Mark Ruffalo On The Hulk And Replacing Edward Norton

Mark Ruffalo On The Hulk And Replacing Edward Norton

Now that he is officially part of The Avengers, actor Mark Ruffalo talks what was it like at his first Comic Con, discusses The Hulk and more!

By WolvieCBM - Jul 29, 2010 09:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers
Source: Entertainment Weekly - PopWatch



Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are Alright, Shutter Island) talks with Entertainment Weekly on his first appearance at San Diego Comic Con, gives his thoughts on The Hulk and replacing Edward Norton.

- First he talked on what was it like appearing at Comic Con:

"It was very exciting — and I realized I had some pretty big shoes to fill. Those were my heroes up there! I was a comic book fan growing up. I loved The Hulk and The Avengers — it’s just strange to be entering that world as an actor. I never would have imagined that before."

"I was very, very nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. That’s as close you’re going to get to being a rock star as an actor. The fans — they have very strong feelings toward their comic book heroes."

- Gives his thoughts on replacing Edward Norton:

"I’m a friend of Ed’s, and yeah, that wasn’t a great way for all that to go down. But the way I see it is that Ed has bequeathed this part to me. I look at it as my generation’s Hamlet."


- His understanding of Bruce Banner and The Hulk:

"He’s a guy struggling with two sides of himself — the dark and the light — and everything he does in his life is filtered through issues of control. I grew up on the Bill Bixby TV series, which I thought was a really nuanced and real human way to look at The Hulk. I like that the part has those qualities."

Joss Whedon is directing The Avengers, with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg also starring in the upcoming adaptation.

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conformist21
conformist21 - 7/29/2010, 9:36 AM
just lose a bit of weight and i'll be fine,
it's not his fault man, he just picked up something that was iffy.
HelaGood
HelaGood - 7/29/2010, 9:41 AM
hes a good actor, just not the same look as norton. looks more like bana. but i think he could pull it off if they make him look more like norton somehow...
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 7/29/2010, 9:52 AM
Okay Ruffalo, you now have my approval. (Because, you know, he's reading this and he desperatately has been hoping that I'd be okay with him being Banner :) )
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 7/29/2010, 10:00 AM
Good find Wolvie. Is anybody else having trouble with this site today?
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 7/29/2010, 10:01 AM
RUFFALO could've made a better HANK PYM!!!

He knows we don't hate him lol, just sh1t news NORTON or even BANA not being back as THE HULK!

IF WHEDON and MARVEL put in HANK & JAN, us fans will be more approval! ; P

Without them its MEH...

With them its near EPIC!
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 7/29/2010, 10:01 AM
JUST GET YOUR GAME UP RUFF, WE'RE ALL DISSAPOINTED NORTON ISNT GOING TO BE BANNER, BRING US SOMETHING NEW..
MIDAS
MIDAS - 7/29/2010, 10:04 AM
He has a similar demeanor as Norton. I think he'll do the part justice. I believe he has the chops.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/29/2010, 10:11 AM
I hope we'll never get another full feature film of Hulk on his own. I think it's a great character for cross overs and such but as a stand alone franchise, i always felt it lacked. To each's own i guess.
MIDAS
MIDAS - 7/29/2010, 10:20 AM
@MarsAmbassador

If Ruffalo is good in Avengers and turns out to make a kick ass TIH2, you'll watch it.
FullAmpleSally
FullAmpleSally - 7/29/2010, 10:25 AM
Hawks - yea, im getting really slow load times, unusual.

I think Ruffalo will be great. Hes got some good acting chops and can really pull off that nerdy scientist look. I agree Norton was awesome, but cmon, he's definitely not irreplacable!!!
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 7/29/2010, 10:27 AM
I don't understand how someone can say this ruins continuity between the films. I'm not trying to be an ass either, I just don't understand that train of thought.

It's still the Hulk. It's still banner. That would be like saying switching the artist on TIH comic series ruins the continuity because the styles aren't the same.

I think the people who think like that are simply denying themselves the opportunity to enjoy future films of their favorite characters.

When my girlfriend and I went our separate ways I didn't choose to remain celibate because I didn't want to ruin continuity.
Bryanferryfan
Bryanferryfan - 7/29/2010, 10:29 AM
WOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M READING... YOU PEOPLE ARE FULL OF SHIT... LAST WEEK YOU WERE READY TO CRUCIFY THE MAN... NOW YOU'RE ALL SAYING " HE'LL DO A GREAT JOB ". WHAT A BUNCH OF [frick]ING HYPOCRITES.... CHECK ANY OF MY POSTS ON HERE AND I'VE SAID SINCE MARK RUFFALO WAS ANNOUNCED AS BRUCE BANNER THAT HE WAS A DAMNED GOOD ACTOR....JUST PATHETIC!
WingPow
WingPow - 7/29/2010, 10:30 AM
For sake of continuity there was no better choice than Norton. He's also a great actor who did Banner justice.

But it didn't work out. Accept it, move on. I think Ruffalo will be just fine! Besides, everyone knows the start will be the CGI Hulk, not Banner.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 7/29/2010, 10:30 AM
FullAmpleSally: Thanks! I thought it was just me. It's really slow.
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 7/29/2010, 10:40 AM
I have faith in him. He's a great actor who loves the comics!
ElBicho
ElBicho - 7/29/2010, 10:47 AM
Could be much, much worse...


ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 7/29/2010, 10:49 AM
Shaman - I have always felt the same bud! The Hulk has always been good in print and animation but not so much in live action. All live action CBMs have a complex hero character built with many layers. And it always comes down to them and their resolve as a character saving the day rather than their powers. Do that with the Hulk and you actually lose what he is! Yes, Banner has depth but the whole point of the Hulk is that he is a single mindedly driven force.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/29/2010, 10:50 AM
Bryanferryfan- I hate Ruffalo and i hate Hulk. There, ya happy?

Ron- Couldn't have said it better myself! You are the man!!! ALL HAIL THE STACHE!!! :))
FullAmpleSally
FullAmpleSally - 7/29/2010, 10:51 AM
@Hawks - Yea not sure if people are flooding to see the new Thor stuff or what, but its been bogged down since that was posted.

I think introducing a new Banner for the Avengers movie is what helps with the continuity break. I admit, if they were going directly into a new Hulk movie first, with another new actor i wouldnt be taking it very seriously.

Hopefully it will turn out for the best.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 7/29/2010, 10:54 AM
Sithsidious66: Same point, different way of getting to it. I'm the constant in my life not the people I meet.

Same as the story of the Hulk is the same no matter who is telling it. Same story different flavor.

Deny yourself if you want, it really doesn't matter to me.
FullAmpleSally
FullAmpleSally - 7/29/2010, 10:57 AM
@Sith Ahh! Thanks!

MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/29/2010, 11:04 AM
I have said from the start this guy will be a great Banner. I have seen him give too many great performances over the years to not be fully confident in his abilities. Yes he could do with shedding a few pounds to better physically suit the character, and I'm sure he will. Take my word for it, he will do great.
HelaGood
HelaGood - 7/29/2010, 11:28 AM
i confirm Gunsmith's comment. if he tears it up, itll be awesome! impress us, mark!
nld3
nld3 - 7/29/2010, 11:46 AM
"hes a good actor, just not the same look as norton. looks more like bana. but i think he could pull it off if they make him look more like norton somehow... "

Give it a rest. They didn't make Norton look like Bana. Norton added nothing to the Hulk he played himself in that movie.
thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 7/29/2010, 11:50 AM
-I think he will be fine.

-He does need to loose wait and look whimpy.

-Unless they have a "Direct" tie in with TIH it does make it more of a stand a lone like ang lees crap.

-Banna is a good actor but was cast wrong for Banner... His presence doesn't depict/fit Banners arch type "weak and smart" banna looks like he isn't the type of guy that people want to [frick] with! He was freakin Bad Ass in Troy.
thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 7/29/2010, 11:54 AM
I can't wait to see the hulk kick all their Asses... I know that people want to see acting, But I just want to see hulk cut loose for like and hour. I hope they do that movie like they did with Peter Jacksons kong. When the avengers comes out... All back stories will be done for the most part. I want to see some major MAJOR ass kicking going on... im just sayin
Shaman
Shaman - 7/29/2010, 12:00 PM
nld3- I agree, he kinda did. Norton's performances are great but highly similar to one another. And yeah, he didn't "add" shit. But i have yet to se an actor who could actually "bring" something to that character significantly. Bana was close, Bixby was the best, but IMO its a character that's doomed from inception. The concept only gives the actor half the room for contribution. And like Ron said, the concept doesn't sell at the Box Office anymore. The whole Jekyl/Hyde genre for stand alone franchises should just retire forever IMO.
Hulkster2
Hulkster2 - 7/29/2010, 12:22 PM
Is the incredible hulk movie still part of the avengers ?
superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 7/29/2010, 12:24 PM
Who knows maybe this guy will surprise us he could end up being better than Norton who knows. I don't have a problem with him being in the Avengers Norton was only in one movie it is not like if Robert Downey Jr. was replaced now that would suck.
vtopa
vtopa - 7/29/2010, 12:25 PM
The only way to salvage this fiasco without Norton is the following

1) Use the EXACT same CGI model for Hulk as from the Norton version of TIH. I thought that it looked great and using the same model will enhance continuity.

2) Bring Tim Blake Nelson in as the Leader and have the Leader conspire with Loki to control Hulk for the first Avengers movie.

3) Whip out the most epic fighting scene between Hulk and Thor imaginable.

'nuff said. RIP Edward Norton
Hulkster2
Hulkster2 - 7/29/2010, 12:33 PM
@vtopa they most likly will use TIH 2008 hulk tthen spending more money on a new 1
breakUbatman
breakUbatman - 7/29/2010, 12:47 PM
@Bryanferryfan really? Is it inconceivable that a human can have an opinion about something today and then change that opinion a week later. Don't you know last week was just emotions?

Anyways I don't mind the actor but I hope they try less to be like the tv series and be more like the book, otherwise what's the point
Creature
Creature - 7/29/2010, 1:01 PM
As long as I know Ed Norton was being a prick and Ruffalo is a fine actor, I'm cool with this.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 7/29/2010, 1:10 PM
@Shaman - WHAT?!? You hate the Hulk?! AND I know from past articles you hate the Fantastic Four.

Man... You know I love you like a brother, but you're not making it easy. The Hulk has tons of great story lines from the comics!
countofmontecristo
countofmontecristo - 7/29/2010, 1:18 PM
the tih was great and ed norton was great as well . But i hope marvel gave this guy a mulit deal contract. with all the switching of actors can turn the viewers away.
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