How Mark Ruffalo Saved Woody Harrelson From a Bar "Melee"

Mark Ruffalo recounted how he saved Now You See Me costar Woody Harrelson from getting into a huge bar fight while they were filming the 2013 film in New Orleans.

By Sabba Rahbar Oct 15, 2025 7:11 PMTags
Watch: Mark Ruffalo Reveals How He Predicted Past Brain Tumor

Mark Ruffalo was the magic trick Woody Harrelson needed up his sleeve. 

As the Marvel actor recounted, he helped his Now You See Me costar narrowly avoid a bar fight while they were filming the 2013 film.

"We were shooting Now You See Me—the first one—in New Orleans, completely on the streets. Totally wild," Mark recalled on Woody and Ted Danson’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast Oct. 15. "Capturing stuff on a long lens, getting dragged into bars during the middle of a scene, like in the middle of Mardi Gras."

As the 57-year-old explained, he and Woody, 64, stopped into a packed bar one night where a woman came up to Woody, telling him how much she loved him.

“Woody put his hand on her arm and he said, 'Oh, thank you. Thank you, darling,’” Mark shared. “And this guy comes over and he pushes her outta the way, and he shoves Woody."

Ted—who has known Woody since he joined the cast of Cheers in 1985—responded, “Oh, bad bad. Not good.”

read
Woody Harrelson Weighs In on If He and Matthew McConaughey Are Really Brothers

And Mark agreed.

“’Cause Woody's first response is not shove someone back,” the Avengers actor noted, “but immediately punch them in the face."

Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Ted, 77, and Woody both laughed, as Mark added it was “the right thing to do, by the way.”

“It's the absolute right thing to do,” he continued. “But then a whole melee broke out in this bar.”

In fact, Mark found himself in the middle of the chaos. 

“And I grabbed you,” he said to Woody, who confirmed the memory. "I grabbed you and I pulled you out.”

“I was like, 'This could be fun, but it also just could go so disastrously wrong,’” he added. “Because you and I might be able to handle ourselves but the rest of the folks we were with? I don't think so."

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images

Ted was impressed with Mark’s ability to deescalate the fight. As he joked, "I'm embarrassed to say that I would've been the guy who said 'I'll be right back, I'll call someone. I’ll be right back.”

But as Mark noted, he was a wrestler, so between Woody being able to handle the head and Mark taking the legs, “We’re like a perfect combination.”

And that “perfect combination” will be on the big screen together again in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third film in the franchise, out Nov. 14. 

For more movies hitting the big screen this year, keep reading.

Eternity - November 26, 2025

In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Miles Teller) and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Zootopia 2 - November 26, 2025

This sequel to the Oscar-winning 2016 animated hit promises a return to Animal Metropolis with familiar faces Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) along with some new characters like Gary D'Snake (Ke Huy Quan) and quokka therapist Dr Fuzzyby (Quinta Brunson).

Where to Watch: In theaters

Hamnet - November 27, 2025

Based on the award-winning 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell and directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, Hamnet tells the story of how William Shakespeare endured family tragedy to create his masterpiece, Hamlet. Starring Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, and Joe Alwyn.

Where to Watch: In select theaters on Nov. 27, expanding nationwide on Dec. 12.

Oh. What. Fun. - December 3, 2025

This fresh twist on the classic holiday-comedy features a star-studded cast as one big dysfunctional family, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, and Eva Longoria.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Merrily We Roll Along - December 5, 2025

Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez star in the live stage filming of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Jay Kelly - December 5, 2025

George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup and Laura Dern star in this "heartbreaking comedy" from writer-director Noah Baumbach.

Where to Watch: In theaters Nov. 14 and streaming on Netflix Dec. 5.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 - December 9, 2025

The 2023 horror hit gets the sequel treatment, with returning stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lilllard joined by new characters played by Mckenna Grace and Skeet Ulrich.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Merv - December 10, 2025

When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - December 12, 2025

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc for his most dangerous case yet, alongside a stellar supporting cast including Glenn Close, Josh O'Connor, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis and Kerry Washington.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix

Ella McCay - December 12, 2025

An all-star cast (Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri) leads this comedy about an idealistic young woman juggling her family and work life.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Avatar: Fire and Ash - December 19, 2025

Director James Cameron delivers the third film in his blockbuster Avatar franchise, promising a darker storyline as Jake and Neytiri's family clash with the Mangkwan Clan, also known as the Ash People. Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Kate Winslet,Oona Chaplin, and Michelle Yeoh.

