Mark Ruffalo was told to take whatever offer came before him for Zodiac because they did not want him.

Robert Downey Jr’s The Avengers co-star, Mark Ruffalo is known for some of the most incredible movies in the Hollywood industry. From Now You See Me to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has a range that is greatly appreciated and adored by the fans. He, as an actor and as a person, is both talented and witty. Despite the fame he now holds, it did not start that easy for him.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in a still from Avengers: Infinity War
Before he became a renowned actor, Ruffalo was struggling greatly in the manner that no one really wanted him. This harsh reality manifested itself before him with Robert Downey Jr’s Zodiac. A movie that is highly critically acclaimed and liked by fans just so happens to be one of the most disturbingly unforgettable experiences for the actor.

Robert Downey Jr’s Film Never Wanted Mark Ruffalo

In an interview with High Snobiety, Mark Ruffalo opened up about his experience while trying out for Zodiac. The film was one that included not one Marvel star but three. Starring alongside Robert Downey Jr, the movie was a massive success. However, for Ruffalo, it was an eye-opener. The actor remembered how he was told to his face that it was not him that they wanted but an actor in general.
Mark Ruffalo in a still from Zodiac

“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 sh*t about Mark Ruffalo, we don’t even want Mark Ruffalo in this movie, so you’re going to take what we’re offering you or forget it.’”
It was that feeling of being replaceable that kept creeping up on him over and over again. For Zodiac, he was told that the offer he was getting, he should take without hesitation because they don’t really care about him. This meant that the studios felt the fact that they were making him an offer was a big enough deal.

Joss Whedon Gave Mark Ruffalo a Torch of Hope

Before Joss Whedon came to Mark Ruffalo, his career had been in a trajectory he was not quite fond of. It was for The Avengers that his entire thought process changed. The offer, as per High Snobiety, was so out of the blue for him that he felt it to be a trap.
Mark Ruffalo
“So the fact that Joss Whedon came to me for the Hulk was so out of the blue. It’s a tough part – how do you get away with playing a character that doesn’t want to do what everybody wants him to do and sustain that? It’s like a trap. I read it and I was like, ‘I can do something with this.’”
He resonated with Bruce Banner so much that he truly enjoyed being selected for the role not because he was replaceable or unwanted but because he was Mark Ruffalo. It gave him an opportunity to showcase himself in ways that proved to the audience and people within the industry that he is one talented individual.