Orlando Bloom Talks THE HOBBIT and Mark Ruffalo Talks THE AVENGERS; Reveals Shooting Begins First Week of May

Earlier today, at the press day for the independent drama Sympathy for Delicious, about an up-and-coming DJ left paralyzed by a motorcycle accident who discovers that he possesses the otherworldly power to heal everyone but himself, Collider spoke to actors Mark Ruffalo, who directed the film, and Orlando Bloom.

While we will wait to post those interviews closer to the film’s April 29^th release, they each gave brief updates about the huge projects that are on their horizons. Mark talked about what he has to do to get ready for The Avengers and revealed it starts shooting the first week of May.  Orlando talked about how excited he is to work with Peter Jackson again for The Hobbit, which he just received the full script for. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Mark Ruffalo on The Avengers:

Question: What do you have to do to get ready for The Avengers?

MARK RUFFALO: We have to get the script. We’ve been working on the script, which has been fun. I’ve lost 15 pounds. They don’t want me all ripped up, but they want me to be lean and mean. It’s about trying to get the psychology of somebody who knows, at any moment, they could literally tear the roof off of wherever they are and trying to bring something real to that and totally fantastic. I’ve been working with Joss Whedon on the script, with the rest of the cast, and we start rehearsals soon. Hopefully, we’ll have the mother of all comic book movies for you soon.

When will you start shooting?

RUFFALO: In the first week of May.

Does being the third actor in 10 years to play The Hulk give you any kind of pause?

RUFFALO: Yeah, are you kidding me? I’ve got some big shoes to fill. I kind of look at it as my generation’s Hamlet. We’re all going to get a shot at it.

Orlando Bloom on The Hobbit:

Question: You were a part of the hugely successful franchises for The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, and now those franchises are continuing on. What’s it going to be like to see those movies, as an audience member?

ORLANDO BLOOM: Great! I’ve had such a great run with them.

Are you going to appear in The Hobbit?

BLOOM: Yeah, it’s looking like that. I’m really excited about going to see Pete [Jackson] again. It’s still a little up in the air, but the idea of working with Pete is fantastic. I can’t actually really talk too much about it, at this point. I just was given the script to piece through, so it’s quite exciting.

The whole script?

BLOOM: Yeah!

Will you have to do anything to physically prepare for that role again?

BLOOM: Are you telling me that I’ve put on weight, in the last 10 years? I just have to grow my hair really long and blonde again.

Isn’t he a younger version?

BLOOM: Yeah.