Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth on their “really fun” MCU reunion – and what made it different

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Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth, both original Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have worked together many times before. However, their new movie, Crime 101, is a departure from their usual superhero roles.

This thriller moves away from superheroes and focuses on a tense crime story. Chris Hemsworth plays a calculating thief, while Mark Ruffalo is the Los Angeles detective trying to catch him. They’re joined by a strong supporting cast including Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, and Monica Barbaro.

Throughout most of the movie, the two characters are separated, but their storylines converge in a very intense showdown at the end. Hemsworth enjoyed the opportunity to work with Ruffalo in this new context, though they sometimes fell back into their usual playful dynamic while filming.

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You know, Taika [Waititi] really wanted us to improvise, but honestly, he’d often have to reel us in, like, ‘Okay, everyone, settle down, let’s stick to the script!’ Bart [Layton], the director on Crime 101, was a bit more easygoing, but he’d still gently remind us, ‘Hey, that doesn’t quite fit the characters.’ It was fun getting to play opposite Chris [Hemsworth] in a different kind of movie, and I have to admit, I was a little surprised when I first saw him on set – he really transformed!

He had completely changed, and I was really struck by it. His walk, his voice – everything was different. It was even as if his eye color had changed.

It was just really cool to watch him do that. I’ve always admired his talent and I’m excited to see him take on diverse roles, and that moment definitely showed his potential. I was really impressed!

I was really curious if the director, Bart Layton, intentionally cast those two actors together because of their existing relationship. It seemed like a smart move! But I learned that wasn’t actually part of his plan at all – he hadn’t even considered it, which surprised me, especially since it was his first film since ‘American Animals’ back in 2018.

I hadn’t really considered that question until people started asking me about it later on. They’d ask things like, ‘Did you specifically choose actors who had been in Marvel movies?’ and I’d always say, ‘No, not at all.’ When I think about Mark, I think about his incredible career and how talented he is – he’s truly one of the best actors working today.

It was a happy surprise that they had such strong feelings for each other, but they were also a bit shocked by how different the experience was. This created some tension and made their scenes together quite intense, and they were both a little hesitant.

I believe being outside of the Marvel universe actually helped them. It allowed them to explore something completely different. Chris mentioned yesterday that he initially felt a bit overwhelmed, but ultimately, that turned out to be a good thing.

Crime 101 is released in UK cinemas on Friday 13th February 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

As a long-time film critic at TopMob – I’ve been here since October 2019 – I cover everything hitting the big screen and your favorite streaming services. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to sit down with some major stars and, of course, share my thoughts on all sorts of movies, from blockbusters to indie gems.

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2026-02-10 19:04