The Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo joined forces with The Avengers in Joss Whedon’s 2012 film as Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk. He has since reprised his role multiple times and is expected to be an integral part of the franchise’s upcoming projects. However, before starring in the superhero franchise, Ruffalo was known for his versatile performances in movies like 13 Going on 30, Zodiac, and Shutter Island.
Talking about his unexpected journey with Marvel in a recent interview, the actor shared that getting the offer to play the role of Hulk in the 2012 film felt “like a trap” to him.
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Mark Ruffalo Recalled Getting the Offer for The Avengers
In a recent interview with High Snobiety, Mark Ruffalo opened up about his unexpected journey in the MCU. He shared that he was quite surprised when filmmaker Joss Whedon offered him the role of the Hulk. The actor said that no studios approached him like that at the time.
He also recalled the casting process for David Fincher’s Zodiac, where he was told, “We don’t even want Mark Ruffalo in this movie, so you’re going to take what we’re offering you or forget it.” The stark contrast between the two made him skeptical about the offer, as the character was also quite challenging.
“So the fact that Joss Whedon came to me for the Hulk was so out of the blue. It’s a tough part – how do you get away with playing a character that doesn’t want to do what everybody wants him to do and sustain that? It’s like a trap.”
However, he decided to give it a shot after he saw potential in the character’s complexity. “I read it, and I was like, ‘I can do something with this,'” he told the outlet. Ruffalo also talked about his experience working in the MCU, stating that it has been a “great ride” for him.
Mark Ruffalo Reflects on His Marvel Journey
During the interview, he also talked about his MCU journey that started with the 2012 film alongside an ensemble cast. He compared it to shooting a television series, as he said that he has to “do one episode every three years.” The 55-year-old actor expressed his gratitude and said that he has gotten the opportunity to explore many other things as well.
“I’m really grateful because it’s given me a chance to do other things that I probably wouldn’t have a chance to do without that behind me,” he said during the interview. Ruffalo was last seen as The Hulk in the Disney+ series She-Hulk and is expected to reprise his role in upcoming films and shows like Captain America: Brave New World, What If…? Season 2, along with the next Avengers movies, The Kang Dynasty, and Secret Wars.
The Avengers is available on Disney+.
