worked on a rewrite. Pitt recently committed after that script was turned in, and the project is on track for a November start.

Andrew Hauptman will produce with Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Abbott is exec producer.

Norton will begin shooting "State of Play" days after he wraps "The Incredible Hulk" for Marvel Studios, with Universal releasing the Louis Leterrier-directed superhero film on June 13.

Hulk Footage

Writing this on the run: there is some unofficial Hulk footage up at Superhero Hype [Thanks to Robin for the info!!!]

Interview Magazine, High Line

In the Sept issue of Interview Magazine (Mariah Carey naked cover), EN interviews Jonah Hill [Thanks to Robin for the info!!!]

CNN.com has an article on the revitalizing the High Line (EN has been one of the Friends of the High Line). The first section of the park will open in 2008