Edward Norton on The View: Watch a Clip From New Film 'Collateral Beauty'

Edward Norton sat down with The View co-hosts Friday December 9th, 2016 to talk about his new film "Collateral Beauty." The film centers around a New York advertising executive, played by Will Smith, who retreats from life after a tragedy occurs. Seeking answers from the universe, Smith's character writes letters to Love, Time and Death and receives some unexpected responses. Norton plays Smith's best friend in the film, which also stars Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Michael Pena and Keira Knightley. Letters are an important part of "Collateral Beauty" and as it turns out, handwritten letters have been a pivotal part of Norton's life as well.

"I wrote a letter when I was 23 to Edward Albee, the great playwright who wrote 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' who just passed away," the actor shares with the co-hosts. "I asked him if I could do a play that he had written that I had never seen produced. I invited him to see a play that I was in and he actually came .... then invited me to audition in the play that was my first professional gig."

Edward Norton "Collateral Beauty"

Although "Collateral Beauty" is a holiday film, Norton says it is far different from the typical seasonal fare.

"I was quite surprised by this script because it has real wisdom in it," he says. "It was funny and humane but it has real wisdom that I think is what we look for at the end of the year when we're thinking about how to make our life in better balance."

Check out a scene from the film below. "Collateral Beauty" hits theaters December 16, 2016.