Norton in hulking great Avengers controversy

Hulk mad! Hulk nothing but trouble! First, Ang Lee’s interesting – if compromised – version of the Marvel comic book underperforms at the box-office.

Then we get the humdrum – though diverting – quasi-reboot, quasi-sequel starring Ed Norton. Now, it seems the not-so-jolly green giant is up for yet another transformation. Initially it was assumed that Norton would play Bruce Banner, the monster’s alter ego, in the upcoming film version of Marvel’s The Avengers. The series followed an unlikely cabal of the publisher’s most beloved heroes: Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and Black Panther have all joined Hulk in a spot of Avenging. Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) are happily on board, but it seems that, following a squabble between Ed and the authorities, some other Banner will be coming over all furious.

Unusually, Kevin Feige, Marvel’s head of production, fired the controversy by issuing the following sulky statement: “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.” Ooo! Understandably, Brian Swardstrom, Norton’s agent, poo-pooed any suggestion that his client was in any way hard to work with.

Inception 's box office bonanza

Maybe you loved Inception. Maybe you felt it was a little too pleased with itself. Either way, all sensible film fans will rejoice that the picture hoovered up $60 million at the US box-office last weekend.

It’s far from the biggest opening of the year – indeed, five films made more – but it is a very decent haul for a film that is neither a sequel nor a reboot.

Indeed, Inception is not even based on a comic or a TV series.

How bizarre. With Avatar taking the overall record earlier this year, it looks as if there may actually be a place for original projects in the multiplex.

Lots of pieces of Joplin’s heart

Amy Adams’s representatives have announced that the star is to play Janis Joplin in an upcoming biopic directed by Fernando Meirelles. Really? Last we checked, the City of God director was dusting off his megaphone in preparation for 360, a new take on Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde. Further complications will surely result from the fact that not one, but two other Joplin pictures are in development. Peter Newman, producer of The Squid and the Whale, has cleared all the rights in preparation for a version entitled The Gospel According to Janis.

Meanwhile, Lakeshore Entertainment are still trying to get a Joplin picture going entitled (of course) Piece of My Heart. We feel compelled to to ask: how much Janis can you take?

Comic nerds attract the A-list

As we speak, the event known to cynics (well, to this cynic anyway) as the Nerdenberg Rally is easing into its second day.

Over the last decade, Comic-Con, the annual comics convention in San Diego, has taken on increasing significance for the mainstream movie business.

It’s a weird affair. The convention screens relatively few complete movies, but whole busloads of Grade-A talent turn up to offer hints as to what we can expect from upcoming blockbusters. This year, the highlights include presentations of Michel Gondry’s The Green Hornet, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the second series of Glee. If you are in the Southern California area, then – stay where you are. This year’s event sold out some time in the 12th century.

Certs and the Centipede

Much chatter surrounds the upcoming release of an unspeakable-sounding horror film named The Human Centipede.

It involves a mad scientist who grafts his victims together in a quite staggeringly revolting fashion. There were suspicions that – in an almost unheard of move – the British Board of Film Classification might ban the picture but, as it happened, Tom Six’s film got its 18 cert. It seems Six has also received death threats.

“On Facebook people made a fan page for myself and the film,” he said with a laugh. “Some people say I have to be shot and some people want to sterilise me – and others say I’m the most genius film-maker there is.”

Its distributors have yet to confirm whether The Human Centipede will make its way to these shores.