The Weekly Ketchup: Ed Norton As "Incredible Hulk," Ledger's Scary Joker, Early Reactions to "Spider-Man 3," And More!

by | April 20, 2007 | Comments

In This Week’s Ketchup, Edward Norton gets to take over the role of Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk," Heath Ledger will portray a darker, scarier Joker than what audiences are accustomed to in "The Dark Knight," and "Spider-Man 3" received some glowing early reviews.

Also, Sam Raimi comments on "The Hobbit," as does Kirsten Dunst on "Spider-Man 4," and Optimus Prime speaks in the latest "Transformers" spot. Read On.

This Week’s Most Popular News:

Edward Norton is "The Incredible Hulk"

What was your first reaction upon reading that headline? Be honest. Mine was "Edward Norton as Bruce Banner?? Excellent choice, and one I never would have thought of."

Ledger’s New Joker to Be Scrappy and Scary

If you were hoping for a Jack Nicholson-style Joker in Christopher Nolan’s "The Dark Knight," then you might be disappointed by the adjectives being used to describe the new character design. Words like "raggedy" and "scary."

"Spider-Man 3" Reactions Starting to Come In

A prickly one again for me: There’s a brand-new "spy review" of "Spider-Man 3" over at AICN, but since I refuse to read extensive opinions about a movie until I see it for myself, I’ll just have to point you in the right direction and say "The spy really liked it."

Sam Raimi Talks "Hobbit" and Dunst Discusses "Spidey 4"

It’s been a while since we first heard that "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi could be in line to direct "The Hobbit" for New Line — and now the director has actually spoken about the possibility. In other news, Kirsten Dunst says a "Spider-Man 4" without her or Raimi or Tobey Maguire would "flop."

Optimus Prime Speaks in New "Transformers" Spot

Wow, I’ve never seen this many different websites respond to one TV spot like I have here. I guess it only makes sense, since "Transformers" hits a lot of different geek demographics: The movie nuts, the toy collectors, the animation buffs, the automobile enthusiasts…


He will be a tad scarier than this.

In Other News:

  • "Crash" producers Robert Moresco and Mark R. Harris are teaming up on an untitled feature film about Whitewater figure Susan McDougal. Moresco will write and direct, and is co-producing with Harris.
  • Elijah Wood will produce his first film, teaming up with Anthony Moody and Rob Malkani’s Indalo Productions on "Black Wings Has My Angel," an adaptation of the Elliot Chaze novel.
  • "Vacancy" director Nimrod Antal will direct another thriller for Screen Gems, "Armored," from a screenplay by James V. Simpson.
  • Tony Leung Chiu-Wai has rejoined the cast of John Woo‘s "The Battle of Red Cliff" after Chow Yun-Fat dropped out. Leung had quit the cast last month due to scheduling conflicts, but agreed to return after Chow’s sudden departure.
  • Ron Lieberman will direct the psychological revenge thriller "Tortured," based on a script by Marek Posival for Twisted Pictures.
  • Paramount Vantage has acquired Harris Wilkinson’s script "Ink," a horror film centered around the tattoo industry.

Meet the new boss.