20 Things You Didn't Know About Shutter Island

17. Mark Ruffalo Won His Role After Writing Scorsese A Gushing Letter

Shutter Island Mark Ruffalo
Paramount Pictures

Mark Ruffalo was still a year away from being cast as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he started shooting Shutter Island, and at that time had carved out a respectable niche for himself as a reliable character actor.

Basically, he wasn't quite the brand name we know him as today, and so Ruffalo had to fight to win the role of Teddy's new partner Chuck Aule, to the extent of writing a gushing letter to Scorsese detailing how badly he wanted to work with him.

With Scorsese apparently not averse to flattery, it worked. Ruffalo won the gig, presumably because Scorsese was also acutely aware of how terrifically talented the actor is, of course.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.