Edward Norton Not Given Writing Credit For The Incredible Hulk?
According to IESB, Zak Penn has been given the sole writing credit for The Incredible Hulk, despite the fact that Edward Norton re-wrote his draft. It is well known that one of the only reasons Norton agreed to do Hulk were if he had creative input, in this case re-writing the script.
The IESB contacted Zak Penn’s office to ask about the credit. They confirmed Penn will be receiving sole writing credit on the film.
Universal reps are saying, “WGA determined the writing credit not Zak or Edward or Universal or Marvel. WGA always determines final writing credit for our films right before the film comes out. Up until that time, we include the writers on the project to date.”
A call to the WGA got this response, “Zak Penn is receiving sole credit for story and screenplay.”
Apparently, there was arbitration, which is quite common since two screenwriters were listed. The WGA sided with Zak Penn.
In my opinion it wouldn’t be hard just to give them both credit. I’m not a WGA script expert but it would seem the logical and fair thing to do. It’s not as though the script had input from many writers such as Catwoman (14 writers in total). In cases where there are lots of writers then I suppose this process of choosing is better, but when only two writers have worked on the script it would see, fair to credit both.
If everyone from the catering ladies to the lighting guys get credited than surely one of the writers should get credit somewhere.
WGA, studios to meet this week
The Writers Guild of America is going to hold an informal meeting with studios this week in what looks like a first step in getting back to the bargaining table with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (I’m sure that the deal the Director’s Guild of America made on Thursday is what generated these talks.)
The Hollywood Reporter says that CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves and News Corp. President Peter Chernin actually held informal meetings with reps from the guild over the weekend, so maybe we’re on the way to seeing some sort of resolution to this whole mess. It’s been a month and a half since they last held talks.
I’m wondering if they could get some sort of temporary deal in place? That’s probably not realistic, since there would be no guarantee that the writers would get what they want. The article above does outline some of what the AMPTP doesn’t like: “reality TV and animation jurisdiction, the right to stage sympathy strikes, and forced arbitration in residual situations involving vertically integrated businesses.” That last one sounds very contract-ish, doesn’t it?
By the way, “informal meetings” means, of course, that they won’t be wearing tuxes.
Frank Darabont to Fight For Indy 4 Writing Credit
Frank Darabont has never been quiet about his horrible experience “wasting a year” writing Indiana Jones 4. Lucas ditched Darabont’s script and hired Spider-Man scribe David Koepp to pen Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls. However, everyone I’ve talked to close to the project has told me that Darabont and Koepp’s screenplays are very similar. I haven’t read either script, so I really can’t comment. But even Darabont expects a fight with the studio over writing credits on the fourth Indiana Jones adventure.
“I haven’t read the script, [but] at a certain point I will because I’m sure there will be an arbitration over writing credits,” Darabont revealed to MTV. “I keep hearing from people who are near the production and they keep saying, ‘You know, they’re using more of your ideas here than you may have thought.’”
“I did suggest to Steven that he cast John Hurt in this movie and I’m delighted that Mr. Hurt is a part of it. It’s not entirely the role I suggested him for … but I did suggest him.”
Darabont admits that he had nothing to do with the character that Shia LaBeouf plays in Crystal Skull: ““That’s a whole new element that’s been brought in. Shia? I don’t remember writing that character.”