You’d think it couldn’t get much better than starring in one of the highest grossing films of all time, but in 2014 alone, Mark Ruffalo is off shooting one of the most highly anticipated upcoming films, Avengers: Age of Ultron, he’s getting Emmy buzz for his work in The Normal Heart, his November 14th release, Foxcatcher, is said to be a potential Oscar contender, and he’s got a brand new movie in theaters now as well - John Carney’s (Once) Begin Again.

Ruffalo leads the film as Dan, a former hotshot record-label executive who’s hit rock bottom.  He hasn’t signed any promising clients, his marriage is falling apart, he barely talks to his daughter (Hailee Steinfeld), he drinks to excess and is mistaken for a disheveled homeless man.  However, one night, at an open mic, he hears something that might help him pull his life back together – Gretta’s (Keira Knightley) voice.  Hit the jump for more and click here for what he had to say about Avengers: Age of Ultron, Comic-Con, a Solo Hulk movie, and Hulk's fear of Bruce banner.

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With Begin Again making its way into an additional 170 locations this holiday weekend, Collider got the chance to sit down with Ruffalo to talk about the similarities between the challenges his character faces in the movie and his own, playing bass in high school, having to pass on Lisa Cholodenko’s new show because the timing wasn’t right, and loads more.  You can catch it all in the video interview below.

Mark Ruffalo:

  • How he chooses his projects.
  • Originally, Begin Again was a much darker film.
  • On his character’s very dirty feet. (Really.)
  • Experiencing challenges similar to the ones his character faces in the film.
  • Passing on Lisa Cholodenko’s new TV show, The Slap.
  • Managing his incredibly busy schedule.
  • On Dan’s musical abilities and his own, too.
  • Trusting Carney and composer Gregg Alexander with the music in the film.
  • Merging a production and post-production score.
  • Shooting outside in New York City.
  • On playing a very convincing drunk.

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