The Mark Ruffalo casting would make sense considering the actor played the two twin leads in the network’s 2020 limited series I Know This Much Is True, not to mention his track record in dramatic roles outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following the Oscars, the HBO adaptation continued to build momentum, reaching a boiling point in February 2020 when news began to circulate that Mark Ruffalo was reportedly being considered for one of the roles, presumably one of the leads.
Collider even went as far as to reach HBO for comment on the matter to which the premium channel responded by saying the show was in the early stages of development and any speculation on casting was “wildly premature.”
In February 2020, Collider reported that it had heard from multiple sources that Ruffalo was in early talks to take on an undisclosed role in the early stages of the show’s development but that nothing could be confirmed at that time.