Paramount Pictures didn’t give a damn about Mark Ruffalo and didn’t want him in David Fincher’s ZODIAC

Marco Ruffaloknown today for his iconic portrayal of Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he recently opened up about a pivotal moment in his career: the casting process for David Fincher2007 crime thriller Zodiac. In a candid interview with High Snobiety, Ruffalo revealed how studio representatives bluntly expressed their indifference towards him, in stark contrast to the industry recognition he enjoys today.

When it comes to the negotiations for his role in Zodiac in the mid-2000s, Ruffalo said, “I’ll never forget when they were negotiating my deal [for ‘Zodiac’], the studio negotiator literally said to my manager, “Look, we don’t give a damn about Mark Ruffalo.” We don’t even want Mark Ruffalo in this movie, so you’ll take what we give you or forget it.’”

This candid revelation sheds light on the challenges the actor faced in the mid-2000s and the uphill battle he faced to prove his worth in Hollywood. Ruffalo’s journey took an unexpected turn when Joss Whedon approached him about the role of Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The offer, according to Ruffalo, was “out of the blue,” considering the studio’s previous indifference.

The actor explained: “The fact that Joss came to me about Hulk was so unexpected. It’s a difficult part: How do you get away with playing a character who doesn’t want to do what everyone wants him to do and support it? It’s like a trap. I read it and thought, ‘I can do something with it.’”

Before his Marvel days, Ruffalo was considered a romantic comedy actor, with hits like 13 ongoing 30 AND Just like heaven defining his image in Hollywood. The actor acknowledged the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole artists based on their past successes, saying: “What I felt immediately in the movie business was that once you do something well, that’s what they think that you are. They’ll just come to you with that thing.” starts over and over again. And I was like, “No.” My career isn’t going to be like that, I’m going to do everything I can to try to make people see me in different ways so I can do more over the years.”

Ruffalo’s commitment to breaking free from this mold has led him to actively seek out diverse roles and demonstrate his versatility as an actor. Marvel’s decision to cast Ruffalo as the Hulk not only redefined his career, but also shattered preconceived notions about the roles he could play. The actor, previously associated with romantic comedies, accepted the challenge of playing a superhero and managed to win over both critics and audiences.

Source: variety