'Avengers' Rumor Confirmed: Robert Downey Jr Convinced Mark Ruffalo To Play Hulk

"Avengers" star Mark Ruffalo has opened up about how Robert Downey Jr. convinced him to take on the role of Hulk for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although it’s hard to visualize the Hulk being out of wits, the man playing the mean and green superhero was apparently scared to play the character. Ruffalo, 52, shared how he was previously disinclined to take on the “Avengers” role during an online interview on Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show.”

“I was scared,” the “Now You See Me” star recalled when he was cast to play the Hulk, aka Bruce Banner.

“I didn't know what I could add to what I already thought had been done so well before me,” he added.

Ruffalo also added how he doubted being able to play the high-powered role of Hulk, seeing that it was such a big leap from his recurring roles in independent films. “I'd only been doing indie movies up 'til that point. So I was like, 'I don't know if I'm the right person for this.' And Joss Whedon's like, 'Yeah, you are the right person,’” the actor stated.

And while “Avengers” director Joss Whedon approached Ruffalo for the part, it was actually Downey who was able to coax the actor. Ruffalo revealed that amid all his foot-dragging and hesitancy, it only took one call from the “Iron Man” star to drive him into taking the part.

“And then I got a call from Downey, it must've made it to him that I was hemming and hawing, and he just simply said, 'Ruffalo, let's go. We got this,' in true Iron Man fashion. And then after that, I was like, 'I guess I have to do it,’” the 52-year-old actor said.

As an actor, Ruffalo remarked that he is the forearmed type. The “13 going on 30” star also shared that he would always make sure to read a script before embarking on a film role in order to get a feel of what he is hopping into.

“I made a promise when I was a young actor that I would never do another movie without reading a script beforehand, because it's a recipe for disaster,” Ruffalo said.

But unfortunately, Marvel Studios didn’t seem willing to give anything away— yet another reason for the actor to back out on the part.

“And Joss was like, 'Here man, here's like 20 pages of what I have written of Banner,'” Ruffalo added. “And I read that first scene of when Scarlett [Johansson], when Black Widow finds Banner in India, and I was like, 'OK, I love this. This is amazing.'”

Originally played by Edward Norton, the 2008 debut of “The Incredible Hulk” was eventually replaced by Mark Ruffalo in MCU’s “The Avengers” film franchise. Although Norton’s Hulk wasn’t entirely well-received, it was considered an improved reprise from its prior copy, 2003’s “Hulk,” with Norton garnering good reviews, Screen Rant reported.

Although it was expected then that Norton would re-enact his role in “The Avengers,” Marvel studios released a statement that the actor will no longer be taking part saying that they were looking for "an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members."

Consequently, Ruffalo was officially to take over the role of Hulk, followed by an appearance alongside the whole cast of “The Avengers” at the Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con 2010 panel. Despite Ruffalo replacing Norton, the actor maintained that he is still good friends with the previous Hulk star and felt like he "has bequeathed this part" to him, as per Screen Rant.