Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. are good friends today with the latter having just won his first Oscar after being nominated in the same category as the former. Both stars have shared the screen several times, with their most successful collaboration being the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Downey starred as Iron Man and Ruffalo as the Hulk.
Yet the MCU was not the first time both stars shared the screen but it was David Fincher’s 2007 movie, Zodiac that became their first ever collaboration. However, Downey would have never starred in the acclaimed movie had Brad Pitt said yes to the lead role.
How Mark Ruffalo And Robert Downey Jr. Got To Star In Their First Movie Together
Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. are better known as the Hulk and Iron Man for many fans. yet before they were the Avengers, the two co-starred in the highly acclaimed and based on a real-event movie, Zodiac.
While Ruffalo played Inspector Dave Toschi, Downey starred as the journalist and the central character Paul Avery in the 2007 David Fincher crime thriller. The movie now is one of the most acclaimed thrillers of all time and is critically acclaimed with an impressive 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While both actors did a splendid job, it was Downey who stood out and really brought the character and persona of the real-life journalist to the big screen. Now considered one of his best roles, Downey would have never been cast in the role for Fincher originally wanted Brad Pitt to play the role of Avery.
Not only did Fincher try to role in Pitt but he also reportedly wanted the former James Bond star, Daniel Craig for the movie (via What Culture). Fortunately, both actors reportedly declined the role leading to the friendship of Ruffalo and Downey.
Mark Ruffalo And Robert Downey Jr. Became Friends Through Zodiac
Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. have starred in six movies together, with Marvel movies being five of them. While conversing in Variety’s Actors on Actors, both actors revealed how they had actually met for the first time back in 1995 through their ex-girlfriends on Grace Avenue.
However, it wasn’t until they bagged their respective roles in the crime thriller Zodiac in 2007 that they ended up becoming good friends. Their friendship undeniably grew stronger while filming the five Marvel movies they starred together in.
From their on and off-screen chemistry to their real-life friendship, their performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have often been hailed crucial to the development of the MCU as we know it now. And thus, it’s always heartwarming to see two talented actors star together, and fans as well as we hope that we get to see more of their collaborations sometime soon in the future.
Zodiac can be streamed on Netflix.
