Back and forth, back and forth -- The LA Times have finally come out and cleared up the rumor that Edward Norton started during ComicCon. As previously discussed, it was during Marvel's The Incredible Hulk panel where Norton made a comment that suggested he was writing the script. This confused a lot of people (including me) who were under the assumption that Zak Penn had (and was) penning the kind-of-sequel-but-not. Well, now it seems we know what happened. According to The LA Times, Penn was indeed the original writer and had written three drafts of the script prior to production. However, when the script needed more work -- and with Penn busy promoting his indie mockumentary The Grand -- Norton stepped in, offered up his own ideas, and came on as not only a writer, but also the film's star.

This, of course, is the story we're being told. As The Times even suggests, Norton is somewhat known around town for strong-arming his way into the writer's seat. There are rumors that he took it upon himself to re-write dialogue during Brett Ratner's Red Dragon -- not just his own, but also Anthony Hopkins'. Norton's reps insist that Ratner asked the actor for help, but others beg to differ -- not that it matters much; the film still turned out like crap. Keep in mind I'm in no way saying that Norton decided to take the role on the condition that he could re-write Penn's script, but it was part of his initial deal. And not for nothing, but if I was Penn, I'd be pretty pissed that I spent a whole year on three different versions of a script only to watch Norton come in and change up the entire thing. For all we know, Norton's additions helped the film, but one day I'd love to get my hands on both versions to see if Penn's would've translated better to the big screen. The Incredible Hulk is set to smash its way into theaters on June 13.

Okay, I have a question for anyone who has ever attended a test screening: When they give out those survey cards at the beginning of the film, is it mentioned anywhere that upon leaving the screening you must immediately write up a review and send it to AICN? Now, the last test screening I attended (The Brothers Grimm about two years ago), there was nothing about AICN anywhere on the card. Maybe things have changed since then? Or maybe AICN secretly has thousands of people working for them? Conspiracy? I think maybe.

Anyway, it looks like the latest Hannibal Lector film, Hannibal Rising, is beginning the test screening process and, whaddya know, someone saw the film and wrote to AICN with a mini review. And, whaddya know, they absolutely loved the freaking thing. I mean, "We were riveted from the start to the finish" sounds pretty positive, don't ya think? For those of you who fell off the Lector train following Brett Ratner's horrific Mahnunter remake, Red Dragon (and I don't blame you), the cannibalistic serial killer is back ... and this time he's a kid! That's right, they're going all retro Hannibal with this one, beginning with the death of his parents during World War II and ending right before he's captured by FBI agent Will Graham (see: Manhunter and Red Dragon). The review doesn't give too much away, but beware -- there are a few spoilers.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, this is the first Hannibal-related film that novelist Thomas Harris has adapted himself, and so that could either be very good or very bad (I'm leaning toward the former). However, there's no Anthony Hopkins and we have a director (Peter Webber) helming only his second feature film. What do you think about another Hannibal film? Has the franchise run its course, or is there still more of a story to tell?