Incredible Hulk Director Says William Hurt Screamed at Him on Set: He ‘Wanted’ a ‘Little Bit of a Fight’

The Incredible HulkThe director recalls a conflict on the set with the late actor William Hurt.

Director Louis Letterier appeared on Josh Horowitz’s podcast Look alongseries extension Happy Sad Confusedto discuss his 2008 Marvel film, in which Edward Norton played Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk.

Hurt, who died in March 2022 at the age of 71, played General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in the film, the first of his five appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the podcast, Letterier, 50, said he and Hurt sometimes “wrangled” during production, including over whether Hurt’s mustache in the role would “play him.”

“The size of the mustache was a topic of discussion,” Leterrier said. “But sometimes he and I clashed, and I think it was – you have two types of actors, three types of actors. You have your partners, your best friends who have to coax all day, and then people who like to fight… So he worked.”

Letterier recalled an argument he had with Hurt while working on the film’s climax, claiming that Hurt “screamed at me [saying], ‘You don’t know anything about actors!’ ”

Mark Ruffalo reveals that Robert Downey Jr. convinced him to play the Hulk in The First Avengers

William Hurt in ‘The Incredible Hulk’.

Marvel Enterprises/Kobal/Shutterstock

“Too bad for him, he was in the giant helicopter at the end and I was in control [room]. He said, ‘You have to find the nuclear power button…’ and I took the joystick and shook it and it fell,” the director recalled. “He looked at me and said, ‘I like you!’ That was it. He just wanted to have a little fight.”

Hurt appeared as Ross in 2016 Captain America: Civil Warin 2018 Avengers: Infinity Warin 2019 Game over and in 2021 black Widow. Per Infinity Warhis character served as the US Secretary of State and most often appeared as a minor antagonist to the heroes of the franchise.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Hurt’s character is set to return next year Captain America: Brave New World, and Harrison Ford stepped in instead of the late actor. The film will star Anthony Mackie’s new Captain America Sam Wilson.

Glenn Close recalls filming ‘The Big Chill’ with ‘Beautiful’ William Hurt: ‘Good Times’

William Hurt in ‘The Incredible Hulk’.

Universal/Courtesy of Everett

During Look along Letterier also spoke about his relationship with Norton, 54, during the filming of the film. Although Norton acted The Incredible HulkMark Ruffalo stepped in to play the character starting in 2012 the Avengers.

“I think everyone was very in tune the whole way through. It just got tense at the end,” the director recalled of the atmosphere behind the scenes.

“I think there was a lot of tension in the end about the tone and the level of humor – even though Edward is very funny, all his friends are comedians, he’s an extremely funny guy – I think he was very right to defend the seriousness of the film.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education