Shaggy indie star Mark Ruffalo has had a diverse career, dabbling in the studio world while being something like a star in the indie world. Need someone to front your $50 million studio film? Ruffalo, who’s worked with Martin Scorsese, Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Michael Mann, Michel Gondry, John Woo and Jane Campion, probably isn’t your guy. Need a “star presence” for your $5 million indie? Get Ruffalo on the phone!
We were as surprised as the next guy when he signed on to be the third actor to play Bruce Banner aka the Hulk in the upcoming “The Avengers.” Ruffalo, who claims to have a “five for me and one for them” rule, was a last-minute addition to the “Avengers” cast when they offered him the contract with the requirement he show up at Comic Con ASAP to present himself. While there’s something daunting about following in the footsteps of the actors who have played Hulk, it’s following in big footsteps that drew him to the role in the first place.
“I probably wouldn’t have done this movie in the past”, Ruffalo tells Australia’s Sunday Herald Times. “But because of what Robert [Downey Jr.] had done and where that genre has gone since then, I did it.” It’s possible he’s referring to the freedom Downey Jr. has as an A-Lister who can keep recharging his value with franchise projects while pursuing more challenging work (though we have yet to see that with Mr. Tony Stark). Or maybe he’s referring to the amazing freedom Downey and co. have had in the “Iron Man” films, heavy on the improv and light on the scripts.
Ruffalo has the long-long-long delayed “Margaret” hitting theaters next, which is set for a 2011 release from Fox Searchlight. And he’ll put on the impossibly stretchy purple pants around the same in “The Avengers” for Joss Whedon.
