The Story Behind Why Hulk Actor Edward Norton Was Replaced By Mark Ruffalo In The MCU

Over the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s lifespan, there have been a handful of times where key roles have been recast (not to be confused with actors in the franchise playing more than one role, like how Gemma Chan played Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel and Sersi in Eternals). The earliest example of this was when Don Cheadle succeeded Terrence Howard as James “Rhodey” Rhodes in Iron Man 2, and just in time for the character to suit up as War Machine (although Cheadle denies he “Aunt Viv-ed” Howard out of the role). Not too long after that, though, the MCU switched Hulk actors too, with Mark Ruffalo filling the shoes left behind by Edward Norton.