Summary
- Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo discuss their time as Marvel superheroes and the complex dialogue they had to deliver.
- They both reflect on the importance of their characters and how they had to make sense of the scientific jargon.
- Ruffalo’s upcoming film, Poor Things, requires him to be naked on screen, which he initially felt hesitant about but saw it as a way to tell the story. Downey Jr. compliments Ruffalo’s physique.
Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo received a huge career boost thanks to their respective casting as Tony Stark aka Iron Man and Bruce Banner aka Hulk in the MCU. While Ruffalo is expected to continue his journey as the not so jolly green giant, Downey Jr.’s time as his superhero alter ego is almost certainly behind him. But the pair recently came together to discuss various aspects of their careers in the return of Variety’s Actors on Actors series.
While touching on other productions such as Oppenheimer and Poor Things, the pair obviously discussed the roles that put them in the position they currently hold in Hollywood; those of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Stark and Banner, the pair were given some particularly tricky and completely unfathomable lines to speak thanks to their characters’ scientific minds. However, the actors are more than happy to give it a much more common and relatable description.
DOWNEY: Well, I mean, in the Marvel days, everything might change or we’re talking to a tennis ball. You and I, the science bros, we would’ve these long passages about absolute gobbledygook…
RUFFALO: …bullsh*t.
DOWNEY: But still it’s important to us because we know it’s important the characters.
RUFFALO: Yeah, but, we didn’t know what that was, what that meant.
As cornerstones of the Marvel franchise, it is hard to imagine scenes in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Endgame without those big boffin talks between the pair, even if it was clear that only Stark and Banner ever knew what they were actually talking about. While Stark is now gone, we have yet to see where Banner appears next following his appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Mark Ruffalo is “Bangable” in Poor Things.
While Robert Downey Jr. starred in the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, receiving great acclaim for his role as Lewis Strauss, Ruffalo has received some great praise himself from his former Marvel costar for his upcoming appearance in the dark comedy-fantasy, Poor Things.
Based on the 1992 novel of the same name, Poor Things tells the story of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman who commits suicide and is subsequently resurrected by a scientist (Willem Dafoe). She then embarks on a journey of self-discovery after running away with debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn, played by Ruffalo. Due to the frequently sexual adventures of Bella, Ruffalo was required to get naked in the movie, something that Downey Jr. was very happy to discuss.
RUFFALO: I was like, “Do I have to?” All I can hear is, “Nobody wants to see your old ass anymore. Maybe you shouldn’t be doing movies like that anymore.” I mean, it’s my least favorite part of it, but I also saw it as an extension of the physical comedy that we were already finding. So it was just another way to tell the story.
DOWNEY: I just want to say this, too, because knowing you forever, on one of these “Avengers” movies, you take off your shirt, and you were in really good shape. And the director was like, “We got it.” You’re like, “Oh, can I please stop dieting and working out now?”
RUFFALO: Exactly.
DOWNEY: There is no one I’ve ever come across who is more anxious to not be vain past the point where it is necessary to achieve an end for their work.
RUFFALO: Was that a compliment?
DOWNEY: It’s a huge compliment. But I’ve got to say, you look pretty bangable to me, in case you were wondering.
For those wanting to check out Ruffalo in all his glory for themselves, Poor Things is released in theaters on December 8 in the U.S. and in January in many international territories. Meanwhile, the more family-orientated Marvel offerings of both Downey Jr. and Ruffalo can all be found on Disney+. You can watch the whole Actors on Actors episode below.
