Spotlight Premiere Brings Mark Ruffalo to Brookline

Mark Ruffalo reunited with Mike Rezendes, the Boston Globe reporter whom he portrays in Spotlight. / Photo by Olga Khvan

Mark Ruffalo and the stars of Spotlight weathered a rainy night in Brookline as they strolled down the red carpet for the film’s premiere at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

Ruffalo joined co-star Brian D’Arcy James, director and writer Tom McCarthy, writer Josh Singer, and many of the Boston Globe journalists who inspired the movie at the event on Wednesday night.

While the Avengers actor has admitted in the past that he’s had trouble playing Bostonians, he seems to have gotten the hang of it after filming part of Spotlight at Fenway Park.

“The green monster loves the Green Monster,” Ruffalo told Boston magazine.

The Hulk star previously portrayed a person from Boston in Maya Forbes’ Infinitely Polar Bear, which he said was a difficult gig since he’s not used to playing a “Brahmin, blue-blood Bostonian.”

Ruffalo had a different challenge portraying a more grounded character in Globe reporter Michael Rezendes for Spotlight.

“What’s hard for me is my inner motor is much more sleepy than Mike Rezendes,” he said. “Getting that motor, that energy all the time, and the way he talks too is very forward. I don’t talk like that. I’m like ‘Hey man.’ That was the difficult part of this for me.”

Jokes aside, Ruffalo also got serious about the film while chatting with reporters on the red carpet.

The subject of the Church’s abuse scandal really hit home for the actor, who attended a Catholic school as a boy. Ruffalo was fired up over the topic and passionately explained why he was moved by the role.

“It’s fricking—they’re raping girls and boys! And no one cares, no one’s doing anything to stop it,” he said. “I get very moved by that. I have three kids myself. It’s one of those moments where it’s a little bit of you and a little bit of the guy you’re playing.”

Check out photos from the red carpet below.

The local Spotlight premiere brought Mark Ruffalo to Coolidge Corner Theatre.

Michael Rezendes, the Globe reporter whom Ruffalo portrays in the film, arrived at the premiere.

Michael Rezendes is played by Mark Ruffalo in the film.

Brian D'Arcy James portrays Spotlight reporter Matt Carroll in the film.

Matt Carroll is one of the Spotlight reporters featured in the film.

Ben Bradlee Jr. supervised the Spotlight team at the Globe.

Marty Baron, the former Globe editor, is portrayed by Liev Schreiber in the film.

Currently, Baron is the executive editor at the Washington Post.

Walter 'Robby' Robinson (far right), portrayed by Michael Keaton in the film, brought his family to the premiere.

Sacha Pfeiffer is portrayed by Rachel McAdams in Spotlight.

Director and co-writer Tom McCarthy arrived with his wife Wendy Merry McCarthy.

Mark Ruffalo made a loving gesture towards fans waiting outside of the tented red carpet.

Michael Cyril Creighton (right) portrays Joe Crowley, a survivor of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

From left: Spotlight producers Nicole Rocklin and Blye Faust.

Spotlight co-writer and executive producer Josh Singer.

Mark Ruffalo hugged Wendy Merry McCarthy, wife of director and co-writer Tom McCarthy, on the red carpet.

Boston Globe and Red Sox owner John Henry arrived with his wife Linda Pizzuti Henry, managing director of the Globe.

Photos by Olga Khvan

Spotlight hits theaters November 6.