Where to Watch: In theaters

The Housemaid - December 19, 2025

Based on the best-selling novel by Freida McFadden, this thriller follows a young woman (Sydney Sweeney) who accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar)  and soon finds herself trapped in a seductive game of secrets and scandal.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Is This Thing On? - December 19, 2025

Directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, this comedy-drama follows a middle-aged comedian navigating an impending divorce.

Where to Watch: In theaters

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - December 19, 2025

SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail on a seafaring comedy-adventure, complete with ghost pirates.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Goodbye June - December 24, 2025

It’s nearly Christmas when an unexpected turn in their mother’s health thrusts four adult siblings, and their exasperating father, into chaos as they navigate messy family dynamics in the face of potential loss. Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut and stars alongside Helen Mirren, Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, and Timothy Spall.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix

Marty Supreme - December 25, 2025

Timothée Chalamet takes the lead in this 1950s-set sports drama about a young man with a dream of becoming a champion table-tennis player. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A'zion.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Song Sung Blue - December 25, 2025

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Anaconda - December 25, 2025

Jack Black and Paul Rudd star in this comedy adventure about two friends who travel to the Amazon to film a remake of their all-time favorite snake movie, and find themselves facing off against an actual giant anaconda.

Where to Watch: In theaters

People We Meet on Vacation - January 9, 2026

Tom Blyth and Emily Bader star in the movie adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling romance novel.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix

Primate - January 9, 2026

A group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of 
horror and survival.

Where to Watch: In theaters

The Rip - January 16, 2026

BFFs Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite for this action thriller about a team of Miami cops who discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house and along with it some serious trust issues. Also starring Teyana Taylor and Steven Yeun.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - January 16, 2026

Ralph Fiennes stars in this spin-off of the post-apocalyptic franchise, in which the inhumanity of the survivors becomes even more terrifying than the infected.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Send Help - January 30, 2026

Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien star in this dark comedy about two office colleagues who find themselves stranded on a deserted island after they are the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive.

Where to Watch: In theaters

GOAT - February 13, 2026

From the studio behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse comes this animated comedy set in an all-animal world that follows Will, a small goat who gets the chance to play roarball - a dangerous, full-contact game dominated by the fiercest foes. Featuring Stephen Curry, Gabrielle Union, and Caleb McLaughlin.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Wuthering Heights - February 14, 2026

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi step into the iconic roles of Catherine and Heathcliff in Saltburn director Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel. 

Where to Watch: In theaters

Scream 7 - February 27, 2026

Neve Campbell returns to the Scream franchise as iconic final girl Sidney Prescott, this time to protect her own family from a new Ghostface killer. Also starring Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, and plenty of surprise cameos.

Where to Watch: In theaters

The Cat in the Hat - February 27, 2026

Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices of Bill Hader, Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, and America Ferrera.

Where to Watch: In theaters

The Bride! - March 6, 2026

In writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal's new take on the classic 1935 Bride of Frankenstein film, a lonely Frankenstein (Christian Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask a groundbreaking scientist to create a companion (Jessie Buckley) for him.  Also starring Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penelope Cruz.

Where to Watch: In theaters

Hoppers - March 6, 2026

Pixar’s all-new feature film introduces Mabel, an animal lover who uses new technology to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals!

Where to Watch: In theaters

Project Hail Mary - March 20, 2026

Based on Andy Weir's (The Martian) best-selling novel, this sci-fi adventure stars Ryan Gosling as a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship light years from home and, as his memory returns, begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out.

Where to Watch: In theaters

photos
View More Photos From New and Upcoming Movies 2025/2026
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

Latest News