Norton's Hulk out of 'Avengers'?

Edward Norton will not return as The Hulk in the upcoming adaption of The Avengers, according to sources.

HitFix claims that Marvel Studios intend to give the role to an unknown actor if they decide to keep the character in the superhero movie at all, in order to keep down production costs.

Norton's involvement in the project has long been in doubt despite the success of 2008's The Incredible Hulk, with the Fight Club actor recently urging fans to write to Marvel in order to get him cast.

Norton was also denied a cameo as The Hulk's alter ego Bruce Banner in the recent Iron Man 2, thereby severing a link to The Avengers, where the two heroes are meant to form an alliance.

The Avengers is due for release in 2012 and will feature Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor, with the latter two each receiving their own individual movies next year.