15 Superstars Who've Played Superheroes (PHOTOS)

Ed Norton, a hulk? The Incredible Hulk? While it was hard to picture the scrawny Fight Club star channeling the rage-prone Bruce Banner, he put on enough pounds to be convincing in the 2008 movie. (Then again, if you remember Ed in American History X, the Hulk seems like far less of a stretch.) But just like Bruce, you wouldn’t like Ed when he’s angry: The star, who also wrote the script and signed on as a producer, butted heads with Marvel after the studio expressed interest in a tighter, more fast-paced movie.

The next man to play the Lou Ferrigno-voiced green colossus was Mark Ruffalo, who appears as Bruce Banner in 2012’s The Avengers. Not surprisingly, Marvel passed on Ed, saying, “Our decision is definitely not one 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." Burn!