Ed Norton will not play The Hulk in The Avengers

Perhaps no other production has more eyes on it heading into San Diego Comic-Con than The Avengers. With Marvel Studios ramping up their superhero franchises in preparation for the super team-up, it's basically the movie fans like me have been wanting to see since we were children picking up copies of The Avengers off the racks at 7-11. Most of the principle cast is already known: Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor. But the lingering question has always been in regards to The Hulk, and whether or not Ed Norton would be back to play the jade giant himself.

Norton's enthusiasm has swung from hot to cold over the last few months, reaching a peak after it was reported that Joss Whedon would be directing the film. General consensus is that he would definitely be there if Marvel asks him to.

Now it's looking like that may never happen, as Hitfix sites a source within Marvel Studios who says that they have decided to go in an entirely different direction and cast an "unknown" as The Hulk. 

That doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. Sure, Chris Hemsworth is a virtual unknown to most people as Thor, but by the time The Avengers comes out he definitely won't be. Is it a money issue? My personal opinion is that the script, written by Zak Penn, must not have The Hulk as that much of a factor in the story, and Marvel felt that it wouldn't be worth it to pay Norton's asking price for a limited role.

That's just my opinion. Nothing is confirmed as of now, but I expect news will be soon to follow.