The Incredible Hulk, the second picture in the series and also the lowest-grossing, is one of the few blind spots in the record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe. If all had gone according to plan, Edward Norton would still be playing Hulk in the Avengers films, but he was replaced by Mark Ruffalo due to behind-the-scenes drama.

Norton is well-known for being a man who loves to make decisions even when he isn’t in command. He decided on his own that the script for the Hannibal Lecter thriller Red Dragon wasn’t good enough, so he turned up on set one day with lines he’d written for himself… and Anthony Hopkins. When he declined to star in the remake of The Italian Job, which he was contractually required to do, Paramount threatened him with a lawsuit until he agreed. He also used his A-list clout to re-edit American History X, which enraged director Tony Kaye.

This knowledge was subsequently confirmed by Norton himself, who remarked during the roast of Bruce Willis,  “I tried to be like you. I did a big action movie called The Incredible Hulk. You know what went wrong? I wanted a better script.” One Marvel insider likened Norton to a “wolf in the hen house,” according to Deadline.

Before filming on Joss Whedon’s team-up film could begin, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige issued a statement noting that they had parted ways with Norton, and that the decision was “definitely not 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.”

Feige basically stated that Norton was not a team player, which is why he was fired. While some feel Marvel cheated Norton by cutting his script, others claim he was a nuisance to work with on The Incredible Hulk.

Feige added, “The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfils these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”

In a statement, Norton’s representative stated that Feige originally wanted the actor to keep portraying the Hulk, and that the decision to let him leave “seemed to us to be a financial decision.” He called Feige’s comments “mean-spirited, unprofessional, disingenuous, and clearly defamatory.”

While Swardstrom’s outburst didn’t help Norton, it did raise a few eyebrows among Marvel fans and caused some to doubt the studio’s account of events.

“Counter to what Kevin implies here, Edward was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Joss and the other actors in the Avengers cast, many of whom are personal friends of his. Feige’s statement is unprofessional, disingenuous and clearly defamatory. Mr Norton’s talent, tireless work ethic and professional integrity deserve more respect, and so do Marvel’s fans,” the statement continued.

“Like so many people, I’ve loved the story of The Hulk since I was a kid, so it was thrilling when Marvel asked me to write and help produce an altogether new screen incarnation, as well as play Bruce Banner,” Norton told Entertainment Weekly. “I grew up reading Marvel Comics and always loved the mythic dimension and contemporary themes in the stories, and I’m proud of the script I wrote. In every phase of production, including the editing, working with Louis Leterrier has been wonderful… I’ve never had a better partner, and the collaboration with all the rest of the creative team has been terrific. Every good movie gets forged through collaboration, and different ideas among people who are all committed and respect the validity of each other’s opinions is the heart of filmmaking. Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a ‘dispute,’ seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen. It has always been my firm conviction that films should speak for themselves and that knowing too much about how they are made diminishes the magic of watching them. All of us believe The Incredible Hulk will excite old fans and create new ones and be a huge hit…our focus has always been to deliver the Hulk that people have been waiting for and keep the worldwide love affair with the big green guy going strong.”

Marvel needed someone to fill Edward Norton’s stretchy purple pants now that he was gone. Mark Ruffalo was announced as the next Bruce Banner during the San Diego Comic-Con in 2010. Ruffalo rapidly became a fan favorite, portraying the radioactive scientist in a more likable and playful light — and according to Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier, Ruffalo was the person he wanted for the role in the first place.

In a conversation with The Marvelists podcast, Ruffalo discussed his experience taking over as the character. “I was just kinda’ like, ‘Is this okay?’” Ruffalo explained, “’and he was all like, ‘Man, all’s fair in love and war.’”