VIDEO: That's Incredible! Mark Ruffalo "Stoked" To Play Hulk
July 28 2010, Published 9:14 a.m. ET
Don't make him mad!
Indie favorite (and the very laid-back) Mark Ruffalo says he's "stoked" to be playing Bruce Banner and the Hulk in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster The Avengers, and RadarOnline.com has new video of Mark talking about the role.
Watch the video on RadarOnline.com
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At JFK Airport in New York on Wednesday morning, Ruffalo, 42, said of landing the role, "I'm stoked. I'm very happy, man. I've got some big shoes to fill."
Ruffalo, who's currently starring in the critically acclaimed Independent film The Kids Are Alright, was referring to Ed Norton, who played The Hulk on the big screen back in 2008 and was expected to reprise his role in The Avengers.
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Two weeks ago, Marvel released a statement saying that Norton would not be reprising the role in The Avengers after all.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page Monday, Norton issued a statement, saying "As most of you know, I don't like to talk much about the business of making movies because it means a lot to me to protect the audience's fullest enjoyment of the 'magic' that films can have.
"But I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support from fans of the Hulk and the Avengers that I feel it would be rude not to respond. So here goes: It seems it won't work out for me to continue playing Bruce Banner for Marvel in The Avengers.
"I sincerely hoped it could happen and be great for everyone, but it hasn't turned out as we all hoped. I know this is disappointing to many people and that makes me sad. But I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk's long and excellent history.
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"And I really can't thank the fans enough for how much enthusiasm you've sent my way about what Louis Leterrier and I tried to do in our turn with the legend. It means a lot to me. I grew up with Banner and Hulk and have been a fan of every incarnation. I'm really proud, and very blessed, to have been one of them and will be thrilled to see him live on through other actors. Hulk is bigger than all of us, that's why we love him, right?"
The Avengers, set to hit theaters in 2012, has a star-studded cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sam Jackson, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth.
Of course, Ruffalo is only not following in the footsteps of Ed Norton in playing The Hulk. Aussie actor Eric Bana also played the lead role in Hulk back in 2003, and the late Bill Bixby played the role in the iconic 1970s TV series.