Mark Ruffalo sees The Hulk as his "generation's Hamlet".

The 'Shutter Island' star has taken on the role of Bruce Banner and his superhero Alter Ego in the forthcoming comic book blockbuster 'The Avengers' after Edward Norton was dropped from the film and with Eric Bana also previously playing the part, Mark knows he has a great deal to live up to.

Of being the third actor in 10 years to play The Hulk, he said: "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."

Mark will join Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Avengers' which started shooting with director Joss Whedon this week.

He told Collider.com: "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. Hopefully, we'll have the mother of all comic book movies for you soon."